Free music concerts are often held at the bayside Los Arcos amphitheater. For more information on these and other live-music listings, check out the events calendars and nightlife pages in Vallarta Today or Vallarta Tribune.
Cover charges are not generally required at the hotel bars, many of which offer live music and dancing. Among the most reliable venues are the Sheraton (tel. 322/224-0202), the Marriott (tel. 322/226-0000), the Fiesta Americana (tel. 322/226-2100), and the Playa los Arcos (tel. 322/226-7100). Be sure to phone ahead to check programs.
Many Puerto Vallarta [1] restaurants also offer low- to medium-volume live music accompaniment with your evening meal. For example, for Latin music try La Palapa (tel. 322/222-5225), on Playa los Muertos just north of New Pier. For jazz, go to Cuates y Cuetes (Latin jazz, tel. 322/222-9511), also on Playa los Muertos; River Cafe (tel. 322/223-0788) on Isla Río Cuale below the downstream Avenida Vallarta bridge; or El Set (tel. 322/221-5341) view restaurant, about a mile south of town.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/puerto-vallarta/puerto-vallarta