House of Blues is an American chain of live music concert halls and restaurants founded on November 26, 1992, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The brainchild of Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and actor-musician Dan Aykroyd, co-creator of The Blues Brothers, the first venue opened at Harvard Square on Thanksgiving Day with backing from celebrity investors including Aerosmith, Paul Shaffer, and John Candy.
Today the chain operates 11 locations across the United States, ranging from New Orleans’ intimate 1,000-capacity French Quarter hall to the 2,600-seat Orlando venue at Disney Springs. Since July 2006, House of Blues has been a division of Live Nation Entertainment, which expanded programming far beyond its blues roots to encompass rock, hip-hop, country, and pop — while preserving the folk-art décor and Sunday Gospel Brunch traditions that made each venue distinct.
Stats at a Glance
- Founded: November 26, 1992
- Founders: Isaac Tigrett & Dan Aykroyd
- First Location: Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA
- Owner: Live Nation Entertainment (since 2006)
- Active Locations: 11 across the United States
- Capacity Range: 1,000–2,600 (varies by venue)
- Famous For: Blues heritage, folk-art décor & celebrity founding
Atmosphere and Heritage
Every House of Blues venue is designed to evoke the rootsy spirit of the American South, featuring handmade folk art sourced from the Mississippi Delta, corrugated tin walls, and theatrical lighting that recalls the honky-tonks and juke joints that birthed the blues. The interior aesthetic was deliberately unpolished — a contrast to the slick arenas of mainstream pop — and it became a defining feature that fans recognized from city to city.
A Sunday Gospel Brunch has been a signature event at most locations since the early days, pairing Southern comfort food with live gospel performances. The tradition helped establish House of Blues as more than a concert hall; it became a community gathering space rooted in African-American musical heritage, a mission reinforced by the chain’s nonprofit Music Forward Foundation, which has invested over $20 million in arts education for youth.
Legendary Performances and Cultural Impact
Over the decades, House of Blues stages hosted an extraordinary range of artists. Elton John played an intimate set at the New Orleans location to just 800 people — one of the most celebrated underplays of his career. The Sunset Strip location in Los Angeles, which closed in 2015, hosted nearly 10,000 shows across its run, including what became Tupac Shakur’s final concert on July 4, 1996 — a joint performance with Snoop Dogg and Tha Dogg Pound that was later released as the live album ‘Live at the House of Blues.’
The chain’s programming scope expanded well beyond its blues origins, with performances from Eric Clapton, Al Green, Lenny Kravitz, 50 Cent, and Snoop Dogg, among countless others. In April 1994, Aerosmith — one of the original celebrity investors — became the first band to play the Sunset Strip venue, introduced by co-owner Dan Aykroyd in his Blues Brothers costume. That blend of rock royalty, cultural reverence, and showmanship defined House of Blues from the start.
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House of Blues FAQs
Who founded House of Blues?
House of Blues was co-founded by Isaac Tigrett, the entrepreneur behind Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, the actor and musician best known as one half of The Blues Brothers. The first venue opened on November 26, 1992, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
How many House of Blues locations are there?
As of 2025, there are 11 House of Blues venues operating across the United States, including locations in New Orleans, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando, Boston, Houston, Cleveland, Myrtle Beach, and Anaheim.
What kind of music does House of Blues feature?
Although founded to celebrate blues music and African-American musical heritage, House of Blues now books a wide variety of genres including rock, hip-hop, country, pop, and gospel. The Sunday Gospel Brunch remains a beloved tradition at most locations.
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Photo by S L V on Pexels.