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    Midtown Barfly

    3.7 (60 reviews)
    Closed 7:30 pm - 11:30 PM

    Midtown Barfly Photos

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    Alex L.

    There aren't a lot of unique music venues in Sacramento. Midtown Barfly has thankfully filled a void, especially for those seeking certain types of music you wouldn't usually find elsewhere. At least now I know where to go when I want to see a Cure and Sisters of Mercy cover band night. Nestled in the back of what used to be the original Bacon & Butter, this is a great club to get your dance on with like-minded folks. I wasn't sure what to expect after literally passing by here hundreds of times, but what I got impressed me. The sound system was on point, the bads (at least on that night) super quality, the audience energetic and the drinks reasonably priced and stiff. Minus the awkward dance moves of the guy beside me most of the night, which is no fault of the establishment, and I can say it was a great evening. Besides maybe the Zebra Club, consider this your best alternative to Ace of Spades or the Golden 1 Center.

    Beautiful lights on the tree by the DJ booth at FACTOR IX inside Midtown Barfly
    Michelangelo S.

    Midtown Barfly Demonstrates Spectacular Event-Music Range! SITREP This venue is a top-notch mid-size venue (capacity 250-300 peeps) and Sacramento is better for having it. It's gone through a recent management change and left it's old name "Club 21". There are MANY events that take place here and go on at this venue of which I am not an expert, so I am restricting my comments solely to: (1) The New Weekly "FACTOR IX" which just had it's grand opening this past Sunday, promoted by DJ Bryan Hawk of ASYLUM fame; (2) The Weekly Tuesday Night "SWING 21" Nights; and, (3) The Monthly Gothic-Industrial-EBM event "REVERENCE" hosted by and put on by DONAVAN and JASMIN and their DJ crews. THE SET-UP I. FACTOR IX. Since Asylum formerly @ The Rage since 1994, and then this past year at The Park Ultra Lounge, has found a new reincarnation as FACTOR IX here at Midtown Barfly, and I think every one is excited about the Sunday night void being filled again. Spinning the best in Gothic-Industrial-EBM, FACTOR IX kicked off into high gear this past Sunday as it had it's FIRST Grand Opening. There is another grand opening promised in the near future when the venue's licensing allows for the 18-20 year old to join in as well. II. SWING 21. JOHNNY and his swing-dance team of instructors are the best in Sacramento, if not Northern California. TINA, HEATHER, BOB, MICHAEL, etc., have all been outstanding instructors in some of the most popular Swing-Dance venues across town. I started taking lessons from JOHNNY and TINA and MICHAEL "back in the day" when they instructed at the old "815 L Street" Club (now closed). They also continue to instruct at other local venues, including the "BALLROOM OF SACRAMENTO" (but that is another review). The Tuesday night crowd is one of the friendliest and most helpful when it comes to learning the basics of East Coast Swing, the Lindy Hop, the Shag, the Carolina Stomp, the Charleston, etc. etc. What is so cool about swing-dancing is that you can learn the basics of everything you need to know in 1 HR, really! III. REVERENCE. This crew of Darkwave 80s, EBM, Gothic-Industrial DJs are some of the most fun you will find anywhere in a hap'nin dance club! Regular DJ hosts DONAVON and JASMIN put on am impressive monthly dance gig that always has an eclectic crowd and brings in so many fun people to dance with (and sometimes gawk at with mile-high mohawks, and Siouxsie and Robert Smith make-up styles). And the rotating door of spectacular GUEST DJs is no less impressive! One of the best DJs ever is visiting DJ SKARKROW from San Jose. I've become wonderful friends with him and his lovely girlfriend JULIE. When they are up at bat, the music takes an inter-dimensional turn into aural-realms that I've never heard of before but love. It's awesome to hear wonderful music selections from the Netherlands, Germany, England, Austria, Mexico, Japan, etc. that never get played in any mainstream club. THE LOWDOWN The Midtown Barfly has a lot to offer on a wide variety of musical fronts!

    Dale P.

    This is a fun place! And it's a great place to learn to swing dance. Place is clean and very eclectic. There is a live band once a month. Swing lessons every Tuesday night. Salsa lessons every Wednesday night. The people are cool! All levels and skills are welcome. This is a really fun crowd. It gets crowded though. We can be found here most every Tuesday night. Hope to see you there.

    Salsa Wednesdays at Barfly
    Lisa R.

    Salsa Wednesdays at Barfly. Lesson at 8:00 with Nicole Lazo. Dancing until 1 am. Great laid back atmosphere on Wednesday night. There use to be salsa at Club 21 on Friday night but now with the new owners it is Wednesday.

