If you enjoy live music with a contemporary flare, Jilly’s Music Room is one place you need to check out. Located in the Northside district of Downtown Akron, Jilly’s provides a live music venue with state of the art sound systems as well as a bar, cocktail menu and gluten free tapas menu. Recently, Jilly’s was even named number one in Akron for their 100% gluten free food and number three in live music venues.
I spoke with Jilly’s owner, Jill Bacon Madden, about what Jilly’s means to her and why she believes that live music is so important.
Jilly’s is not known for any specific genre of music, you can hear everything from blues, R&B, jazz, Americana, and that’s just to name a few. You’re bound to find something that fits your taste. You’ll also catch mostly original artists here performing all original music. The best part is there’s hardly ever a cover charge.
Most importantly, Jilly’s is not just for the 21 and over crowd. Even underage, you can come enjoy the music while accompanied by a responsible adult. Madden believes that exposure to live music is important and kids should be involved in music. They even showcase bands with children as young as nine. Madden says, “We encourage parents to bring their children in and expose them to live music; we think it’s really important.”
Madden owns multiple buildings downtown but holds a special attachment to Jilly’s. She moved into the area from Northern California and has called Akron her home for the past 25 years.
When asked what she likes specifically about Downtown Akron, Madden stated “Pretty much everything, I like the progress it’s been making in the past 20 to 30 years… there’s a lot to do down here now and a lot of excitement and a lot of vibrancy, a lot of great arts and culture, a lot of great new restaurants, a ball park.”
So whether you’re looking for some live music, wanting to grab a drink with some friends, or sit down for a nice Saturday lunch, Jilly’s is a great place to bring both friends and family. Check out DAP’s website for more details or visit Jilly’s Music Room website for food and drink menus, special events and merchandise.
By: Brittany Norman, DAP intern
Mentioned in this Post
Jilly's Music Room
111 N Main St