Great intimate music venue, with a variety of different styles of music. Bring your own drinks and food, nothing is available. read more

This place its very dirty, smells horrible and the owner is just like the place Also the owner is a very grumpy person that feels entitled to yell at his clients , this is very unpleasant to experience when you have all your guest Please do your self a favor and avoid renting this place there's so many other places out there read more

In all my years of growing up in the Bay and hanging out in Berkeley I never knew about this place. It's an intimate venue to hear live music. My dearly departed partner's cousin, Tony Saunders, was playing live there. (Bass player, his dad played with Jerry Garcia). you can Google him. Its a located one a small culd-a-sac off University so parking can be and issue, if you are look for free, but there is a lot across the street. There is no food served there and I believe you can BYOB, but there are plenty of place to eat along University, if you make this a date night or night out. There are some tables, and chairs toward the back, otherwise it is couches and other odd and ends furniture to sit on. It was great and the history of the place is great as well. I will check out some other shows there too. If you are a fan of Yoshis, it like that minus food and more intimate. read more

See all

I do not recommend this place. Please do not rent this place for any event. I had an unpleasant experience. The owner was so rude, he treated myself and my guest with attitude, he was very unprofessional, yelled at us a couple times, the place was so dirty, also walked bare food (disgusting) and grabbed from our table. I do not recommend this place. I do not recommend this place. read more

I was a guest a couple of weekends ago at an event that friends of mine had at this location. Initially the venue looked nice and initimate, however, I noticed that the owner of the venue began to walk around, picking at the food that was provided for the guests, as well as yelling at random invitees. As a guest at this event, I felt very uncomfortable, and thought that it was completely inappropriate and unprofessional for the venue owner to yell at guests, the musicians, and to also eat the food that had been provided specifically for the attendees. In addition to that, the venue owner proceeded to walk around the venue barefoot, and it made the guests uncomfortable. If you are searching for a professional and intimate setting, this is NOT the place. I hope the owner implements changes to make this a lovely space and experience. read more

One of the worst experiences due to the owner's extremely rude and unprofessional behavior. My friends hosted their Christian album release at this venue, an event that was supposed to be beautiful, joyful, and memorable. Unfortunately, the owner's behavior was completely unacceptable. He was literally screaming at people instead of communicating with basic respect and professionalism. On top of that, he was grabbing food that had been prepared for the guests, even though it was not intended for him. The food situation was already disappointing, with barely enough food available for the guests, which made his behavior even more inappropriate. People came together to celebrate a special milestone, and they deserved to be treated with respect. Nobody should have to deal with an owner screaming at them or behaving this way during an event they paid for and put so much effort into organizing. A venue owner should know how to treat customers and their guests with courtesy, especially during such an important occasion. Sadly, the owner's attitude overshadowed what should have been a wonderful experience. I would not recommend this place based on our experience, and I sincerely hope future customers are treated with the respect they deserve. read more

Owner was rude to Unfortunately, our experience was not a pleasant one, mainly because of the owner's behavior. He was extremely rude and unprofessional throughout the event. He was walking around barefoot, eating food intended for the guests, and speaking disrespectfully to my musicians during soundcheck. His attitude made what should have been a wonderful experience feel uncomfortable and disappointing. Overall, the lack of professionalism and respect from the owner really affected our experience. I sincerely hope this feedback is taken seriously so that future guests and musicians don't have to deal with the same treatment. read more

First time visiting for a concern this past weekend. The space is intimate and has great acoustics. I liked how the sofas and other furniture were all mismatched - adds to the esthetic! Our event was 2 hours long, and it was BYOB. Towards the back there are high chairs with seating so if you come early could grab those and settle down with your drinks. It did get a little warm in the afternoon as they turn the fans off during the performance, which makes total sense, but overall enjoyed our time here and would come back for another performance. It's also close to a ton of restaurants and cafe's, and the BART station is just a few blocks away. There is a parking lot around the corner if you're driving. read more

What a lovely find! The BackRoom is an intimate performance space just outside of downtown Berkeley. The space is lovely, sound is good, and the sofas very comfortable. And the owner is welcoming, chatty. We ene back. read more

A few steps will lead you down to this great music venue. The exposed brick walls are decorated with records and a reel to reel tape. There is a choice of comfortable seating on mismatched couches or straight chairs. They do not serve drinks or food. What they do serve is an eclectic mix of top-notch music. Because there is no alcohol all ages can enjoy the music here. The room has great acoustics. I guess the couches and brick walls or the basement location help We went to hear the Guitar Trifecta. They were amazing. I look forward to going here again. read more

Extremely rude manager, his name is sam. Saying at the beginning of the show "...you may dislike some of these songs... this show is not for famous people... I mean there's nobody here in the audience, but hey it's intimate" finding out he then SHAMED the artists before hand for only selling a handle of tickets. In the MIDDLE of a set he then interrupts up when two artists are about to sing into a mic together. I cannot believe that someone who runs a small business space for indie/small music artist to treat musicians with such disrespect read more

Cool venue. Relaxing Saturday afternoon of live music. Great community vibe. Looking forward to returning.

