My first time here, but definitely not my last! The Observatory is a fabulous venue in Santa Ana. Parking was easy for us as we'd purchased a pass and we arrived pretty early. The entrance process was licketty split - we carried everything in our pockets. Upon entering, there's a photo spot, merch off to the right, as well as a bar and outdoor seating. To the left of the entrance is a smaller room, this time used for vendors,, but I suspect could be a multi-use space as needed. Bathrooms - clean and well stocked throughout the night - are also this way. Up along a poster covered hallway, and into the concert area you go! There's the stage in the front and a bar in the back. It's GA here folks, but there's a balcony with seats above. We chose the first tier behind the dance floor as there's a standing bar/shelf that spans the railing which is great to lean on and space to put drinks down. The location was perfect for us - up high enough to see everything going on onstage, great view of the folks dancing, and again, offered a space for our drinks and a restful lean. The sound system and lighting effects were fantastic! The lighting perfectly fit the dark, moody, goth atmosphere while the music was as clean and powerful as you'd want. No muddy, echoy, indistinct sound here. And extra wonderful? A pumping AC that kept the packed house cool and fresh as everyone danced all night. Such a great concert and really, the perfect venue for it: intimate yet spacious enough for comfort. Really great venue! read more

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I went to The Observatory to hear & to see Gimme Gimme Disco in The Constellation Room. This event was put on by events producer Burwoodland (aka Ethan Maccoby & Alex Badanes). Mark Cuban recently gave a bunch of money to Burwoodland, so I thought this event would be decent. I was wrong. Gimme Gimme Disco was a hot mess. I did not at all have a good time. A ticket to this event cost $27-$31 depending on time of purchase, & parking cost an additional $15. The price & location led me to believe Gimme Gimme would be a well organized event with a properly prepared DJ who prepared a professional level DJ set. Not so, & not at all. Random disco music played before the DJ started, & then when the DJ started, I cannot say the mixing or transitions from one song to another were much better than simply letting songs play out on Spotify or Pandora or cutting to commercial on the radio. I wanted to give the Gimme Gimme DJ (Julimuah?) the benefit of the doubt, so I stayed for awhile to listen to see if the mixing got any better. The Gimme Gimme DJ did no real mixing. Songs were blended in at random points. A song with a tempo of 100 was played immediately after a song with a tempo of 115. Songs were regularly cut mid vocal etc. The quality of DJing/music was not good enough to expect people to pay money to buy tickets. I'm incredulous that The Obseratory would book such a mediocre event/DJ/etc. Because the Observatory is a venue where professional musicians often play, there was a sound guy or engineer on the sound board. I asked him what was going on with the DJ. I mentioned she was not doing any mixing at all. He agreed, & then he added: "Yeah. DJ culture has changed so much though." I do not know whether this was an apologetic statement. It is hard not to read/construe the statement like a subpar excuse. After speaking with the sound guy, I opted to request a refund, & to leave immediately. I asked a security/door staff to connect me with a manager. The security personnel referred me to management. Here is the gist of my dialog with the manager: Self: The DJ for Gimme Gimme Disco is not mixing at all. Songs are simply being played end to end with little mixing, beatmatching, etc. The dancefloor stops between tracks. It is just really bad. Sorry. Management: I hear you. Unfortunately, the Observatory cannot refund your ticket. Gimme Gimme Disco rented The Constellation Room so it is their event; not ours. They rented the room for the night. Self: Okay. I understand. Could you please put me in touch with the people from Gimme Disco who booked The Constellation Room & planned the event? Management: They (Gimme Disco) have a website, etc. [The manager then proceeded to show me the contact us page of the Gimme Disco site]. I realize the manager might not have legitimately known who from Gimme Disco coordinated the event. However, the Observatory staff did not make much of an effort to connect me with anyone who might actually issue a refund. A contact us form on a website is usually a dead end. So the rental format of some events, such as the Gimme Disco event I briefly attended, allows The Observatory to make money without much, if any, responsibility/accountability, & getting in touch with anyone representing an event results in being forwarded to a FAQ or Contact Us page. Seems like a pretty ideal business structure for The Observatory & any themed event planners booking events. The Observatory makes money renting space; the event makes money too. Anyone who feels or was cheated out of their money is left with no one to direct their complaint to--unless a website Contact Us page counts as a person. I obviously did not risk eating any food or drinking anything at The Observatory. I feared the drinks might be as bad as the music, so I walked back to my car sober, & happy to no longer be inside such an indifferent, disappointing, unprofessional, & impersonal venue. I am legitimately stunned that an event put on by Burwoodland & all the deep pockets behind it could be so utterly lamentable. I want a full refund. An apology from The Observatory &/or The Gimme Disco people would not hurt either. People should not have to pay concert level prices for crappy DJing, & a dismal ambience. I reached out to Alex Badanes for a refund. He initially suggested that I would be issued or given a refund. I never ended up receiving a refund. Neither Alex nor anyone representing Burwoodland followed through after the first hollow mention of a refund. Fake talent, mediocre event, & false gestures are the norm for Burwoodland & its reps. read more

