The Majestic Theatre is a quaint concert venue that reminds me of 80's Hollywood clubs. I enjoyed an intimate Buckethead performance with 300 other fans. The theatre is clean, the staff are friendly, attentive and organized. The MGE charge rail (sponsored by MGE) is broken which was disappointing. It would have been awesome if it actually worked. I guess it's been broken for a while. I would suggest taking down the promotional signage or have it fixed. read more

Majestic Theatre - Buckethead - Music Venues Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Amazing music venue in the heart of Madison Wisconsin. We have had the opportunity to see many shows at this venue. We opted for some cozy second row balcony seating. What a joy to be able to sit back and relax take in some music, have a drink and enjoy the evening. read more

See all

Prices are outrageous inside. One bottle of water will set you back $5.28. Staff are also unprofessional at times. A staff member in a brown hoodie with long hair was called over because some poor guy was getting beat up by someone. The staff member ended up kicking both people out, which is ridiculous. i've been to a couple great shows here, but it's really gone downhill recently. read more

I went to a show at the Majestic recently and really enjoyed myself. The venue has a great midsize feel. The sound quality was solid, and I loved being able to relax in my seat upstairs and enjoy the music. Parking was easy, if you park in the ramp a block awayt. The only issue is finding seating could be tricky when it got busy and staff was less than helpful when I asked them to help me as I needed disability seating. Bathrooms were clean but dark, and the overall vibe of the theater was really nice. It's a great spot for live music, and I'd definitely go back for another show. read more

Terrible venue!! Greedy, money-hungry management. There are multiple severe tornadoes, floods, and thunderstorms all across the Midwest today- on the same day as a concert I have bought tickets to. Venue refuses to issue refunds on tickets, and is not cancelling or rescheduling the event. I totally understand not cancelling for those who are local to Madison- but I am multiple hours away and they refused to cancel/refund my tickets! Driving to this venue would put my life in danger. The management seems to care more about their profits than human lives. There is an actual tornado heading directly towards Madison as I type this! By not cancelling, they are putting people in danger. Shame on you Majestic Madison, you have lost my business for life. read more

I really love a midsize venue and Majestic was a prime example of why. We drove up from Iowa for a Sunday night show not knowing much about the theatre or the area. Parking was a breeze (in and out). We arrived just 30min before doors to not much of a line, but security was ahead of the game checking bags. Merch being just inside the doors causes a bit of a clog, but again venue staff were on top of crowd control and people were pretty responsive. There's not a bad spot in the entire place either. Sound was solid. Bathrooms were clean. My buddy was particularly blown away by how smoothly everything went. We had a really great time and wouldn't hesitate to come back for other shows in the future. read more

Majestic Theatre - Music Venues Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Been to several shows over the past months, and this feels like a very different vibe than The pandemic. They're bringing incredible groups, entry staff is friendly, place feels safe. There are plenty of places to park around the venue, and shows start on time. Really appreciate the acts that they're booking. Just last weekend, I was able to see Donavon Frankenreiter and Andy Frasco back to back... Fortunate to have these kinds of choices in Madison. It's become a Madison Trope to complain about live nation/FPC stranglehold on five big venues: Breese Stevens, Sylvie, Orpheum, Majestic, high noon. I give one star for the ticket fees and the high drink costs. But I'm not gonna hold that against this venue. The theater slant a little sideways, the floor bounces like a minor earthquake during shows, and the bathroom situation is less than perfect... But for an old historic venue, this place rocks. read more

Majestic Theatre - February 2025 - Music Venues Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

From the fourth row because I showed up at door time to the first row because I showed up at 5:30, all good things for seeing, hearing, being part of real live rock n' roll music here this year. People body scanning with the wand outside the door are reasonable, friendly, and efficient. NOT on a power trip like that other similarly sized venue downtown. People wristbanding also calm and cool. Bathrooms are down the ramp and sort of behind the stage. Clean enough. Well lit. Took a young person turning 18 that day to a rock show here. Love that that show had the option for expanded ages. Not sure if all are all ages? Check your show if you have young people in your life. Who knows, you may get to help make a cool memory for that person at the Majestic Theatre! The venerable stalwart in Madison that's hung on by sheer will. A small but intimate setting, you get to be up and in it and involved! Not on your phone watching through. Both headlining musical acts I saw here had sold out shows. On atypical nights of the week. And the tickets were $30. So come support widely. It's like you can't afford not to in this small club. We're lucky such a place still exists in Madison! read more

