X

Top 5 concert recommendation sites (screenshots)

CNET's Donald Bell evaluates five Web sites that provide personalized local concert recommendations based on your iTunes, Facebook, Last.fm, Slacker, or Pandora listening habits.

Donald Bell
Donald Bell has spent more than five years as a CNET senior editor, reviewing everything from MP3 players to the first three generations of the Apple iPad. He currently devotes his time to producing How To content for CNET, as well as weekly episodes of CNET's Top 5 video series.
Donald Bell
songkick.PNG
1 of 5

Songkick

Here are five sites that will put you in tune with the best live music in your area, using data from your favorite music sites and services.

Songkick

If I had to choose one concert recommendation service above all others, I would pick Songkick. Not many events slip by it, and the site makes it exceedingly easy to integrate your music tastes from iTunes, Pandora, Facebook, and Last.fm. Yahoo likes it so much, it worked out a deal last year to have Songkick provide the relevant concert dates for any artist search.

Pros:
• iTunes import
• Pandora import
• Last.fm import
• Facebook import
• iOS app (Gigkick)

• Post-show reviews and photo uploads

Cons:
• Listings limited only to music
• No Android app
• No Slacker or Blip.fm import
• No direct links to artist Web sites or song previews

sonicliving.PNG
2 of 5

SonicLiving

SonicLiving

What I like most about SonicLiving is its sense of community. It's geared toward people who regularly go out to shows and even bestows "Top Fan" status to members who've seen a given band on multiple occasions, giving the whole thing a slight music hipster/Foursquare Mayor-ish competitive vibe. My favorite feature, though, is that band listings will pull in related Flickr photo and YouTube videos, which helps immensely when you're trying to evaluate whether the show is worth your time. It's also worth noting that SonicLiving provides the concert listings for Pandora's iPhone app.

Pros:
• iTunes import
• Pandora import
• Last.fm import
• Blip.fm import
• Slacker import
• iGoogle widget
• Flexible RSS and calendar feeds
• Photo and video content on artist pages
• Post-show reviews and photo uploads

Cons:
• No Facebook band import
• No iPhone app
• No Android app
• Listings limited only to music
• No direct links to artist pages
• I still don't know why I'm supposed to collect virtual buttons

jambase_1.PNG
3 of 5

JamBase

JamBase

If SonicLiving is the place for the local music scenester, JamBase is the home for fans who wouldn't think twice about packing up the van for Bonnaroo. For me, it's a little information overload since I usually just want to know what to see in my area on a Saturday night. A JamBase member's thoughtful write-up of the New Orleans JazzFest just doesn't do anything for me. But for those who would travel to the ends of the earth to see their favorite band or experience a once-in-a-lifetime music festival, JamBase is made for you. Its top searched artist is Phish, if that gives you any clue to the vibe here.

Pros:
• Apps for iOS and Android
• iTunes import
• Last.fm import
• Dedicated section for contests (ticket giveaways, CDs)
• Dedicated section for music festivals
• Suggests cover bands to fill gap of deceased artists (i.e. Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash)
• Individual artist pages include tabs for fan forums, artist links, and Rhapsody song previews
• Fans can write general articles, show reviews, and album reviews

Cons:
• Information overload
• No Pandora import
• No Slacker import
• Complex site navigation

bandsintown_1.PNG
4 of 5

BandsInTown

BandsInTown

The polar opposite of JamBase, BandsInTown cuts right to the chase of finding live music in your city. There's no forums, no community, and even artist pages are pretty slim on content. It pulls off two unique tricks, though. One, it has a Concert Cloud feature that lets you quickly filter recommendations by ticket price, date, and distance. Second, its Facebook app integrates the entire BandsInTown experience, which is ideal for people who spend most of their time glued to Facebook.

Pros:
• Facebook integration
• iTunes import (via Facebook app)
• Pandora import<
• Last.fm import
• Artist page music playlists
• Concert Cloud recommendation filter
• RSS and iCal feeds for show recommendations
• Simple to navigate

Cons:
• No mobile apps
• Thin artist content
• No Slacker import
• No community
• No direct links to artist Web sites
• Doesn't include events beyond live music

eventful_1.PNG
5 of 5

Eventful

Eventful

Eventful isn't slick or hip, which is odd considering its partnership with MTV. Its music recommendations run mostly in the mainstream, but it casts a wider net than the rest by including sporting events, movies, theater, and kid-friendly stuff. If the question is more "What do I do with my Saturday?" than "What band do I see tonight?" then Eventful can come up with some useful ideas. It also has a feature called Demand It where you can declare your interest in having a band swing through to play your city. There's no guarantee it will work, but it's a fun idea.

Pros:
• iOS app
• Broad range of events
• Connect to friends using Yahoo, Google, AOL, and others
• MySpace profile import
• Users can tracks their favorite venues
• Web site links on artist pages
• Demand artists to tour to your town

Cons:
• No social network integration
• No song or video streams on artist page
• No Slacker, iTunes, Pandora, or Last.fm import
• Recommendation preferences must be set manually

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos