Nice venue, loud music! First, I highly recommend that you bring some ear-plugs with you, you won't regret it! I visited Kings on my last visit to Raleigh to watch Paerish perform. My only complaint was the maxing out of the volume on the sound system, when the bands all played, without hearing protection it was impossible to hear the lyrics. And those that didn't bring hearing protection ended up with a ringing in their ears the following day! The bar was great, I was dismayed when I found out that soda water had a charge above the entrance fee, since part of my tip went toward their register, but somebody has to pay for the bubbles out of their tap! If I go again, I will be certain to bring some extra sets of earplugs for the people that come with me. read more

Kings is not closed anymore!! Having great music summer of 2023!! Excellent sound. Great place. Go there

Oh mighty King Neptune! It's hard to beat the double-decker action at Kings Barcade and Neptune's Parlour. Down below it's all dark and cave-like, perfect to get your drank on. Up top at King's Barcade, things are a BIT brighter but not much so. Pop up the stairs, pay the cover and step into King's cavernous space. Stage to the left, muppets on display in front and drinky-bar to your right. Sidle up for a draft brew or cocktail and get ready to enjoy some music. Or maybe a zombie show. Or maybe some improv comedy. King's books a LOT of different acts and I've seen everything from local bands to actors kidnapping Morgan Freeman to our own Susan Z, attacking and munching on an unsuspecting zombie victim. (I kid you not...) So yeah, King's is pretty decent, a good mix of music and more. The crowd is more along the creative-hipster vein but not overboard. If you really want to see a lot of beards, plaid and chucks, go downstairs for that! All in all I'm pretty good with King's. Maybe not my favorite venue but good enough to keep myself entertained on a Friday or Saturday evening... read more

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My girlfriend and I were on a weekend stay in Raleigh and were looking for some live music - we noticed that there was a band playing at Kings -- we're the type who like to be out and about so we shrugged and said 'what the heck' - we ventured out to Kings to see the show. Kings is kind of a dive - it's sort of a hole-in-the-wall, but that's really all part of the charm of going to see a new act who play way too loud and are just having fun on the stage right? The bands were indeed way too loud and hard to understand, but it was a good time. The venue itself could stand a face-lift, but for the price of the show it was perfectly fine. There was a place to sit at the bar on the opposite side from the stage (for us older folks) -- which was nice. read more

This is a great spot to see live music in downtown Raleigh! The bartenders are great, and there's plenty of space to dance to your favorite band or sit in the back and sip on your drink. The stage if quite large and they have a lot of amazing local bands. Can't wait for this pandemic to be over to get back and see some more live music! read more

Kings - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Whoa, Kings. Kings takes the crown for the best music venue in Raleigh. Their booking has gotten better every year that I've lived in Raleigh. I've seen some of the best shows of my life here - including Hopscotch Music Festival, M83, Hum, the SparkCon burlesque show, The Love Language, Kooley High, King Mez, Active Child, the Dangling Loafer comedy, etc. The bartenders do an amazing job, often handling a large crowd and a full bar. I do think it's good etiquette to avoid the specialty cocktails at packed shows - if you're not too picky, go with a Narragansett tall boy for $3. They have a cooler full of those guys. Make sure to pop down to Neptunes after a show if you still have some energy. The cocktails are great down there, and dance parties start around midnight on the weekends. Pro tip: There's a water dispenser at the bar near the entrance. Somehow, they manage to keep it almost always full. read more

Kings - Kooley High - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I attended a few small indie concerts here. I love it! Such a nice, intimate venue. Acoustics around the stage were solid. There's no such thing as a bad seat here. Very relaxed atmosphere. Bartenders were attentive without being overbearing. I'll definitely have to come back for future concerts! I'm sure this is also a good place for after work drinks or just a good place for a break from the hum drum of the week. read more