Observatory - BS offer of a refund that never happened. - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

This is one of those rare venues that actually hits all my check marks. Easy to get to, right off the freeway and in an industrial area so less traffic in the evening. Now the missing star on my rating is due to parking. If you want to park on the lot in front of the venue,"VIP" parking they call it, it runs about $25. If you don't choose that option then you have to park a bit away and walk to the venue. Lines to get in are decent and move quickly. Security is actually chill here and does their job well. Bathrooms are easily accessible, well stocked and clean. Plenty of bars open with an open patio area that has spacious seating for all you gross smokers, haha yuck! Main stage area is decent size , sound quality top notch for this size venue. Different levels to stand and get a good view of the show. I like that for the punk and psychobilly shows they do allow pitting / wrecking. They do have a 2nd floor with another bar but those are for paid tables if you are into that kind of thing. I have seen all types of different shows here and have never been disappointed. Ready for the next one! read more

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The staff are nice and fast with check in. The room is well decorated but it can get very stuffy. The drinks are reasonable. You can request less ice in cocktails. Do not buy parking in advance online. The GA parking is very far from the entrance. They sell parking right in front of the entrance for $30. The music and the lights are ok. They are not night clubs so we can't expect too much. The venue has 2 rooms which have different events. You can walk by and check out the other easily. Will come back for upcoming events since it is so close to home :) read more

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Nice standing room only with both level upstairs has a full view of the staff and front downstairs. Big long bar with friendly staffs, they do have snacks & beers & cocktails as well as non liquor. Went here for club90: heated rivalry night...and it was a blast with packed house. Well managed from outside security & to inside. They do have exit doer right inside so easy to exit plus 2 bathrooms (one and the same room) and one is outside. Plenty of outdoor seating area (benches) and bars throughout the venue. VIP parking right infront or their regular parking lot is across the street about 5-7mins walk. Staff are nice and friendly overall. Really enjoy this place & felt safe. read more

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This venue is a smaller venue located technically in Santa Ana, but it's in an area where Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, and Fountain Valley all kind of meet. This is my favorite venue to watch musicians that I like in OC and possibly one of my favorite small venues anywhere. For me, the schedule feels like it punches above its weight. I've been to a LOT of shows here over the years, especially when I only lived down the street a while back. The folks are usually, if not always friendly and the drink prices I feel like are on par with other concert venues. I will say, though I think they have a slightly better selection in whiskey than I've seen at other places. I can't speak to the parking because there's this area I've been going to for years that requires me to walk just a couple of blocks. Most recently, I went to see a band I've loved a long time for a Halloween show - The Faint. And as expected, the show was amazing. Standing in the place, I forgot how much I loved this venue. It's been a long time since I've been to a show here. Some other I've shows I've really enjoyed here: At the Drive-In 3/22/2016: Of all places, this was their first stop on their reunion tour in 2016. One of my faves in college and in my 20's. Never got to see them live in the early 2000's before they split. So I was really excited for this show and such a perfect venue for them. Jenny Lewis 8/2015: such a fun show...Rilo Kiley had broken up by this point. Alkaline Trio 6/2015: One of my faves for a long time and so glad I got to see them at this venu. Yelle 4/2015: French musician. I really loved here album that came out around this time. Trampled by Turtles 2013 There were some other shows I've really enjoyed, but just can't think of them... read more