I've been going to The Back Room for over 5 years as it's generally a nice place to see music, but I've become increasingly concerned about the cleanliness and condition, as well as the owner's behavior. The main space is acoustically great and the venue is certainly intimate as others have noted. The sound system, run by Sam, is hit or miss, often having buzzing or other issues that he doesn't seem to care about. Cables are almost always a mess and there's usually a pile of drums in the corner of the stage, which is rather unprofessional. It never looks great. The furniture (couches) are certainly cozy but I doubt they get cleaned at all, let alone regularly. So, if you want to sit on a public couch, knock yourself out. Enter the kitchen or either of the two bathrooms and you'll immediately get the sense that someone lives at the venue. The first bathroom has a shower and usually has pill bottles, personal hygiene products, and other materials out in the open. It's never very clean and feels more like a dormitory bathroom than anything that belongs in a public music venue. It's not unusual for the office space to reek of a certain kind of smoke. Sam, as hard as he tries, has a a sort of unsettling presence and on several occasions I've seen him insist on sitting in with artists who don't seem to want him there - sometimes playing bongos, sometimes playing piano, and rarely fitting into the music very well (overplaying, playing too loudly, etc). I'd be really thrilled if Sam could clean up this space, including the back areas, and be a little bit more conscious of the way he addresses the crowd and how much figurative "space" he takes up. read more

See all

The venue is unique and attracts an interesting variety of musicians. The owner, Sam, is rude, makes people uncomfortable, barges up on stage to sit in on the set (!), and is then critical of the performance. He seemed angry at the artists that there wasn't a large crowd. Maybe some of that has to do with people staying away because of the negative vibe radiating from Sam. He does not make this a safe place for artists. read more

An intimate room, with a stage surrounded by comfortable couches. Sam, the owner/booker/great jazz pianist, finds unique and excellent musicians and singers who perform in a great variety of styles. The musicians all seem to genuinely enjoy playing here, and that only adds to the enjoyment of the audience. No food or beverages are served here, but the audiences are allowed to bring their own drinks. read more

This place is an amazing gem in Berkeley. The musicians Sam curates to perform, in this intimate room with comfy couches, are just INCREDIBLE! The level of talent is astounding given the ticket prices (reasonable beyond belief!). We have gone to 10 concerts in the last month and our mouths were hanging open at the level of musicianship. Parking is so incredibly easy & convenient in a UC-monitored lot (extremely safe) at the end of Bonita about 1/2 block from the venue. Sam is a unique character and superb musician himself (pianist) and we are just so grateful to him for hosting such extraordinary musicians in his 'Back Room'!! read more

I attended a wonderful live jazz concert at The Back Room and was blown away by the beautiful venue with an amazing vibe and fabulous sound. Just a gem in Berkeley. I am a music fanatic and have found my utopian music venue. Owner/musician/host/sound engineer/all around lovely person, Sam, should be commended for creating a listening room that is perfect for both artists and listeners. I am looking forward to returning often. read more

Had a great time listening and dancing to Jazz Vocalist Yolandra Rhodes and The Rhodes Scholars. Intimate venue, great acoustics and ability to bring your own food and drinks. I'll be back. I have a new fav artist! Thank you Yolandra read more

The Back Room - Performing Arts Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Really enjoyed the San Francisco Feetwarmers at this cozy, unique venue. This needs to be said--leave your phone in your pocket. We paid $50 for two tickets for an hour of quality jazz entertainment. However, people have a very unhealthy relationship with their phones and diminish the experience for others. The old people using flash photography; the younger people surfing whatever young people do--non-stop. One lady decided to video multiple full length songs with the flash on! And nobody said a word. The opening announcements should include a bit about phones--like they aren't allowed, or how they ruin other people's experience. I hate phones. Or maybe people. But certainly a person with a phone during a performance. read more