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It feels a little like cheating writing a review for Kings when I didn't actually see a show there. Instead I saw the kick-off for this year's SPARKcon -- a presentation organized by our local PechaKucha group. I was there for three hours in a setting that would be unlike any other show there: sitting in uncomfy fold-out chairs looking up at a screen projector and a person or two on stage delivering their ideas. Acoustics for that seemed good though! ;) I really loved the space; you head upstairs and enter a room where the stage is in front and the bar is in back -- and there are two muppets in a balcony box up top (pretty friggin amazing). Large mural to the left that looks cool, though after studying it for quite some time during the intermission I realized I have no idea what it's depicting. Bartenders were friendly and fast, and could serve up Big Boss, Aviator and plenty of other brews. It got a little warm in here, being crowded and elevated. But I'm a fan and would definitely come for a show. If anyone figures out what that painting is of, PM me... read more

Kings - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

So my last statement really did apply. I returned to kings yesterday to see protomartyr, and it was a totally different vibe. The crowd was on the older end of the millennial spectrum (born in the early '80s), and I would say a good third of the crowd had warby parkers perched on their nose (myself included). I guess people who are into post-punk are less inclined to fall down drunk and throw stuff? It was pretty well attended but not totally sold out, so there was a little bit of breathing room. Also, there were people jumping around and dancing or whatever you want to call the facsimile of dancing that is on display at post-punk shows. People were moving. It's better than shows or clubs where people are just standing there and not even nodding their heads? Like, that's the least you could do? Come on, guys. But the crowd was chill enough that I felt perfectly safe near the front of the stage. I think even the band felt the chill vibes, because there was a group hug at the end amongst the band. My only comment is maybe the merch table isn't ideally located. If there's a long line after the show, it blocks access the the bathrooms and coat rack. It can also be awkward to navigate around on your way to the free water dispenser by the bar (btw no charge for the paper cups, and they're a decent size, and the water is cold, so thanks for that), and you have to get by the line to actually leave too. I was also bummed that the delicious Belgian beer I tried from the Raleigh brewing company was no longer on tap, but hey, at least the drinks are reasonably priced. $8 for a jack and Coke isn't the cheapest, but it's also not the most expensive for raleigh. And yeah, kings is a lot smaller than the ritz, but the ritz is a dump in the middle of nowhere, and kings is right downtown. So I imagine rent might be higher for kings, but they manage to charge a good two dollars less than at the ritz (and also tend to have more interesting bands but whatever). I would rather eat a moldy piece of bread than go back to the ritz. PS the Moore square parking garage by beasley's and chuck's is also pretty close and parking is free by the time most shows at kings end. So yeah. Good atmosphere, decent sound, nice drinks, great bands, and a chill crowd if you're lucky and hit up kings on the right night. read more

Kings - Statler and Waldorf have lots of opinions - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Great local, great bartenders but the sound. It's a small venue and I just feel if it hadn't been quite as jacked up as it was I could have really enjoyed the experience. I'm not saying I wanted it acoustic but on a Monday night with a smaller crowd size the sound definitely could have been adjusted for a better showing of the bands talent. read more

Beer could be way better. How about some bar snacks? Comedy night brought me in. Nothing special about the venue. Convenient to get to and hang out, then wander out into the Raleigh Night for a bite to eat. read more

Checked out King's for my friends hip-hop show last night & overall I was pleased. Of course, being the Muppets fanatic I am, I was blown away that Statler & Waldorf were in attendance! King's is pretty small, but the occupancy is 204, so that means they can pack a lot people in a small space. The bar is pretty big. Bartenders are friendly. The sound system is really nice. And for merch sales, they have a small space for artists to set up their selling space. read more

A cozy venue that squeezes out a band's energy, concentrating it into good sound, fun crowds, and groovy jams. I've seen several shows here (The Avett Brothers, The Sheepdogs, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, just to name a few, though I've seen non-local bands here too) and it's been an awesome show every time. It's a great stop in a Hopscotch Festival and SparkCon tours. Their reoccurring events (Dangling Loafer, The Great Cover Up, etc) are incredible, too. Great Raleigh staple. There's a high level of FOMO when you skip events at Kings. Tip: If you forgot your earplugs, they sell some at the bar for $1. read more