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First time here and and happy with $10 parking in a business park - way across the street (a bit of a walk- don't wear heels) rather than parking right outside the club for $30!!! Shocked that the OC has prices like Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood. There is also something else to consider before you even use your actual tickets to enter the facility - Fast Lane, which is early entry (6pm instead of 7pm). I think it might vary by show but when I went, it was $25 for Friday & $20 for Saturday. I did love this up close experience to see my favorite punk band, X. Their first & second shows here took place on Friday, December 27 & Saturday, December 28, 2024. After getting the lay of the land on the first night, I ended up paying for Fast Lane for night two and was in the very first row, leaning on the stage. Sound & lighting were good and the view was good everywhere in the main room (the observatory). I didn't have anything to eat/drink, but there were options available. Merchandise is usually on sale at the back of the room. It's a bit of a drive for me from the San Fernando valley, but I'd come here again for a band I really wanted to see. Thanks for having X here! read more

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Really nice venue with an intimate setting for shows and artists. I was in the pit but honestly I would've loved to opt for the seating above as even up there it was a clear view! read more

Observatory - Outside - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Came here for a show for the first time and was pleasantly surprised by the venue. It's located in a business park that's quite unassuming, with plenty of parking available up front (it's $30). Security and check-in was a breeze and the staff was very friendly. They offered VIP seating on the second floor for $20 which wasn't bad, especially considering there was a private bar and bathroom up there too. If you like your space and want somewhere to sit, I recommend this. The venue itself is great, I liked the arena style setup so that you can get a decent view of the stage from anywhere, and the sound was solid too ( though in the VIP area the sound was a little quieter which allowed for me to talk with friends). I think the stage production could improve a little bit as it is a bit lacking, but overall I liked this intimate venue and would happily come back for a show. read more

Observatory - Views from the floor - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Absolutely the best venue to see The Buttertones! The sound was magnificent, the VIP section clean and the restrooms..: I never thought I will ever describe a public place as divinely pleasant. Squeaky Clean. Our VIP view from the balcony was unobstructed. Until of course a group of 8 young fans got seated right in front of us in a very very empty space. It's like seating alone at the Hollywood Bowl and some group choosing the section in front of you. Luckily after 3 songs, the considerate staff noticed our not so perfect arrangement and discreetly told us to sit anywhere we wanted to make our experience more pleasant. We took the offer. And we will soon be back for another show in a few weeks. I'm so happy The Observatory exists. Only caveat, if a show happens on a rainy day, they require you to put your umbrella back to your car and walk back in the rain.... The utter definition of pointless. We were obliged for them to confiscate it. Thankfully my cute umbrella only costs cents read more

Observatory - The Observatory OC, VIP SECTION - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Love this venue, it has been one of my favorites since I was a teen. The venue itself is super intimate and is standing room only. The staff are friendly and efficient. The one downside is that parking is far and not cheap. But overall, one of my favorite venues read more

Observatory - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

First time I was here was 2016 in the smaller room, and I wasn't disabled then. I came for a Summer Set show and I was pretty worried, considering some of the reviews here about accommodations, but I've had nothing but an easy time! Every staff member was super helpful, but the reason I'm writing this is to recognize one of the bartenders-- I missed getting his name, but he was the bald gentleman on the far right if you're facing the bar. I recognized that my sugar was getting low and went to get some water and see if there was candy or something just as an emergency boost, and he took good care of me and made sure I got some orange juice in me. It was that kind of care that makes me wanna come back here! Otherwise, ADA section was good. Not too full. I did end up using a stool since the seat on my walker is pretty low and the wall is kind of high, so be aware of that if you use a wheelchair/can't transfer out. Bathrooms were super clean! Fries weren't super salty which was a bummer but they were perfectly hot and crispy so that wins me back. Parking was super easy, I paid for premium so that I didn't have to go too far with my walker. read more

Observatory - view from ADA section - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Been coming here forever. We are lucky to have this place. Super convenient to get to. Parking is easy. For 30 bucks you can park 30 feet away from the entrance. The rest is 15... Pro Tip. Don't park in any of the surrounding businesses's lots that say "no parking". You will be towed. It happened to me. Tow trucks are just sitting around waiting for someone to park there so they can tow them. They do not need to be called. They just sit around and grab your car. They have permission from the owners. Quick lines through security.. Food is surprisingly good. The main stage is great. I am shorter so I like that the audience is tiered so everyone can see. For Agent Orange it was $60 extra to sit upstairs in a booth. Well worth it! I greatly prefer this place to the House of Blues Anaheim..... read more