I loved this venue. The sound was great. The security was there but relaxed which was a nice change from the show I was at the night before in Chicago. This place was very intimate. I loved it. I would definitely drive the 2 hours from Chicago to see another show here again. Highly recommend if you haven't been. read more

Water main issue. Concert cancelled. Not their fault I drove two hours to get there. And drove two hours back home. Did get a refund. Woulda coulda shouda. read more

See you heroes up close and personal, that's what Majestic has going for it. I've seen many shows here and sound and sightlines are good. Management could do a better job and managing flow of the entry, which is a clusterF. Show your tix, show your ID, all done before you can enter the building instead of wrapping through the far door into the hallway. While bartenders are absolutely top notch here, the bar area is also a cluster to enter/exit. Lowered expectations for seeing shows here. read more

See all

A pretty cool place to see a show. The queuing process to get into the venue is incredibly slow. It's usually just one person checking ids and wanding people. The line get pretty backed up. There are a lot of good angles to see the performing artist. Getting a drink is pretty seamless too and also offers a good spot to watch once the show starts. The sound quality varies by artist, as I've had good and bad experiences. Overall, the Majestic is a decent place to see a show read more

Majestic Theatre - the marquee for majestic - Music Venues Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I used to visit this place when I was in college at UW and loved the intimate atmosphere and ability to meet most bands I came to see as I'm a big fan of signed gear. I visited last weekend for the Folk Fest and am so glad to see that my nostalgia was still matched. While locations of things have changed there's still the merch section on the right when you enter where bands will hang out both before and after their sets. Coat check has moved upstairs, which is much better than by the merch section, and there's also a small bar up there. The venue is still intimate and you can get up front if you want. The seating upstairs is also amazing if you can't stand for an entire show. Best of all worlds! Keep it up! read more

Majestic Theatre - Good Morning Bedlam - Music Venues Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

The worst bar of any of the venues in town, bartenders are excellent as well as all the staff but I'd rather go to any other venue in town before going here. Prices seem higher and quality is lacking, cocktails are $14 and coke from a fountain super gross read more

I have only been to one show here, but I had an amazing time! We lined up outside before doors opened, and then streamed in to find some seats. We chose to go upstairs in the balcony. It was an acoustic show and was just perfect for the venue. My only critique is for how amazing this place is, I'd love to see some updates. The walls were pealing and certain areas just looked grubby. read more

Majestic Theatre - the marquee for the show - Music Venues Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

The venerable theater in Madison that's hung on by sheer will. A small but intimate setting, you get to see all of your favorite artists perform. Coat check, reasonable bar that accepts credit cards, clean restrooms, and great sound quality. We're lucky to have such a place still exists in town! read more

Majestic Theatre - Music Venues Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The Majestic Theatre is a real gem! It's very conveniently located--lots of bars and shopping and restaurants surrounding the venue and it was barely a five minute walk back to my hotel. It's so clean inside and the ceilings are so high so that even in a body-to-body concert, one does not feel so claustrophobic. The small details, like the proscenium arch are so beautiful. The security is top-notch--I know some people might disagree but I appreciate a thorough inspection, as it gives me piece of mind. My one gripe, and it seems to be a fairly common one, is that beverages are expensive; that's pretty standard though for most concert venues, but it doesn't make paying $10 for a solo cup of whiskey and coke hurt any less. Of course, the major eye-candy behind the bar (at least for the show I attended) did make up for it just a teensy bit. I feel like it should go without saying, if you attend shows with any sort of regularity and are the boozing type: get to the area early, find a bar close by and get a good buzz going before the show. Cheers! read more