NYE 2012: As we approached the entrance, we noticed a long line of peeps eager to get in. Slowly, people started to yell out complaints as they were turned away at the door -- Neptunes/Kings was close to maximum capacity. My boyfriend and I rushed to the front with our pre-paid tickets in tow, gaining much-desired attendance to the party. Our accompanying three friends had will-call tickets, which wasn't a good idea, since they almost got turned away. Neptunes was absolutely slam-packed, so we trucked upstairs to the lesser-populated (but not by much) Kings. After first visiting the lavatory, I rejoined my boyfriend at the packed bar. With a $20 bill in hand, I leaned sensuously onto the bar, staring down the bartender lady until her eyes inevitably met mine. My boyfriend was baffled by my talent in getting the bartender's attention, since he was ignored and got a drink ten minutes later. Fortunately, there is a simple formula: don't have an attitude, smile, show some cleavage (that is, if you dare -- works with dudes and sometimes chicks), bring/show cash (it's preferred over credit cards), and leave a nice tip. After attaining drinks, I rejoined my other friends at one of the side tables, parallel the packed dance-floor. The jams issuing from The Lollipops were awesome -- just perfect for the mood of the tipsily jiving hipsters. Not even ten minutes later, the stage-host excitedly announced the countdown. Couples locked eyes as the numbers inched lower, inevitably locking lips in passionate, drunken kisses around the room, as puppy-faced, single dudes nursed their drinks and longingly creeped. Overall, the NYE party was amazing! Unfortunately, no snacks or champagne toasts were to be found -- I'm guessing this was in Neptunes only? My only embarrassing moment of the night was the drunken chick who forced her way into my bathroom stall while I was peeing. Luckily, I was too tipsy to get upset. read more

Great space and decore, parking is not too far away at Moore Square and is usually free after 7pm. Bathrooms are not disgusting, drinks are reasonable and they have a good draft selection of NC beers. My only complaint is that the sound often painfully loud. Yeah, yeah, yeah I know what you're thinking-- "If it's too loud, you're too old." But I don't have this complaint at Local 506, Motorco, Pinhook, or either room at the Cats Cradle. We see a lot of bands and years ago I realized no band is worth permanent hearing loss and when you're ears are ringing the next day and you had ear protection? They book some great bands, but it's not worth it for me. read more

I actually really dig this place. I didn't think I would. But I do! From the outside I always thought this was some run down casino but little did I know the slot machines were absent and the black jack tables imagined. At the door you have the option to go upstairs or downstairs. Don't be fooled by this, the only way to Kings is up. Downstairs lays Neptunes, a snazzy little bar (perfect for perching before an event at Kings). As you ascend the stairs you may still think you're headed for that mythical casino but once you enter you realize you're in a hip downtown venue. The layout is simple. Bar. Floor. Stage. They do have a full bar and the prices won't break the bank at all (at least not with $2 PBR). This place reminded me of places I would frequent in Baltimore when I was in college. It's not the largest venue in the world but also not the smallest (see review of The Brewery). Personally, I thought it to be the perfect size. I actually attended Kings for a show of DJs and the place was packed. PACKED! It did get ridiculously hot....so, don't say I didn't warn you. However hot it was it didn't stop people from having a good time. And that's what's important. I look forward to more shows here. read more

"I have dined with kings, I've been offered wings. And I've never been too impressed," Bob Dylan once said. I wonder if he would be impressed by Kings Barcade? Following our usual Friday nights tradition, we were again in Downtown hopping from one place to another; after leaving The Hive, and turned away from The Foundation because "over capacity," we decided to give Neptune/Kings a swirl. In the same night, I met a Duke, finally have my first check-in (even though I have been here a few times,) became part of a fashion photo-shoot (reads: photo-bombing while girls who wear too many glitter for a Friday night taking pictures of themselves,) and totally felt in love with a rocker chick with awesome pants and played a mean bass. Kings Barcade is this kind of the place. It is not the largest performance venue around town by measure, but it is the most diverse and wild one. Take a look at the event schedule, and you will see there is almost a booking every night of the month: sometimes small fame artists from out of town, sometimes a few local studio start-ups putting on a free show, and sometimes even Spelling Bee and A/V Geek-out challenge can be seen. Wait! Did I really just...? Surely I couldn't have...? But there it is! Statler and Waldolf! The critics from The Muppets are sitting on the wall, just like on the show. I guess if they can approve Kings Barcade, so can I. read more

