You may have heard.

Despite its small size, New London is known across the country for a competitive live music scene. The city’s bands, songwriters and rappers travel extensively to great acclaim – and in turn attract like-minded artists from all over to come and perform in the Whaling City.

The result? There’s a lot of good live music happening if your ears are ready for it. And while shows in a variety of genres can pop up when you least expect it, count on these three venues to provide reliable performances from local and traveling performers.

33 Golden Street (33 Golden St.) is a subterranean joint that hosts metal, hardcore, rockabilly and punk – but the bar’s booking team is devilishly open to most things and is by no means bound by those sonic parameters. Ditto for the Oasis Pub (16 Bank St.), where indie rock (sorta) rules but all manner of troubadours, art-rockers, mainstream and punk musicians can trod the tiny stage on any weekend night.

And the Social Bar + Kitchen (208 Bank St.) provides a wide variety of music and shows, from jam bands and big bands to drag brunches, jazz, rock, blues and cabaret.

Turn it up!