By Chris Brook

The Avalon Ballroom has been a fixture for entertainment on Lansdowne Street for the past 40 years in one form or another. This year, Avalon has trumped last year’s winner, Cambridge’s cozy Middle East, to secure the title of Northeastern’s Best Live Music Venue.

The cavernous nightclub, a “sister-club” to branches in New York City and Los Angeles, pulls in a number of high profile national bands and artists year round. The club, perhaps better known for its hot and heavy dance nights, pulls in a number of high profile national bands and artists year round.

Following a multi-million dollar renovation six years ago, Avalon now boasts an additional 7,000 square feet of space and wrap-around bars in addition to a spacious dance floor and mezzanine level. With a capacity of just over 2,000 people, Avalon is one of the largest venues in the city for touring acts, trailing behind the Roxy and the newly-named TD Bank North Garden (formerly the FleetCenter).

Having recently hosted sold out concerts by the Pixies, the Backstreet Boys and a string of St. Patrick’s Day shows with the Dropkick Murphys, it’s clear that Avalon is capable of reeling in eclectic acts and selling them out. Upcoming shows this summer are slated to include such indie-centric acts as nerd-rockers Weezer, Pacific-Northwest popsters the Decemberists, Canada’s Hot Hot Heat, alt-folk heartthrob Ryan Adams and pianist Ben Folds.

– Staff writer Chris Brook