King's has the nicest bar in a rock club I have ever, ever seen. Maybe it helps that it's still really new and hasn't had time to get beat up a lot yet. It's so clean! Ahhhh, and the ladies' room! Amazing! I prefer sitting up on the back benches, where you can see the stage, check out people outside on the street, and generally scan the entire room. You have to get there early in order to snag those prime seats, though. The bartenders are obviously well-seasoned, as they can manage a crowd all vying for drinks like it's nobody's business. The sound is great at King's, too. read more

I went here last night for the first time to see a show. I have been to Neptune's before, but was excited to get a chance to see a show here. Kings has the same entrance as Neptune's, but you go upstairs rather than downstairs when entering. Parking is not ideal, but there is some street parking nearby and a few decks not too far away. The bar area is in the back with a stage up front. The space is a lot bigger than I had expected it to be. The ceilings are high and the sound was good in this space. The bar in the back is pretty long with a lot of seating. They have a decent selection of local NC drafts, various canned beers and mixed drinks. The local beers were $4.50 each, about on par with what you would expect for a music venue like this one. Plenty of space to stand with benches in the back area. The particular show I went to was crowded, but not overly packed, so it did get a little warm in there. The crowd was pretty mixed but mostly if I had to guess, people in their 20s. I would not hesitate to come back for a show, I really liked the space and will be checking out their schedule more regularly now. read more

As others have said, Kings and Neptunes share the same entrance. Go upstairs for Kings and downstairs for Neptunes. Kings is one of the best intimate venues in the area. They get some great bands on a regular basis and the prices for the shows are acceptable. The sound setup is on par for a place of it's size and they have several projectors that can be used for enhanced visuals during a show. The bar is something that surprised me, which is located in the back right corner with plenty of seating. They offer a full bar with local beers as well. Even though they offer mixed drinks, you can also go cheap with a PBR. I always appreciate when a smaller venue can cater to every wallet. Even during more busy nights I've never had a problem getting a drink. I've been there once for a show and several times on a random Friday night, and it has never disappointed. From a local or national act to a dance party, it's guaranteed fun. I'll be back soon. read more

Friends who had lived in Raleigh before me would tell me of wild, crazy, and fun nights at Kings Barcade when it was on McDowell Street. When it reopened in its current location, I was thrilled to give Kings a try; I wanted to create my own treasured memories. And I have. Kings Barcade's schedule includes comedy shows, dance parties (notably DSCVRY), A/V, spelling bees, unappreciated bands, private events, and so on. The floor plan and interior design create an intimate space while still inciting that lively, energetic feel of crowds. But I still have yet to capture that emotional bond that hooked my friends who had frequented the old version of Kings. Unfortunately, I also always have a difficult time getting drinks at the bar. Maybe I should be more aggressive? Then again, I'm pretty sure the service is just slow during packed events. Kings is pretty decent. I'll go again, but I can't rave about it like those before me. read more

I came to King's Barcade last week to see a little-known Swedish hip-hop band, Movits! . It seems like a great venue for smaller bands or local acts that can't book the big times yet. Small enough to be intimate and let everyone feel close to the band, yet large enough to hold a crowd and allow for moshing/dancing. In terms of layout, I really like how it is set up. The bar was well-stocked and affordable. Beers ranged from $2 cheapos to $4.50 for the local brews (I always recommend Duck Rabbit Milk Stout). The bartender, John, was friendly and accessible as well. I'll definitely be back for some shows when I'm hanging around Raleigh. read more

This is a simply excellent music venue. The sound is impressive and the setting relatively intimate. I've seen local acts like Gray Young and Once and Future Kings and nationally touring indie bands like Lotus Plaza and Com Truise. You'll find a range of genres here. There's a lot of bar space, which is great. On crowded nights it can still be hard to get a bartender's ear, but they work hard. They have cool and simple decor and clean restrooms - which one sometimes doesn't find at venues. read more