Happened about this low key music spot in Berkeley this weekend and was pleasantly surprised. They have a great acoustic setup and casual seating with arrows of loungers, couches and various chairs for first come first serve seating. Tickets were $18 for presale online and $20 at the door. They are byob/d with most folks bringing their own beverages. It does look like a home's back room turned into a performance venue. We had a chance to see the lab rats perform their Bay Area demo with a Sacramento band French 75 joining them. The music was definitely the focus and everyone in the audience was really passionate about music - great to find a community like this in Berkeley. It does get a bit warm inside so dress in layers. Probably good to come a bit early so you can snag some couch seats. Parking was available on the street. Tip: There are quite a few Japanese restaurants around the corner from the venue and make for a good pre show dinner spot. read more

The Back Room - a band playing on stage - Performing Arts Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

saw blues there a couple months ago and the owner came down and played righteous piano along with the band who was very good. I was just sorry there weren't more people there but that's why I'm writing the review so that we can support them better because it was very cozy and a very nice atmosphere, but not enough people read more

The best blues/jazz venue I've ever been to. Great music, comfortable couches to sit on and you can bring in your own beer. Definitely see Sam Rudin if you can, he was great. I wish there was a venue like this where I lived, I'd be there every week. read more

We came here one Friday night to listen to a friend's band and were pleasantly surprised to find this hidden gem on a little side street across near my favorite place Butcher's Son. It looks like a tiny little cottage from outside, but when you walk in it's been made into a cozy event venue with great acoustics, comfy love seats and a little stage in the corner. The owner was friendly and even jumped in to play with the band in the end. How fun! Fun place to check out when looking for live music in downtown Berkeley that doesn't break the bank. Also, it's BYOB. read more

See all

Eccentric, warm, welcoming, comfortable, and the antidote to our Amazon and Target world. This intimate place is hosted by Sam Rudin who is a musician himself and cares deeply about music and providing a unique space to experience it. You can bring in your won food and drinks (they don't sell any). Ticket prices are very reasonable. A real gem. read more

The Back Room is terrific! The room is so appealing with high ceilings and exposed brick and a nice stage. The seating is very casual and comfortable - there are tables if you want but mostly it is furnished with comfy mismatched couches. Places hold 100 people max and is BYO food and drinks. The owner Sam Rudin is also a professional pianist and we heard him play one night with a band and it was excellent with a nice selection of songs. Went twice to The Back Room and really enjoyed the music both times! Wish I lived closer as I would go all the time. The Annual Atheist Christmas Show sounds great. read more

What a great place. We enjoyed some fun music, while relaxing on a sofa . Got a sandwich to munch . Highly recommend this cozy artsy space.

Very cool music venue for seeing local bands! The shows start at 8pm, but arrive early to get your pick of cozy seating. There are lots of comfy couches and you basically feel like you're invited to a private jam session in the band's living room. This is a BYOB, but we weren't quite sure how it worked. My friend who told me about the place said people are welcome to borrow wine openers and glasses from the kitchen. Also, lots of people brought in take-out food. The atmosphere was super warm and convivial. I felt like this was a place where music lovers gathered and quickly became regulars and friends. While I probably wouldn't be able to come that often, I'd definitely like to come back on a semi-regular basis. read more

We had a wonderful night here before the virus came. Highly recommend it. Friendly people friendly crowd BYOB and good music. Parking can be shaky but it is Berkeley read more

The Back Room - Banana doing acoustic show - Performing Arts Near Me - Berkeley, California

A big THANK YOU to the Back Room for providing a fantastic, old school, intimate, no frills, cozy venue for live music. Now that the Freight seems to have forgotten its roots (pun intended) and no longer is supportive of lesser known but wonderful music, this place fills the bill nicely. Fun mix of comfy chairs and couches, bring your own beer or wine, bring your own food to eat at some of the tables is the back...and fantastic sound! I also love that there are no fees; you just call or email to reserve and pay at the door. I will be making my way back across the Bay for many more shows. This is the kind of place that makes it fun and easy to check out some new musician you don't know. Laurie Lewis and Mollie O'brien were outstanding...and the owner Sam on the piano brought it!! read more

The Back Room - Tom Rozum, Laurie Lewis, Mollie O'Brien and Rich Gordon filling the room with their great music. - Performing Arts Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

This is my absolute hands down favorite place to see music. Never been to a better venue....and never seen a bad show here. Been coming for years.... It is super laid back, zero pretension, acoustics are great, the owner cool (and a very talented musician), and there isn't a bad seat in the house. It is BYOB-they aren't trying to sell you anything, (except for a great op to see excellent music performed live-up close and personal). The other 5 star reviews here are spot on. You go-you'll see! ;) read more

Nice cozy venue. You can bring in your own food and drinks. Also there are some sofas to lounge in near the stage. It's small and welcoming. read more

We were there to see Ethan Ostrow and Outside In. We loved our experience there. It's a homey space, comfortable, and the sound was great. We parked right in front of the venue on a Saturday night-that seems pretty lucky!! I love that it's not focused on eating and drinking. They do not sell alcohol. It's about the music, not getting up or having people come around, serving and trying to get drinks. It's more like a hall than a club, and I love that. It's a gem. read more

Such a wonderful venue for an intimate show with amazing acoustics, what a gem!! We very much enjoyed Ruth Moody, parking was a breeze and there are great places to grab a bite before or after the show read more

Went to see a friend perform in a jazz ensemble and had a great time! Wonderful space for music, intimate, comfy chairs and great acoustics. Close to BART and near lots of restaurants. Cash only for the tickets ($7) when we went but you can get cash back at Trader Joe's a block away. Overall a really cool space for live music and I'll be back! read more

From the musician's perspective, it was a poor experience. Sam, the owner, was rude to the point of abusive from the moment we walked in the door. I could excuse the filth and the untuned piano. But Sam repeatedly threw obstacles in the way of a good performance. What should be a fabulous gift to the music community is dashed, due to needless negativity. read more

Saw a show here the other night and it was amazing. Not only the music was good, the sound and the acoustic of the place was amazing. It reminds me of a music concert I saw in London that was amazing. Keep up the good work! read more

For the month of March, 2019, you can catch the dynamic singer Faye Carol and wunderkind pianist Joe Warner tear up jazz standards and make you really hear the occasional pop tune that you might have brushed off before. When this place says all ages, they mean it. On the night I was there last the youngest audience member was 5 and the eldest 104. Yeah, really. Also in attendance Bay Area jazz great Sugar Pie DeSantos. Go, check it out. You'll find yourself in good company. (And bring your favorite libations. There's no corkage. Ice water is provided. Reasonably priced snacks for sale.) read more

I almost don't want to tell people about this place to keep this gem all to myself but I MUST spread the good word about The Back Room. What a sweet, intimate venue this is to see great bands at a super reasonable price. It has a selection of couches as well has hard-backed chairs and some cocktail type tables. You can BYOB, sit back and enjoy! The parking lot is right across the street and the rate is a reasonable $2/hour. Check this place out. You won't be sorry. read more

This is a relatively new music venue in Berkeley. It's housed in a brick building on Bonita and University. There was a fish market in the front space before it closed. Although I disagree w/ the snarky reference in the first review to the Freight forgetting its roots, this space takes you back in time in a wonderful way. The walls are brick, the floors are cement, there's a random assortment of couches plus a few straight back chairs, tall chairs, rolling desk chairs and, if needed, folding chairs. On the north wall are shelves of LPs and one huge old reel-to-reel tape player. Very cool décor. Across the street is a parking lot. The underground part closes at 10 PM but the upper level is open later. Last night we heard a guitarist, David Rogers. He'd been the Desert Island castaway on Alisa Clancy's 9 AM program on KCSM-FM the previous day. I'd heard the venue announced on the Jazz Datebook, but hearing him mobilized me to look into getting tickets, w/ Alan's agreement. I went to the site and signed up for their newsletter. When I checked the ticket prices I was amazed at how reasonable they were: $15 plus a $1.82 fee through Eventbrite. It probably changes a bit from artist to artist, but I expect it wouldn't be much more. We walked back after dinner at Imm Thai, arriving about 7:15. Alan thought the doors opened at 7:00. The woman at the door told us they weren't open yet because they were in the middle of the sound check. I asked if I could use their bathroom and she kindly let me and Alan as well. After that we went outside, where there was one chair, which I took. A line of people started behind us as people arrived. Around 7:30 we were let in. We took a couple of straight back chairs behind one of the couches. People arrived in a steady stream and I would guess that there may have been about 50 in all. There are high tables in the back of the room and people are welcome to bring their own food and beer or wine. The venue sells water and juices or sodas for a nominal charge and snacks that need no preparation. The sound is fabulous, clear w/o being too bright. The couches help w/ the acoustics. Sitting there looking at the brick walls behind the performers (the second set included Susanna Porte, a local cellist and Frances Feldon, a local recorder player, friends of David Rogers) and listening to the beautiful music I felt at home. It's a lovely, intimate place to hear music and I look forward to returning. read more

Really cool venue and great group of people to enjoy listening to talented local musicians with friends. Don't forget to bring your own bottle & glasses, there is no alcohol service! read more