See all

The idea of Majestic makes me so happy. I've seen... too many shows to count here, and the venue is easy to get to, has nice employees, and decent seating and standing areas. The security process is quick, and the line to get through the metal detector wand, getting your ticket scanned and ID checked only take about 30 seconds, and then you're in and set for the night. Sometimes, the line can be long to get in, but it really does move fast, and hey, it's a chance to make some friends with similar music taste. When you walk in on the right, they sell merchandise and sometimes have a coat check. During the Fall/Spring shows, it's hard to predict whether they will have coat check, but you can always call ahead when their box office opens (usually 30 mins to an hour before doors open) or post on their social media pages. Their large bar area to the left on the main floor usually has 4 to 5 bartenders, but you do have to be a little pushy to get a drink on some nights. They also have a smaller bar upstairs. The bathrooms are mediocre, and into the night, they can get nasty. There's one gender neutral restroom upstairs, but you just have to get lucky to be walking up as someone is walking out of this single unit restroom. Their water situation, as mentioned in other reviews, is not ideal. They sell bottles for $3 and have a hard water stained fountain down by the fist floor bathrooms. It's nice to have standing and seating room options, depending on your mood and type of music you're seeing. If you want to be close to the stage, you should try to show up relatively earlier or be prepared to push through some elbows because that front standing area can get tight. I do love the Majestic. If they stepped up their bathroom and water game, I'd be even more of a devoted proponent of seeing shows at the Majestic. read more

Majestic Theatre - Misterwives! Standing about 4 rows back on the main floor - Music Venues Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

It looks like the Majestic is usually we music venue, but we were here for a wedding yesterday and it's certainly 5 stars for a wedding venue! The staff at the Majestic was extremely easy for the bride to work with throughout the entire process. All of the wedding supplies were dropped off to the coordinator early in the day, and the space was a twinkly wedding wonderland by the time the guests arrived. All of the staff from the bouncers to the bartenders to the coordinator were fantastic. They flipped the main floor from a dinner space to dance floor quickly and quietly after dinner. The guests then danced the night away. Great space for a wedding, and I imagine equally as wonderful for a concert. read more

Majestic Theatre - Wedding setup. - Music Venues Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Majestic has definitely been one of my most-visited venues in the last decade or so. My first experience was way back when they were still painted purple and had the crazy throne chairs. I went to see the Cat Empire with a friend and had a fun time dancing from the band from down under. Later, I had organized a Battle of the Bands to find an opener for Bon Jovi (my life is weird and awesome) and we had it at the Majestic. Not too long after, ownership changed hands, the inside got a paint job, and they started their new life as more of an indie/rock music venue than a club. That's not to say they don't still have great dance parties - 80s vs 90s and Backstreet Boys vs *NSYNC are basically everything I want when I go dancing. I'm there for shows way more often, though. Things I love: it's cozy if you're on the first floor, the sound tends to be good, and there's a really good variety of acts. As a short, claustrophobic person, the tiers leading back from the main floor are awesome when I can wedge my way in there. Double awesome if I can find a chair, because I'm actually taller sitting on one of their chairs than I am standing. Things I'm not crazy about: the balcony of the theater curves and there are seats that you literally can't see the stage from, so for really crowded shows this can be just the worst. I also can't get behind $3 for a bottle of water. For dance parties they used to have pitchers and cups out and it was great. When they took them away, I asked about it at the bar and they said it was a health code violation (curious how all the restaurants in town get away with this if this is the case). The bartenders have often been unwilling to give me a glass of water from the soda gun (which I would have tipped for). I'd understand $1 a bottle, or at least $1 a bottle with the purchase of another beverage. Three dollars though...not so much. Beverage disputes aside, though, I love the Majestic and look forward to attending many more shows there. read more

See all

First you need to know that I'm disabled to understand this post. I have to walk with a cane most days and can't do stairs very well and when I asked for handicap seating on the main floor I was told it was all reserved and to go upstairs or I can stand or lean on a bar. After hobbling up the steps, the very nice bartender was kind enough to listen to my disapproval. He did apologize, but pain is already set in from the stairs. Just a thought, when someone asks for assistance be kind and help. read more