    This was from a video I recorded, it was better in person, you have to experience it yourself to see it more clearly.

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    8 years ago

    Had and great time and the dance instruction was so much fun. I will definitely be going back!

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    7 years ago

    My wife and I have only been here once but there was good deals on drinks and the Dj was dope. Good vibes and awesome folks.

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    11 years ago

    Oh, how I love their SalSa nightsSs! There's always a nice crowd, good music, and tasty mArgaritAs =)

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Midtown Barfly

    Where can I find deep House music in sac? What nights and? Want to avoid top 40's. Thx!

    I'm looking for the same!! Anyone know of a place?!

    Is there salsa on Friday nights?

    Yes! $10 cover charge

    Is this an 18+ club and can I get a price of entrance?

    18+ with wristbands for being 21 and the entrance price varies by day/event.

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    Review Highlights - Midtown Barfly

    $5 gets you in and an hour long lesson with Nicole Lazo and after enjoy social dancing until 1 am.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    Channel 24

    Channel 24

    3.7
    (83 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    Recently went to a comedy show here. Our 1st show here. Thr club is on the edge of a residential…read moreneighborhood. There are a few parking lots within a short walk, a street parking in the neighborhood. Pre-show we lined up for entry. There is a bar on the 2nd floor. The show room is beautiful with the 1st floor that can have seating, or a stand up audience. The 2nd floor has 3 tiered seating. There is not a bad seat in the house for watching the show. The sound system is very good. My wife and I look forward to returning for future shows.

    We saw Atsuko last night and were blown away by Channel 24. This facility is very nice and…read morewell-thought out in design. The acoustics are great to ensure you get that close-up experience. The tall chairs ensure everyone gets a perfect view of the stage. Nice touch! Make sure you buy your parking ahead of time online or use ride-share as spots are limited in the area. We were able to park the car across the street within minutes through ParkWhiz. The line to get in was wrapped around the building and down the street but it moved quickly. Staff were visible at all parts of the line. I do suggest better lighting on the street for safety reasons but that's just me. Remember to be courteous in the neighborhood! We plan to return for future shows and try their bar next time. Guaranteed a fun night.

    Photos
    Front entrance, box office on right
    Front entrance, box office on right
    Stage view from side
    Stage view from side
    Studio 24 - Add-On ticket to a private space with its own bathroom and bar.

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    Studio 24 - Add-On ticket to a private space with its own bathroom and bar.
    Ace of Spades

    Ace of Spades

    3.2
    (827 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Honestly love this venue. It's small & intimate and if you get there decently early you can get…read moresome pretty close views of the artists. If you're not one to stand in the crowd you can also get seats & I think the have servers that come to you. There's not too big of a line for the merch & bars. They have 3 bars inside. Security is not a pain in the ass like other places IMO and staff is pretty chill. I also love that they give us physical tickets when we ask box office.

    I recently attended Alex Isley's concert at Ace of Spades, and while the performance itself was…read morefantastic, the venue continues to be one of my least favorite in the Sacramento area. Ace of Spades is primarily a general admission, standing-room-only venue. I understand that's part of its model, but what I struggle with is the cost of having access to a seat. Reserved seating can run $100-$150 per seat, which feels excessive. As someone with a chronic back issue, it's frustrating that the option to sit down during a concert comes with such a steep additional cost. Basic accessibility and comfort shouldn't feel like a luxury upgrade. There were also a few moments during Alex Isley's set when the sound briefly blipped while she was singing. Music didn't stop, singing sounded off. It wasn't constant, but it was noticeable enough to pull you out of the experience. On a positive note, the Good Luck Lounge was a great addition. The atmosphere was welcoming, the DJ was excellent, and the finger foods were surprisingly good. It definitely enhanced the overall experience before the show. The staff at both AOS & GLL were excellent! That said, the seating situation remains a major drawback for me. Unless it's an artist I really, really want to see, Ace of Spades isn't a venue I would choose. The performers are often great, but the overall experience doesn't justify the premium pricing for something as simple as a place to sit.

    Photos
    Ace of Spades
    Ace of Spades
    Ace of Spades

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    The Side Door

    The Side Door

    4.8
    (12 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    Attended two music shows on consecutive nights. 1st show the room was packed, completely sold out…read more 2nd show there were less than 20 people in the audience. The building and the auditorium are funky. Flat floor, uncomfortable folding chairs. The stage is elevated up 18 inches, so if you are short and there are bigger people seated in front of you there's little chance you will see the performers. Look for the ceiling air conditioning vents and avoid sitting under one of them. Made that mistake. I had a constant 3 hour blast of chilled air blowing on top of me. My nose was running like a faucet and I was literally trembling from the cold. Couldn't change seats in the capacity crowd. Tbe Bose sound system is adequate though inexpertly managed. The featured guitarist of a jazz combo could barely be heard, and I was sitting on the 4th row. All said, this is a bare bones hall that is staff by welcoming people. Informal, unfussy. Come as you are, no need to dress up.

    September 14, 2024…read more This was my first visit to The Side Door. We were there to see singer Chris Webster and guitarist Nina Gerber. The venue is small, but is a great place to see live music. At only 130 seats, it is an intimate setting. Music only, no food or drinks sold. We had dinner and drinks next door at The Hop Gardens restaurant before the show, and then walked around the corner a bit before show time and we were lucky enough to snag first row seats (no assigned seating). The seats are folding chairs, but they are comfortable enough. The sound system is great. Made for a wonderful evening of music at a very reasonable price ($25/ea).

    Photos
    September 14, 2024
 Nina Gerber's pup hanging out on stage during show.
    September 14, 2024 Nina Gerber's pup hanging out on stage during show.
    Getting ready for our next show
    Getting ready for our next show
    The Side Door

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    The Side Door
    Harlow's

    Harlow's

    3.4
    (411 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    I would say this venue has been booking more new and exciting bands over the past five years…read more Please please keep these shows coming. Makes me happy to see more punk/goth/metal shows happening here. I went to the recently sold out Die Spitz show and I was amazed how much energy the crowd had. You won't see no mosh pit at Golden One Center. Keep supporting smaller music venues and independent artists.

    I love going to concerts, but somehow in all my years, I have somehow never attended a show at…read moreHarlow's. Located on J Street on the 27th block, this small club exceeded all my expectations for this show. Parking is mostly all neighborhood parking at street meters, but the venue only holds maybe 300 so its not horrible Going through security and ticket check was relatively quick and painless, with security and employees all easy going and pleasant. Once inside, the merch tables were a little cramped, but merch was displayed prominently and transactions were quick and easy. The bar area to right when you first walk in takes up almost the whole wall, with multiple bartenders taking orders and serving customers so ordering a beer was quick to come, ice cold and not ridiculously marked up compared to other places .They also had various mixed drink options. The actual floor/stage area was small, intimate and surrounded at back and on side with raised area with some tables and chairs that were reserved, I assume for an extra price (I didnt inquire). The acoustics were quite good, considering the bands playing(opener was a so cal punk band called The Mainliners), headliner was a heavy metal stoner/grunge type band from Norway (Slomosa). A great evening of music, venue is exceptional, looking forward to finding a show I can take the wife too, as I never explored the back or upper areas that I understand add even more layers to an exceptional experience at this venue.

    Photos
    Mainliners
    Mainliners
    Harlow's
    Interior

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    Interior
    Crest Theatre

    Crest Theatre

    4.0
    (387 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    My girl took me to see Coming to America for date night at The Crest Theatre, and I had a really…read moregood time. This was my first time there, and it's not your typical modern movie theater. It's a historic theater in downtown Sacramento that presents live entertainment, movies, and special events. What makes it unique is the stage in front of the screen, which gives it a classic, old-school vibe. She paid for the tickets ahead of time, but their system was down when we arrived. They had to check everyone in manually from a laptop. It was understandable things happen and the staff handled it as smoothly as they could. While she was confirming our tickets, I grabbed popcorn. Sadly, the popcorn was a little salty. Like most theaters, it was a little pricey. We may or may not have brought our own candy and drinks... don't tell anybody. It had a good crowd but wasn't too bad.We got some good seats. Since it's a historic theater and not a newer upscale cinema, the seats didn't recline and were a little small, but they were still comfortable enough I've seen Coming to America plenty of times on TV, but watching it on the big screen in a classic theater like this was a different experience. Overall, it was a great date night. Good movie, even better company. My girl definitely did her thing planning this one. My girl and I are definitely coming back again!!

    Came here for graduation super great theater…read more Parking is best at the garage nearby but the rail is a good idea too. Popcorn was fresh not stale And the workers there knew what to do and treated everyone with hospitality. Theater itself was very dramatic in a good way and had nice style.

