Paramount Theatre Seattle

Opened in 1928, the Paramount Theatre is one of the most beautiful performance spaces in Seattle. The architecture of the period is generous with its details: ornate ceiling work, elaborate framing around the stage, and a raked layout with a main floor and upper balcony that ensures solid sightlines from virtually anywhere in the house.

With a capacity of 2,800, the Paramount manages to maintain a scale that still allows a genuine sense of closeness to what is happening on stage.

During the 1990s, the venue hosted some of the most important shows of the Seattle scene, including Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains. Today the calendar remains active with rock and metal acts such as Alter Bridge, IDLES, Royal Blood, Trivium, Epica, Mastodon, and Slash, among others.

Nirvana’s Halloween Show: Live at the Paramount

On October 31, 1991 — Halloween night — Nirvana performed at the Paramount in a show that was recorded and released years later under the title Live at the Paramount.

It stands as one of the most complete and celebrated live documents in the band’s catalog.

Context matters here: the show was originally planned for the Moore Theatre, a smaller venue. But Nirvana had just released Nevermind in September 1991, and the album exploded up the charts at a speed no one had anticipated, sending songs like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Come as You Are” to radio stations around the world.

Ticket demand quickly outgrew the Moore, and the show was moved to the Paramount. That night, Nirvana played to nearly 3,000 people — the largest show of the band’s career up to that point.

Soundgarden at the Paramount: Motorvision

Soundgarden performed at the Paramount on at least five occasions. Their first appearance was on November 17, 1988; their last was a two-night run on February 7 and 8, 2013.

But the most iconic Soundgarden moment at this venue came across two nights in March 1992. On the 5th and 6th, the band took the stage alongside the Melvins — another Seattle band that directly shaped the sound of grunge — and both performances were recorded and edited into a single VHS release titled Motorvision. For Soundgarden fans, it remains one of the most cherished hometown live recordings in the band’s catalog.

Chris Cornell, throughout his solo career and with Audioslave — the supergroup he formed in the 2000s with members of Rage Against the Machine — also performed at the Paramount on multiple occasions. His first show there was on November 26, 1999; his last, on October 3, 2007.

Hotels near Paramount Theatre Seattle

Staying close to the venue is always a great opportunity to walk to and from the event, and enjoy the exciting atmosphere as musicians and fans gather throughout the day.