There are a few great things about this place: 1. Tall ceilings. Like, you can breathe in here, so that's a plus for a music venue in my book. 2. Variety. I've been to Majestic twice... once for a Brazilian carnival and once for a bluegrass show. No kitsch, just music. 3. Five star location! Right on Capitol square, it's really easy to bar hop after the show... even if it's raining and you end up chasing your date through the streets, stopping under each awning for retreat from the downpour. read more

Majestic Theatre - Great location downtown. - Music Venues Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I have been to the Majestic more times than I can count for all sorts of shows and dance parties. Majestic lands some of the best concerts around. Madison is pretty lucky to have this venue with awesome rotation of shows. The venue is decent for the size however it is very tight when a show is sold out. The multi tiered floors is great for shorties like myself. However if I don't get there early I it makes it hard to get a decent spot where I can see. They have a decent beer selection and prices are not bad for a music venue. I've seen worse (prices and selection) at other venues. 4 Stars because it is often slow getting into the venue, typically there is one or two people working the security/checking tickets. With it being an older venue it can be dusty and can cause allergy flair ups. The bathrooms are downstairs and you can expect a line between the opener and main act. Lastly... I rarely see the upstairs balcony open to the public, or an option to purchase tickets. I am not a young pup anymore and tend to stay out of the "pit". read more

Great place for a show! It's a nice small venue with good sound. I stayed on the main floor and there wasn't a bad view anywhere. The bar offered a nice selection of draft beers. The bartenders were quick and friendly. The crowd was chill and there was no pushing or shoving. The ladies restroom was clean. We parked in a parking garage that is located right behind the Majestic and next to Great Dane Brew Pub. It cost $5.00 for 5 hours. What a deal! We were able to have a pre-show drink & app at Great Dane & then walk right over. There were a few other restaurants within walking distance for a pre-show drink. I would definitely return to this venue to see a show & will keep an eye on who's performing there from now on. read more

Awesome venue! I'm from Chicago, so I'm used to crowds and chaos... I came here to see Misterwives with friends. Show started at 8; we arrived at 7:30 and still had a decent spot with a view. There's not a bad spot in the house! Bartenders were friendly and attentive. Heads up, if you're paying with a card, there is a 2 drink minimum. I highly recommend this place - I'll be back for sure! read more

Majestic Theatre - Majestic!!! - Music Venues Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Ya'll ladies out there? Never leave it up to a boy to plan your night out - unless you are 110% certain that he knows what he's doing... We were supposed to go to the Sorne concert. It wasn't until we got there that we realized that although the Sorne concert was presented by Magestic Live, it was actually taking place on the other side of the Capitol at The Frequency. In the time it would have taken us to relocate, we would have already missed a good bit of the concert, so we decided to check out the '80 vs '90 show that was just getting started inside the theatre. It was a happy accident! :) The Majestic Theatre did not disappoint. The acoustics were great and the lights weren't too shabby either. They always seem to have a broad line-up of artists - some mainstream, some of the more alternative type - so there really is something for everyone. This venue is definitely worth keeping your eye on! read more

Yo, Madison, I get that this is a landmark and all, but you gotta get your crowds under control. I was here last weekend to see a pretty lowkey concert, all acoustic, nothing to get rowdy about. The concert itself was fine, and the venue staff were fairly attentive and great about telling us what we couldn't do, before the concert stared. It's hard not to get your feathers ruffled when you are at a concert, no one's really nice about standing room only situations, but there were a few patrons that honestly should have been apprehended and bounced out of the venue. There was one guy in particular who was very pushy and gropey with the ladies. Venues other places have a number you can text about individuals who need to be removed. Majestic, you need this system. You need something. Because the staff basically disappeared after the concert started and those of us up at the front didn't want to leave to report this individual, but we also didn't want to be near him. The venue itself was decent, but consider helping us help you. Thanks! read more