Came here for a show and ordered the Paloma, expecting your average grapefruit tequila what-have-ya. Little did I know, this was not your run of the mill bar lime. This single lime wedge produced enough juice for a pitcher of rita's. Could it be this lime was simply left out to oxidize? NO!! The limes grew in juice content as my night went on. I left with ringing ears and a belly full of citrus. If you're in the Raleigh area, come for the show but stay for the limes! read more

King's and Neptune's are such fun places :) you can go downstairs and dance your little heart out, or you can go upstairs and jam out to whatever band they have that night. Neptune's was much busier than King's when we went 2 weeks ago, but they were SO fun!! I'll definitely be back :) read more

I went here recently to see Weyes Blood, who was great. The venue overall was nice, bartender was friendly, chill crowd on a Sunday night, reasonable prices. But if you see a show here, bring earplugs. I did, and the show still managed to be way too loud and boomy even with my earplugs. I've seen a lot of live music in lots of small venues, and this was the first time the sound distorted in my ears even with the earplugs in. My friend was also wearing earplugs and said his ears were ringing after the show. There wasn't anywhere we could stand in the room without feeling like we were being blown away. And this was while seeing a kind of folky band. read more

I've only been to Kings a couple of times, but I wish that number was a bit higher as this is a sweet local music (and other stuff) venue. This is a great intimate space that attracts the best in local talent, as well as some significant national acts. The space is small but well utilized and just the right size to get a solid show experience. At this size, there clearly is not a bad seat in the house. If you don't want to stand in the main area, you can always pull up a stool at the bar or sit on one of the back benches in the back area. The stage, and hence every act, is watched over by Statler and Waldorf of Muppet fame. The bar is located to the back right, and offers a very respectable variety of local brews (ie, FullSteam, Big Boss, Aviator) as well as mixed drinks. The crowd seems to be mostly of the young hipster type, and thus there's ample PBR as well. Statler and Waldorf always seem to be impressed by the goings on here, so who am I to disagree? read more

I finally made it to Kings. My friends seem to be there every weekend and they finally got me to go. I am glad I did. Once we got up the stairs and in the door we came across a display table. My friend and I had a great time playing with the jumping toys on the table. The venue is pretty neat. The two old critic muppets have their own box seats for all shows. If only they really moved and talked. The back of the stage gives a feel of old 60's music shows. The only complaint is how sticky the floor is. I got stuck pretty good a few times. Great place for small band shows. read more

Staff is rude, lady forced us out of performance area. We performed 30 minutes ahead of schedule due to our meet and greet and were still forced to leave even when the time on set said "until". Lady complained and pouted as she walked away. Never going back. Also, we brought them a huge crowd. read more

If you are looking for a fun and interesting night, be sure to check out King's Barcade! This was one of the first clubs that I ever frequented in Raleigh, particularly because I first moved here when I was under 21 years of age and DSCVRY (a monthly dance party they host) is 18+ with a small surcharge for those under 21. It's a huge dance party that brings out some big names in the dance scene. The space gets pretty crowded after midnight and the floor gets pretty sticky. You'll certainly burn off your calories for the day though -- the music is bumpin' and your body will be shakin'. The bartenders are pretty quick to get your orders too -- it's a full bar with a fair draft beer selection. The decor is pretty neat and sometimes they have a "photo booth" where you can get your picture taken. The bathrooms are normally well maintained too, which is nice. All in all, this is a great location to enjoy a fun night out. I have not attended a concert here nor have I made it out for a comedy show. I certainly would be open to that though. read more

So, my first issue was not Kings' fault; I was trying to purchase tickets online, but kept getting redirected to an error page by eTix. On my bank account it said that the charges were pending, so I decided to give Kings a call (it took literally 20 calls and got the voicemail prompt of a full voicemail box), to see if my tickets had gone through. I finally spoke to someone and explained my situation, she asked my name and told me, "Yep, you're good to go. See you tonight!" Okay, cool. I get to the venue and go to the girl with the clipboard and tell her my name. "Uh, you're not on here." Seriously? I told her again what the situation was and that I had spoke to someone on the phone that had confirmed my will call tickets went through...her only response was to laugh and say "You actually called here and someone picked up the phone? I've been here all day, and you're not on here." Luckily, we had cash (because that's all they take at the door) and were able to see the show. The act went on 45 minutes late--I'm sure this isn't the venue's fault, but this meant they were not able to perform their whole set, because of the upcoming breakdance competition. I also wish the stage lighting was better so that I could actually see the act. Solid tap list, though. read more

