Little Red Hen
The Little Red Hen is Seattle's legendary home of live country music. This classic honky tonk sits on Woodlawn Avenue in the Green Lake neighborhood and it is one of the only places in the city where you can walk in on almost any night and hear live music or join a packed dance floor. For musicians it offers two of the most welcoming weekly jams in Seattle with a Sunday Open Mic Jam and a Tuesday Bluegrass Jam that draws pickers from all over the region.
A Seattle Institution
The Hen dates back to 1933 and has called its current home at 7115 Woodlawn Avenue NE since 1968. Over nearly a century it has become a true cultural landmark and fans describe it as one of Seattle's historic treasures. It is widely known as Seattle's only country western dance floor and the place where two-step and partner dancing traditions are passed from one generation to the next. Regulars love that the room brings everyone together with musicians and dancers and cowboys and hipsters and young tech workers and retirees all sharing the same floor.
The Fight to Save the Hen
In 2025 the bar faced an eviction lawsuit from its landlord that put its future in doubt. Fans rallied behind the Save The Hen campaign and gathered more than 7000 petition signatures. Bluegrass players even turned out with banjos and fiddles in hand to show support. Through it all owner Dominic Shim and the staff kept the doors open and the music playing. In September 2026 the eviction case was dismissed which was welcome news for the dancers and musicians who call the Hen home. The venue has thanked its patrons for standing by it through the pandemic and the legal fight.
The Vibe
Wood paneling and neon signs and a well worn dance floor give the Hen its classic honky tonk feel. Two-steppers and line dancers share the room with bluegrass pickers and neighborhood regulars. It is friendly and unpretentious and newcomers are welcomed onto the floor. Dance lessons have long been part of the Hen experience and many regulars say learning to two-step here changed their lives.
Sunday Open Mic Jam
Sunday evenings belong to local players. Billy Bodacious hosts the Open Mic Jam starting around 7:00 PM and surprise special guests often sit in. Expect country and blues and rock and roots music with a friendly crowd that likes to dance. It is a great chance to play for a real dance floor crowd.
Tuesday Bluegrass Jam
Every Tuesday the Outlanders Progressive Bluegrass Social Club brings its jam to the Hen. Beginners gather for an informal picking circle around 7:00 PM and the stage set with more polished players starts around 8:15 PM. The jam is so popular that players often spill out onto the sidewalk and into the parking lot to keep picking. Host Stan Hall leads the night and the club runs several jams a week around the Seattle area.
More Music and Dancing
Live entertainment runs seven nights a week. Monday brings a line dance party and Wednesday is karaoke night. Thursday through Saturday the stage belongs to live country and roots bands playing for a full dance floor. The Hen has also hosted the Femme Jam series which creates a safe and welcoming space for women and trans and non-binary musicians.
Why Musicians Love It
Few venues give players a chance to perform for dancers every week. Between the Sunday jam and the Tuesday bluegrass circle and the weekend bands the Hen is a place where local musicians learn their craft and meet bandmates and build a following. It has supported Seattle's country and roots scene for generations.
Good to Know
The Little Red Hen is located at 7115 Woodlawn Ave NE in Seattle WA 98115 near Green Lake. It is 21 and over. Happy hour runs daily from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Call (206) 522-1168 or visit littleredhen.com for the current calendar and hours. Schedules can change so confirm with the venue or host before heading out.