    Photos
    Taken before the Preacher Lawson comedy show
    Taken before the Preacher Lawson comedy show
    The Psychology of Serial Killers
    The Psychology of Serial Killers
    Main stage

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    Main stage
    Swabbies

    Swabbies

    3.7
    (871 reviews)
    10.5 mi
    $$

    We decided to have some fun and see the Spazmatics at Swabbies on a warm Saturday. We have not been…read morethere for some time since we no longer have our boat. I remember from the past that it is hard to find parking, so we decided to go early to avoid the crowd, and that was a great idea because we found a convenient parking spot right up front. Although we were there hours early before the show, we were happy to enjoy great service because there were not yet a lot of people there. Our waiter was full of energy, and we received our delicious tacos quickly and enjoyed just sitting under the umbrella, which shaded us from the sun. I had a ground beef taco, and my husband had the shredded beef taco, and the taste brought back forgotten good times of boating on the river and pulling over to Swabbies on a hot and balmy summer weekend. The tacos were fantastic as always, and I even had a mimosa with them. We were told we could move under the tarp once the concert area was open and closer to the time of the concert, and we even got to sit up front, which we later regretted. There were also large vans providing lots of cool air, which was quite refreshing because I have heat sensitivity. Once the concert started, a large crowd swarmed the area where we were sitting, and multiple times I had to swerve in my chair to avoid being hit by people dancing in front of the stage. I had a couple people also step on my feet unfortunately, which hurt, as I am recovering from foot surgery. That was the worst thing about this event. I wish they could have a barrier or a way of keeping people from being so close to people sitting at the tables. Other than that, we had a great day.

    WOW FACTOR? Yes, we were able to put tables together to seat 12 people…read more HAVE AGAIN: The Philly cheese steak was pretty good, but needed some sauce. However, it was great to get something I liked this time. UNWOW FACTOR? Yes. Ordered fish n chips but requested sweet potato fries. Had to pay extra for those fries, which is fine; but there should be some discount since we didn't get the regular fries. Didn't see any discount.

    Photos
    Famous Beer-Battered Shrimp Tacos
    Famous Beer-Battered Shrimp Tacos
    Bloody Marry - Happy Hour - Sacramento CA - River
    Bloody Marry - Happy Hour - Sacramento CA - River
    Pulled pork sliders

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    Pulled pork sliders
    The Backyard

    The Backyard

    3.4
    (10 reviews)
    3.3 mi

    First time at this venue, I guess is fairly new not enough info out there, I had to research it and…read morestill didn't have all the info! When we purchase the tickets we weren't clear if we had seat or if it was general admission, so we brought our chairs, turns out we did had seats assigned and they also have general admission and in there you can use your chairs. They make you park at Lot D and is a mile walk to the venue, it was $20 cash; there's a dropped off area right in-front the venue , the venue itself is connected to a restaurant and a mini golf , there's a mall across the street. Security wasn't all that (they were nice tho) you can bring a medium or small size bags (however is up to them to decide which size it's appropriate to bring in to the venue) you can also bring sealed water bottles or an empty PLASTIC Bottle, no hydroflask or anything of that kind. They sale food such as bbq ribs & drinks. The concert itself was amazing, very intimate, the speakers were clear.

    This venue is right behind Rock n' Brews by Cal Expo. It's essentially a parking lot with a stage…read more There are no indoor bathrooms, only porta potties. They have a few food trucks on site and a couple of bars. There is a VIP area, it's referred to as "the hill" because it's slightly elevated so you should be able to see over the crowd. Parking is $20 (bring cash) and you enter through Gate D at Cal Expo, if the parking lot in front of Rock n' Brews isn't full they have you park there. The two times I went I was there early so I was able to park close. Try to avoid going to a concert during or after the State Fair. The Backyard is near the stables where they keep the livestock during the fair, which means there are a LOT of flies when the fair is going on. I've only been to two daytime shows (Sad Summer and Summer School Tour) so I can't say what it's like to to go a regular nighttime concert. The shows I went to were standing room only, and they were on very hot days. I will say the venue did an excellent job keeping everyone cool and hydrated. For Sad Summer it was over 110 degrees, they had setup a white tent, had misters, plenty of free water and a few large trash cans filled with water so you could wet a cooling rag (they also provided new towels for those who didn't bring one). They let you bring in one empty water bottle or a sealed one. You were allowed to bring in sunscreen, but it had to be lotion, it couldn't be aerosol. The staff was very friendly and helpful. It's definitely not my favorite venue but it is new, so there may be some improvements.

    Photos
    The Backyard
    Water for hot daytime shows
    Water for hot daytime shows
    The VIP area, it's slightly raised so you should be able to see over the crowd

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    The VIP area, it's slightly raised so you should be able to see over the crowd

    Midtown Barfly - danceclubs - Updated July 2026

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