I know this makes me sound like an old granny raising her cane and crowing about the good old days, but I miss the old version of Kings on McDowell Street. It was a true run-down grimy dive, my favorite place to escape from the bright, shiny, full-of-khakis school world. I would go there to drink bourbon and listen to obscure indie bands and bask in my loner coolness. On many a weekend night in the early 2000's, I sat by the dilapidated pool table with my nose stuck in textbooks, cramming for exams between band sets, while getting hit on by the band's bass player (always the bass players) who offered to help me study anatomy. But this review is for the newly revamped Kings, so I'll stop reminiscing. First, you need to walk up the stairs (there is a different nightclub down the staircase), and pay a few dollars for a lifetime membership fee to enter the first time. Once you go inside, it's bright and spiffy, with hip funky art on the walls, including actual puppets of the old Muppet guys with perpetually furrowed eyebrows in a balcony seat, mocking us under their breaths. There's a square-shaped bar in the back, with the encased bartender able to serve customers on all sides. The open area by the stage is mostly for standing, with a few bleachers on the sides. I've been to a few music shows (most memorably, The Mountain Goats) where there were sound issues, frustrating both the performers and the audience, but they were eventually overcome. I have also been to dance parties and spelling bees at this venue. The clientele? Hipsters, ahoy! Many on the shallow side of 20's, which alienates me (an early thirtysomething) just a bit. As with the old Kings, they book fantastic, highly regarded, often underappreciated bands, so I will do my best to support them. But I don't have the same emotional pull to the relocated, post-facelift Kings. It's not destined to become a much-loved haunt for me, like the prior version, but I'm happy that Kings still exists in Raleigh, in whatever form. read more

Their food is pretty good, their staff is always nice but they seem under staffed at night. The atmosphere is fun & enjoyable. The only thing they the need to do is get new Bowling balls. all of there balls have gashes all over them. read more

Neat little venue hosting J Roddy Walston and the Business. Great show. Intimate while still feeling crowded and lively. Bartenders were nice, drink prices were reasonable. Crowd was mixed but good. Only concern was the area at night. While it seemed good going in, by midnight when I left it was deserted outside with the occasional bum or crazy person making eye contact and following me rapidly to my car. Keep your mace handy! read more

Hidden Gem in all the madness of North Hills. Had a groupon for each of us to bowl three games each. Shoes were clean and not nasty. Bathrooms very clean. Food was surprisingly homemade and high quality especially bruschetta. Our female server from Dunn was very attentive and even made recommendations on how to combine our orders to save money. Will definitely return!! read more

Kings is one of my favorite venues and I go here regularly to see A/V Geeks shows. I also enjoy seeing bands here as well. The bartenders are always friendly and know how to mix a good drink. They have a seasonal cocktail menu and there's always something interesting to try! read more

Saw Ki: Theory here. Good drinks and great staff. I will come here more often when I'm in town.

These guys are extremely creepy. The bartender made lewd comments all night long and made me feel very uncomfortable. Ill never visit this establishment again. He ended up kicking me and my entire group out of the bar after I refused his advances. 0/10 Do not go to this place. Ever. read more

Sat at the bar on Wednesday 12/28/2017 Austin and Andrew both took great care of us and worked very well as a team, they gave great service despite being very busy. Will defiantly be returning very soon and would recommend for anyone looking to have a good time, eat good food, and drink amazing drinks. read more

I visited Kings for the first time this past weekend. The venue was small, but that's what is so great about it. It's allows you to experience the show more intimately. I got to see an awesome band up close, and was able to meet with them afterwards. The venue is charming, with great acoustics. I would definitely go back for another show. I may, however, reconsider buying drinks from the bar. The customer service was awful. Step it up bartenders! read more