Observatory - Agent Orange!!!!! - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Awesome venue. Like truly awesome. I have gone to plenty of other concert venues and this has to be the best one so far. First off the parking is easy (even though we Uber-ed) I saw how much of an ease it was for others to get in and get out. The organization was *chefs kiss* no cutters, no confusion, no tolerance for people being dummies; my kinda place. Once you pass security check, there are many people inside guiding you where to go and do so with a smile. The sound was great. Enough to make you boogie and not annoyingly loud or obnoxious. We were front row and we loved every bit of it. I can't tell you if the drinks were any good, because I am over 6 years sober (yay me), but the Diet Coke was legit. Restroom lines were never excessively long because they have multiple (one in the back, one in the front). Cool place. Loved it and hopefully I will return! read more

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The exterior of this venue has changed quite a bit in the 10+ years between visits. Back in the early 2000s it felt small, unassuming, and honestly kinda run down. But I don't mean that in a bad way. Now, the exterior has gotten a huge facelift. It's welcoming yet unassuming. But it definitely feels more like an actual concert venue. Inside, however, it doesn't feel like much has changed. And that's fine. The interior is small and intimate. The semi stacked standing room layout lets people have a great view of the stage even if you're towards the back. If you're short, you don't have to worry about not seeing a thing. Sound quality is good to. Nothing sounds blown out and you can really hear all the instruments well. Sometimes these smaller venues have really muddy mixes where you can't really call out the individual artists or instruments. There is one thing I do want to call out though. I bought my parking early online for 'premiere parking' thinking that that would get me a spot right outside. I knew the venue had a small lot so I wanted to be able to walk out of the venue and get in my car. When I showed up to the venue, I was told that I had to go basically 2 blocks away to a different lot to park then walk back to the venue. Was it far? No. But was it annoying and not what I was expecting? Absolutely. It just felt somewhat like a bate & switch going on. So, just be aware of that when trying to buy parking ahead of time. read more

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Watched Dustin Kensrue of Thrice perform his latest album and of course, he killed it. Them country vibes were strong that night. About the venue... First timer, but it felt instantly cozy; wood leather and exposed brick seem to be the predominant materials. And although I'm sure there were lots of people on the ground floor, I opted for tix up on the balcony; I'm short and need counter space for my drinks and phone. Also, I'm at the age where sitting down at a concert is my vibe. But before heading up to the balcony, we dropped by the bar and ordered some snacks and drinks... THE FOOD. - Pizza Fries | Melted mozzarella cheese, pepperoni and marinara sauce on top of thick fries. Weird combo but it's pretty good. - Pretzel | Soft. Medium. Nothing much more to comment on. THE DRUNK DRINKS. - Jameson and Gingerale | Sweet with a whiskey kick. - Double Shot of Jameson | It was necessary. THE PARKING. We pre-paid online for parking at the venue. Worth it if you hate having to figure out parking. COMING BACK? Yes! The vibe was my vibe. read more

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Awesome venue! I have been here several times, & I have never been disappointed. There are no bad spots to watch the show, the bartenders are cool, the entire staff are friendly. read more

I've been here twice. First time uneventful, not bad or good. But this second time we couldn't pay for parking. It's $38 to prepay for parking online and $15 in person. Both lots were full and signs did not say full lot. We were told "both lots are full. Every around here tows. Good luck." We didn't even get to see the show. read more

My husband and I came here to see Chelsea Grin and other metal bands. I liked this venue. Easy to get in and easy to get out. The venue is small and intimate. The sound quality was decent. It seems no matter where you were standing, you would have a good view. I bought seats on the balcony floor and not only was the view perfect to see the bands play but we were safe away from the moshing, people surfing and diving haha! It was entertaining to watch though. I didn't get food but some food options are offered here. I did get a patron margarita. Expensive but that's to be expected and at least it was good and strong. I liked how there was an outdoor patio to hangout, reminded me of a patio area of a brewery. Fun night out and awesome music! What more could one ask for :) read more

Observatory - Give you an idea of our view from the balcony. Bravo to Signs of the Swarm! - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Came here for a Ziggy Alberts' concert and had a good experience. The security guard and bartender were chill. The venue is pretty small, but I like how it's staggered so it's safe for shortiesss. Even though it was a little crowded, it was SO COLD. The AC be blasting! The restroom is pretty clean too so I appreciate that! Paid for parking, but tell me why it's 2 blocks away?! But it's cool, I was able to walk off my dinner and get some mini cardio in B) ! read more