Want water to wash down the disgusting "mystery shot"? That'll be $3. They refuse to give tap water. And they'll be total dicks when you ask. They even suggested my friend could get water in the bathroom...but they won't give cups. If I could give zero stars I would. Still had fun with my friends. But we all stopped buying any drinks after that and only stayed because we paid the cover. read more

I'd only head back here for a band I really want to see, it's not a place I'd simply go out to - it wasn't an enjoyable enough space for me for that. What I liked was the historic charm of the place. What I didn't like was over-priced drinks ($7 draft beers served in plastic cups?!) and the refusal to give customers a tap water even after they've ordered several of your over-priced beers. The upstairs bathroom was also strange - it was uni-sex, which is fine, but it had a stall with a locked door next to a urinal. It was not clear to many people if you were supposed to lock the bathroom door too or just lock your stall door. There seemed to be many awkward moments where a woman would be in the stall and then emerges to find a dude standing at the urinal. SURPRISE!! It's standing-room only on the main floor with scattered cocktail tables around. Head upstairs for a seat, although it certainly did fill up on the Saturday night we were there. The view from upstairs is not great - if you were buying tickets for the seats it would probably have to be called "obstructed view" or "limited view" because you're looking through a railing from many of the seats. The one nice thing was that staff was pretty conscientious about moving people along who kept standing in front of the seated section blocking the view. All in all, I'd go back if it was the only way I'd see a particular performer but otherwise it's a place I'm fine not visiting again. read more

A cool place for a show in Madison. When it is packed it is like a good party atmosphere. The drinks aren't too overpriced, they have a coat check, and getting tickets scanned on your phone makes for a fun night. They bring in international and local acts and hip hop, metal, electronic, etc. can bee see here, as well as 90's vs 80's and movie nights. read more

See all

This is a tough one! 5 stars for a historic venue with a lot of charm and amazing concerts! Just got back from seeing a great show by Volcano Choir and plan to go back to see a couple shows in October. But.... I have to average that out with the 3 stars based on the more practical factors involved in reviews....the floors were so sticky I was having trouble lifting my feet in some areas, the carpets and chairs were filthy and the women's bathroom was really inexcusably disgusting. Just disgusting. If this place cleaned up it would be my favorite place in Madison to see a show for sure! read more

Majestic is a cool, old theater that is now a place for live music and dancing. I think they do a good job overall. - The intimate setting is great for live shows. - restrooms are clean (as is reasonable for a nightclub) and have the necessary paper products throughout the night. - DJ Nick Nice is really good. I recommend coming out when he's in the house. Now for the "meh" comments: - I LOVE that they have a coat check. Madison needs to get with the program and have more coat checks. However, it costs THREE DOLLARS! I can park my car cheaper than this! And, they have a tip jar on top of the coat check fee. - lack of chairs and tables is fine for Madonna vs Britney dance party night, but tonight I'm here for an African band and there are a lot of people here old enough to be my grandparents who are not going to be able to stand for the entire show. I suggest adding more seating for this type of show. - drink pours are very weak. read more

Great little venue. Husband and I were there last night for the Wisconsin Bluegrass Festival. What a great show they put together for a only $10! I wish we would have gone to some of the other shows in the this series. I'll be watching for these next year. Really want to see the hip hop show. The bar had a great craft beer selection and top shelf liquors. I liked that there were garbage cans throughout and they were emptying them throughout the night. I will definitely watch for more shows here for my husband and I to attend. Wish we lived closer so we could hit up the Packer watch party going on today. Go, Pack, Go!!! read more

Kind of small and a bit cramped but, you know... the event I went to (Dirt Monkey) was awesome! I had so much fun! Got there pretty earlier and was able to get in quickly so that's a plus! Didn't have to freeze my ass off outside. The facility itself seemed pretty clean and organised for the event. Bottled water is about 5 bucks a bottle so make sure you keep your eye on that liquid gold because there are a few young bucks who will take your water. (No joke!!) It was a sold out show and I still had room to dance and was able to fully enjoy the entire experience. The bar was quick to get drinks out so that was awesome! Bathrooms were a pretty good size for being a smaller building. They have coat check ins as well so that was cool. I didn't use it because I just wore a sweater. If you've ever been to The Rave in Milwaukee, it seems kind of like that with the balcony on the upper floor. I recommend taking an Uber if you're going to one of those shows because the aura, the crowd, and the environment... you'll definitely need to call an Uber. read more

