The Lucky Horseshoe

A neighborhood dive bar on Cortland Avenue, the main commercial strip of Bernal Heights, the Lucky Horseshoe books live music most nights and rarely charges at the door. The calendar is built around recurring sessions — a Sunday bluegrass jam and an open jazz jam that draw players as much as listeners — filled out with local rock, roots, and indie acts working San Francisco's small-room circuit. Karaoke nights round out the week. Nearly every listing is free, which keeps the room closer to a neighborhood hangout than a ticketed venue.