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Was there last night to see Trish Toledo Which was supposed to be a surprise for my Fiancé But unfortunately the parking Girl Killed it ‍ When I was paying for parking I told her it's a surprise for my fiancé then she continued to say ohhh He likes Trish Toledo Girl you killed it !!! We laughed it out anyways the place is nice we liked it Clean and people are friendly Will definitely go again I recommend dressing casual no High Heels girls please your gonna be standing for a long time Will definitely be back read more

Good place to see a show but the parking is horrendous as the parking area is too small to acommodate the patrons of the show. I was denied parking and towed as I parked in area that is apperantly patrolled by tow trucks who have complete autonomy to tow any random vehicle in any of the many empty business lots in the immediate vicinity. Made a great evening with my friends a sxxt show. Parking staff was less then helpful as well as I asked them where I should park. They said anywhere I can find. What a joke. read more

Poor management, poor service. And if you look at the rest of the reviews youll see they will never change but whoever gigi is needs to learn how to deescalate situations. Besides the fact that this venue is only good for the artists that perform here, the service provided during stressful times will just result in loss of your tickets, loss of your vip table and zero room for accommodation. You would think a woman and member of management would want to provide good service and listen to their paying customers but she just had a power trip. read more

Always a great place to watch a show! The bartenders are super friendly and the hosts for VIP and checking you in are as well. I always come to see TSOL play here and the venue never disappoints. Super easy parking and easy in and out. If I had to pick one thing that is a minor inconvenience ( to me ) it's that it's a cashless venue. I still like to pay cash but can't do it here. read more

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Came here to see The Expendables and enjoyed every second! A more intimate venue with lots of history! Loved it! Security was quick and smooth. They get you on parking though, $20 pre paid (not sure at the lot how much) or you will have to walk a little bit. Will come back again! The band was amazing and the sound was great! Well done! read more

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Went to a show and a mosh pit broke out. Which is fine if everyone in the pit wanted to mosh. My group didn't, security saw what was happening, saw our discomfort and did nothing about it. I had to stop at least 3 drunk people from crashing into me and my kid. Really put a damper on what started as a really cool night read more

Didnt even get to experience the place because they have really bummy scummy security lmao got kicked out for holding my girls drink while she fixed her shoe lol.. Dont recommend this place if you wanna have a good time lol, strict ahhh old security guards thats why they stay in that job and make nothing while watching everyone else have fun XD read more

Great venue. Perfect size. Small enough that everyone feels close. Love that there are levels, so you can see well from anywhere. Good acoustics & very fun. Parking wasn't too bad compared to LA venues. Better to pay in advance I think, only $10. Love having a high quality venue in OC that has semi-big artists come through read more

Observatory - Brook & the bluff - fire - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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This is a great venue for seeing up & coming new bands or some of your old favorites from college. It's almost like an amphitheater with multiple standing levels that wrap around the stage - views are excellent no matter where you stand. Lighting and sound systems are also top notch - props to the lighting and sound crew for their excellent work at the Beach Fossil show. As an ADA person, I recommend getting to the main parking area as early as possible so you can park right in front of the venue. I'd recommend getting there at least 30 minutes before the doors open. Parking staff were very helpful in guiding me to the parking spots. Ticket staff were able to quickly identify me as an ADA person and escorted me to the ADA section inside the venue. The section itself could be improved with wide foldable chairs - like the ones offered at 'One Strange Night'. These small metal chairs were torture on my arthritic hips and I had to leave the show early due to extreme pain. Again, this won't be an issue for regular, mobile people but anyone else who struggles to sit for more than 30 minutes will be in some serious pain after a while since they don't cover the whole booty. I really hope the Observatory considers my suggestion. read more

Observatory - Not a bad view in the ADA section - even if it's all the way in the back. - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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I have been to this venue several times I went last night to see a show I purchased a table in VIP for 4 people we were seated at our table and then went outside to smoke when we came back other people were seated at our table and we were given a new table I was upset and didn't think this was right I asked to speak to a manager who never came. Service was HORRIBLE and definitely not worth $400 for the table. Venue is kool management and staff SUCK. read more