Seating is great here. Whether you want to dance up in the crowd or chill on the balcony, no matter where you are there's a pretty good view of the stage. The employees in my experience have been relatively friendly. I have been pleasantly surprised by the caliber of artists they bring in. Some suggestions are they need a coat check area as well as to provide free water in some way to their patrons. People who are dancing their butts off in your establishment should have access to free water other than the one fountain. Bathrooms are 5/10. Don't forget about the second bar upstairs which usually isn't too busy. read more

I've been here a couple times for some concerts and the venue for shows is great! But the drinks are alright and overpriced. Especially when your entire system is down and only take cash. I was disappointed in that but also, I really think for a college town and venue that the drinks could be cheaper. Maybe have some specials. Regardless, always a good time here! read more

Saw Cowboy Junkies last week with my wife. My fifth time seeing them, her first. Very cute/cool venue. Great acoustics, nice inside, friendly bartenders and clean bathrooms. Only thing I'd do differently is get there early enough for seats as it was GA. We had some really loud talkers near us. If the bar was situated a bit differently, it would help noise from that area and not have it drown out the vocals. Will definitely go back for more shows! read more

My husband and I recently had our wedding reception at the Majestic. We are so pleased with the service they provided and the uniqueness of the venue. We highly recommend them. During our reception, so many people commented how much they loved the setting. Although the venue is a music club, with a few white lights and votive candles it easily converts into a classy wedding reception setting. The staff were really wonderful to work with. Jenni, the Majestic wedding coordinator, was extremely responsive to my questions and happy to work through the many questions I had. The night of the wedding she was on top of every detail. We took advantage of her "Helper Package," which meant for an extra fee she picked up all our decorations and party favors, set them up before the reception, and delivered all decorations AND gifts to our friend's house the day after the wedding. It was a huge relief to have her take care of these details! If you are considering a wedding at the Majestic here are some things to consider- the upstairs seating is very non-traditional. There are basically large benches with shared mini tables that people eat at. Since this requires walking up a good number of stairs to get to, we only seated our friends and younger people up there. It worked for our guests, who are all pretty laid-back, but it may not be ideal for all wedding guests. Also, the bathrooms definitely feel like you are in a music club, not a wedding venue. In some ways it went with the whole vibe of the wedding, but they definitely could use a little updating. Overall, we had a perfect wedding reception and are so happy we chose the Majestic! We highly recommend them :) read more

Majestic Theatre - Head table at a Wedding Reception at the Majestic - Music Venues Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

I come here almost exclusively for the 80s vs 90s dance parties. I've also been here for Fire Ball 7 and Fire Ball 9. It gets crowded on the dance floor later in the evening and it's usually wet with spilled drinks an hour or so in but it's to be expected. Since I've not found another venue offering 80s vs 90 (and sometimes even the 00s) I'll continue to attend. And I'll continue to enjoy every minute of it...until my feet hurt and tell me no more dancing, it's time to go home. They've got plenty of restroom stalls but there may still be a line depending on day and event. Drinks are ok. Drink prices are ok. BUT charging $3 for a bottle of water is excessive in my mind. Parking is non-existent, as with most downtown locations. Plan to park in one of the ramps or grab street parking if you are so lucky. read more

I can't say enough good things about the staff here. They were so caring and accommodating to make sure I'd enjoy the show. And I did! It's a nice small venue which has 2 bars, different from other old, smaller theater venues Ive been to before. I did feel like the bar took away from the show because in quieter moments, you could hear everyone at the bar who wasn't watching the show just talking loudly and laughing, which made me feel bad for the performer who would be talking to the fans or explaining the song coming up. Maybe it just has to do with it being a college town after all. All in all though I had a great time read more