Local hotspots offer alternatives to pricey concert venues

Tired of shelling out as much as $45 dollars to see a big-name music act at the Orpheum? Feeling bitter about Ticketmaster jacking up prices for concert tickets? Take a much-needed break from the music scene mainstream and check out these local music clubs. You're not likely to find Puff Daddy or Ricky Martin at any of these joints, but you'll discover some of the best local music that Boston has to offer.

Club Passim

Harvard Square

(617) 492-7679

Club Passim, located in Harvard Square and hidden on a side street between the boisterous Border Caf?© and Church Street's Lowe's Theater, is a tiny nonprofit music center dedicated to the cultivation and preservation of folk music. The Club serves as a resource for the teaching, performing, and celebrating of art and folk music traditions around the world.

Passim celebrates its 40th birthday this year. This accomplishment comes after four decades of standing as a respected venue that presents new and established traditional, folk, and acoustic musical acts. Passim is the quiet sister to its nosier rock club counterparts _ the club doesn't serve alcohol, and has been the springboard for some of Boston's folkier, melodic, and blues acts including Joan Baez, Peter Wolf, Taj Mahal, Shawn Colvin, Suzanne Vega, and Jess Klein. The system is two-fold _ artists play for charitable causes, while dedicated audiences help support both up-and-coming and established musicians. And as the music plays, you can relax in the modest caf?© featuring Middle Eastern and International Cuisine, open seven days a week.

Lilli's

Half a mile from Porter Square

(617) 591-1661

Formerly known as Club III, Lilli's is a music club in its purest form. Most don't go here to chat or simply to throw back a few drinks _ provoking conversation might be a problem in this haven known for breaking local and national rock bands into a whole new level of playing. Live music is this 21-plus joint's selling point. Never without a live band the four days a week its open, it's The Spot closest to campus to check out if you're into trying something new _ most bands you may not have heard of, but there's always one for you to explore and later say you "totally heard first."

Future acts include Charlie Hunter (fresh from his appearance at Tufts' Jazz Show), Sex Mob, Buck Dewey Big Band, and Indigo Girl Amy Ray.

Bill's Bar & Lounge

(617) 421-9678

Bill's Bar & Lounge is the troubled older brother of the street's other hoity-toity offerings. Leave the body-constricting apparel at home, and replace it with anything casual and carefree that will fit this haven teeming with '60s retro d?©cor and constant loud music.

Unconvinced that its fun will surpass Avalon or Axis? Well, what we have here are theme nights and variety. Monsta Mondays is an 18+ night that features a variety of local and national bands, and DJ-spun mainstream music. Phatt Tuesdays compete with Bill's techno neighbors to offer hip-hop, funk, and soul for their version of a dance party. Wednesdays offer an excursion into Funk and Groove, Thursdays host a DJ trip into unexplored Underground bands that offer up Punk, Mod, Ska, Rockabilly, Garage and Glam.

Fridays are Nocturnal Fridays, 19+ nights that delve into the cannon of rock to dig up favorites past and present. Saturday's ECCO featured a DJ-spun mix of world music and Eurohouse (you can't completely escape Landsdowne...), and Reggae Sundays host the best reggae bands and vocalists exploring genres like roots and dance hall.

Something for everyone or a temporary break from Euro-madness, Bill's Bar and Grill is a well-rewarded trip into Boston.

The Middle East

Central Square

(617) 864-3278

To say that the Middle East has shifted gears since first opening its doors in Cambridge would certainly be an understatement _ a venue that one featured Arabic music and belly dancing, the Middle East has become a hot spot for local alternative bands and more recognizable names such as Aerosmith and Luscious Jackson. The club also hosts The Might Mighty Bosstones' Annual Hometown Throwdown.

The club is comprised of four rooms, three of which feature live entertainment nightly: Upstairs, Downstairs, and the Corner. Each of the rooms is conveniently equipped with a full service bar and designed to accommodate different genres of music: the Downstairs room usually hosts larger acts while the Corner has been remodeled to showcase acoustic, jazz, and experimental acts. Four different bands play the Upstairs room on any given night in addition to an open blues jam on Saturday afternoons.

The Ryles

Inman Square

(617) 876-9330

While there's always a chance that some big names in jazz will stop by, the Ryles is first and foremost a home to local jazz musicians. It's a little less upscale than your average jazz club, but has developed a reputation of its own as a no-frills music club for serious playing and serious listening.

Fitting in with Inman Square's bohemian atmosphere, the Ryles features more than just jazz _ on Thursday nights you'll find salsa dancing upstairs. The mood shifts again on Saturday nights to swing. One of the most popular events at the Ryles is its jazz brunch on Sundays. Weekends tend to get crowded, but weeknights are quiet and relaxing (read: it's a nice place for a date).

Harper's Ferry

Allston

(617) 254 - 9743

Harper's Ferry is more than just a big-name blues joint _ it's an all-around good time. Its biggest attractions are the annual Blues Festival that brings in some of the biggest names in R&B and the local Battle of the Bands. But Harper's Ferry has so much more to offer than that _ in addition to the live music seven nights a week that generally starts around 9:30 p.m., this local music club offers pool tables, dart boards, foosball, and video games

The kinds of musical acts you're bound to find on a given night range from blues big shots like Bo Diddley to old-school funk bands like Sugarcoat. The cover charge varies, but you're likely to pay around $3 to check out local bands. The low cover charge will leave you plenty of spare change to splurge on the cheap beer and countless appetizers.