I went to see acceptance at this venue. It was my first time here. The venue is in the middle of a business district - you can park right in front of venue for $30 or follow the signs and park in the business lot for $15. Short walk to the venue. If you have difficulty with walking then you should park in front of venue because it's really close to venue and flat. The walk between $15 lot and venue isn't that flat and you would need to walk over some planters- but if walking isn't an issue for you then it's a really easy walk. The entire area felt safe, lots of lights and you end up walking with other ppl also attending the show so you aren't really walking alone. No water bottles allowed, they have security and give you wrist bands to wear before entering. They have free water dispensers w/ cups at the bar. That was pretty nice. This venue was super clean, AC worked very well, restrooms were big and clean. They had a small outdoor area to sit and hang out w/ bar ... they had a small stage and then a larger stage and that's where we went. It was general admission- standing room only on the ground floor. I REALLY liked that they floor was tiers and they were divided by narrow short walls ( you could place your drink on it) it made it a lot easier to see the band and created space between people so that it prevented over crowding- it was great. Bar and merch were there as well. They had a balcony- for this show it was VIP tickets, tables and chairs were up there as well as a bar. It was nice. A reminder to bring ear plugs. My only negative comment about this concert was that the lighting engineer seriously just barley phoned it in- it was just bad. Did the same stuff for all acts, it was messy, clearly didn't care to match the lighting with music - my church has better lighting for worship than this guy did for a concert venue. That was disappointing. I would encourage the manager to look into why this guy has no passion for what he does - anyways other than that I would recommend this venue. 4 stars because of bad lighting for all 3 bands- like it was show! It should have been better ( and the venue had the equipment for it to be better). read more

Went here for the first time to see Boyce Avenue and First to Eleven. Both bands were incredible, and I hope they come back again. You can get very close to the stage in this venue, and the view is great from anywhere. The sound was at a reasonable volume, loud, but I didn't feel like I needed ear plugs and I could still hear fine aftit was over. I would describe the sound quality as good but not amazing. I feel like the speakers are a bit on the small side for this venue and are being a little bit over driven. Parking was easy and pretty well coordinated. Entrance was easy, but less coordinated, and not everyone was getting metal detector checked, which is not ideal. Up near the stage, it was pretty warm and humid once the venue got packet full of people. They need to pre-cool the venue more more the show. The was a good mix of people who generally conducted themselves well, but there were a few people vaping inside the venue which was annoying. read more

I hadn't been to The Observatory in about 20 years before the allure of a very rare appearance by Negative Approach (old school Detroit hardcore band) brought me back to Santa Ana, CA. I really don't remember a whole lot from my first couple times other than the great bands I saw. With a fresh pair of eyes I can say what I saw. Here's what I think. The location of The Observatory is cool. Close to the freeway and it's a straight shot once you're off very easy to find. Parking STINKS if you don't get the $25 VIP. If you get the $10 one you're going through a maze of signs telling you where to go before you're a ten minute walk from the venue. It is WEIRD. Security was cool and they work fast. This particular show was not the most crowded so that helped. The Observatory holds 1200 and there are different levels where you can stand so there's choices where you want to go. There is a full service bar at the top and also food if you want from what I understand. If you want to get rowdy on the floor, you're good. If you want to avoid the nonsense you're covered! The sound was excellent. The security inside wasn't hassling people and the crowd was overall well behaved. I'll be adding The Observatory to the venue rotation for shows. The drive from Riverside kinda stinks, but the FasTrak makes it bearable. They get some great acts here and I've already got three shows lined up. If you see me, say hi! Recommended! read more

Observatory - Tonight's menu - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

I have been to this place many many times over the years for all kinds of shows from single artist and upcoming artist in the constellation room and we went for a non specific artist. It was a "rave night" hosted by We Can Dance and I had plans to go with a few friends. 6 of us came it was supposed to be 8 but thankfully 2 didn't come and I say thankfully because just as our night was starting the whole experience turned sour. Two of our friends who arrived early ended up getting kicked out almost as soon as we went in. It was not a crowded event so I do not understand why security was being extremely unprofessional and irrational. If you are in a business that relies on clients and have to make sure things run a specific way then you have to know how to work with people. Especially in a space as this venue. Security ended up picking on our friends for no reason. We went in, greeted them and hanged out in the smoking area. We had to go pee so we proceeded to go inside to do that and then wait by the door where we could see them outside. They were talking alone just interacting with each other once my friend's friend finished smoking, they proceeded to come walk in and as soon as they did that out of no where. Security came in and kicked them out. It is extremely sad and disappointing that an establishment that is for entertainment has employees behaving this way, but know this is a big red flag. I think it's also important to mention that my friend's friend has limited english and you can tell right away and someone in this kind of business should be able to accommodate rather than discriminate. I told my friend to go to the box office to ask for help and seek a resolution and the box office did nothing and ignore her request to speak to a supervisor and a different security and that security was 1000% different in a professional way and the way the other securities should have behaved in the first way. However he could not provide a reason of why they were getting kicked out and were told to leave because at that point they were considered to have been trespassing. So they did not seek any other solution since it was too exhausting. I would strongly recommend you avoid this venue as much as possible especially if the artist you are trying to see is anywhere else accessible. You should go to a place that values your business and appreciates its customer base. I know I will be doing business with them only as a last option, this is extremely sad given there are not a lot of venues in santa ana that host similar events but LA is not too far away either. Tell your friends and keep each other safe. I know I saw a lot of other uncalled for actions insides and it was killing the vibe. read more

