Court Tavern on Church Street is the legendary New Brunswick rock club where Bon Jovi played early gigs and where the long-running New Brunswick basement-show scene crossed paths with the formal venue circuit. It opened in 1980, closed in 2012, and reopened under new management — the live music side remains the heart of the place.
Expect loud guitar bands several nights a week, cheap drinks, a sticky floor, and a crowd that mixes students, locals, and visiting musicians. The Saturday matinee shows are a New Brunswick tradition. Cash machine inside but card now accepted.