As this was my first time here, I will give my input. I am no longer in college. In fact, I graduated college and years ago, but I appreciate music having said that we ordered priority parking, which is about two blocks away, you'll need to get VIP parking to get closer. Then they did not have the lines clearly marked. The constellation room is considered the fast line and the observatory back room is considered the longer line. I do like the outside area where you can buy merchandise and drinks. There is also a bar in each of the stage areas and one by the restrooms and another in an inside bar area right on the inside of the outside bar area. Now, as far as the stage areas, they are a decent size, but on the small side, but they turned into a mosh pit. So beware if you do not want to be in the middle of a mosh pit, you will need to stand to the very outside of the area. People will still be thrown into you, but at least you will avoid the majority of it . read more

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Came here for a rave! Honestly I know of this as an intimate venue so I was interested in how it would be for a rave which is more bodies/high energy than listening to your favorite solo artist. First off, their $10 parking is a couple blocks away. The one across the street is a different company. The area around is pretty strict on not having free parking so I'd prob just pay the $10. Lots of tailgate tho. I went early because last time I wasn't able to scope the venue! The constellation room is smaller and kind of represents an outdoor beer garden. It's a small side room and intimate. One great thing about this venue is that there's bars everywhere and lots of seating to just chill. It's a great place to go to a concert & grab drinks if you don't care too much for the concert/artist interaction. Security is chill too. The 2nd room has balcony access that you can pay more for. They have couches farther away from the edge that you can rest on and aren't vip. Bar up there too. The main room is staggered, which makes it seem small but makes it great for a rave actually! Cuz then everyone short and tall can see the artist & provides a more intimate experience. People who like to dance and jump have a ledge to support and there is a mini pit that does get PACKKKED like sardines. But the crowd for yetep was great and there wasn't any pushing or shoving. Even going early, the middle spots are filled and it really got crowded 1-2 openers before the headliner. I like how they didn't really oversell tickets so it was crowded and packed, but still space to breathe and jump without being too worried about hitting someone's face. I would like if there was a trash can closer to the lower level because so many cans and cups. But still recommend :) read more

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First off I'm an avid show goer and musician that plays here; 2nd of all the security doesn't do there job properly they have terrible de-escalated skills, then the Latina girl & tall heavy set white guy are complacent & have bad attitudes toward friends in many instances. Leaving a bad taste in my mouth for the whole venue. Thank you read more

Observatory - Music Venues Near Me - Santa Ana, California

I hadn't been to The Observatory since it was still called Galaxy. It's been a minute. Since then the venue has gotten a gorgeous remodel, and it looks fantastic. I was there on 4/5/24 for the Thrill Kill Kult final show of the tour. The staff were all incredibly professional and courteous. Very helpful. I needed ADA seating and the staff assisted me all the way and were so friendly. The bartenders were attentive, friendly, and fast. The sound quality is top shelf. No matter where you stand, the sound is excellent. Went backstage and their green room is one of the better I've seen. Plenty of snacks, drinks, sofas, etc. My experience was 5 stars all the way!! read more

Terrible service. I went with my girlfriend and thought the service was a joke. No, They were serious. I even got yelled at for ordering drinks at the bar and growled at when I asked to buy more. gross staff, attitudes, but at least the band was fun. I wouldn't come back if they paid me. read more

Had a great time here! I was surprised at the size of this space. When I went there were 2 shows going on at once. Lots of parking just don't park in another business's lot because they put out signs saying they tow. There is an outdoor area and several bars. Staff was kinda sleepy the night we went but everyone was cool. I would def see other shows here, love the vibes. read more

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