Nice, intimate venue. Really cool place to see a small concert. Looking forward to another visit.read more

I saw my cousins Henri and Bill play in their band Starcrawler here a couple of weeks ago. I…read morebrought along with me the inimitable Dave Benitez. My sister and brother-in-law were there, as was my cousin Buddy, father of Henri and Bill. OK, enough name-dropping. I'll talk about the venue itself--I really will--but I have to focus on parking, because it's an utter joke. We knew we would be late because of when we left, but we did arrive at the parking lot in time to see at least part of the opening act--or we would have, if the place's parking lot hadn't been tiny. The attendant told us to make a left and right and then turn right on the first street and look for parking there. If there wasn't any, we were to proceed to the following street, in front of the Jack in the Box, and if there was no parking there, we could probably (!) park in the Jack in the Box parking lot without getting a ticket (!!). I followed his directions to a tee, and there were no spaces on either street in indicated, and I wasn't about to get my car towed two days before I had to drive it back to San Francisco. This part of Santa Ana is all commercial and industrial businesses in strip malls with parking lots, but for some reason, there's no street parking. I would understand a no-overnight-parking restriction to prevent people from living in their vehicles, but what purpose does the current restriction serve? None, other than to frustrate would-be spenders of sales tax in Santa Ana--stupid policy. Anyway, we spent the next twenty minutes driving up and down similarly long blocks, hoping for some legal parking. Then my brother-in-law saved the day by calling us and telling us to go to the Jack in the Box parking lot and look for the guy in the safety vest. We did so, and after we paid him $20, he directed us to one of those empty business parking lots. And we still had to walk like a half-mile to the venue. The Constellation Room is part of the Observatory, which was also hosting another band in a separate room at the same time. That explains the lack of parking, but why exactly is a venue booking more bands than it has parking for? Why don't they proactively reach out to their neighbor businesses and pay them (or have us pay them) to use their empty parking lots? It makes no sense. The Observatory looks pretty cool, but we only walked through it into the Constellation Room, which also looks very neat with the lights on. When we arrived, Buddy was right next to the door, and my sister was talking to Henri's girlfriend, who was manning the merch table in the back. I walked toward my sister and proceeded to fall flat on my stomach (I broke my fall with my hands, so I didn't hit my head). There's a single large step to get up onto the platform where the table is set up, but I couldn't see it even with the lights on, and there's no handrail. I didn't care at the time besides being embarrassed, but the following week, I had a some excruciatingly painful case of sciatica that lasted almost five days, and I'm still taking steroids for it. I don't know whether that fall caused the sciatica to flare up, but it couldn't have helped, and it's the only weird jarring-type of thing that I experienced a few days beforehand. The show itself was amazing. The sound quality is really good. I'm sure it helped that I was standing against the back wall. I think they allowed in more people than the official capacity, but I didn't have to worry about crowd churn where I was standing. It's always worth it to see and support my cousins, but this venue needs some serious nuts-and-bolts work. Parking is zero stars. Get more; don't encourage people to park illegally. Maybe spend less time on the glow tape and other nice details on the venue's interior signs and ripoff-price-drink menus and add some glow tape to the edge of that single stair. For the majority of the concert, the room was a sold four-and-a-half stars.

Such a great place to see tribute bands and jazz. Really good food and bar as well as great sound…read more All seats are good. Booths are best. Have fun!

Solid 4-1/2 stars. Something happened during our invite to…read morehear my nephews band...we found a great place to hangout! The music was GREAT. Honestly enjoyed Shane and the band. Unsure about the food after reading mixed reviews on quality. Either the previous naysayers don't know food, or we hit on an unusual night. My thoughts are there were other issues that turned the night sour for them. Hubbie had the wedge salad with extra blue cheese dressing AND extra crumbles. Crisp iceberg lettuce, ripe tomato wedges, plenty of blue cheese to satisfy this cheese lover. He also ordered the 8oz. Filet. Perfect medium doneness with a yummy brandy cream type sauce. A house special he thoroughly enjoyed. Heard about the bread & Jax sauce dip. So glad I ordered the large. So the dip was a brothy slightly spicey dip. Reminiscent of spaghetti sauce flavors. Kind of like you're dipping into a saucy entree. Loved this. Had the Jambalaya with added shrimp. Adequate amount of chicken, thinly sliced andouille sausage. Which could have been sliced a bit thicker, but whatever. Tasted great, slight spice, proteins not overcooked. I'd order again. Ordered a dirty martini with an extra olive. Good and strong. Such a pleasant evening. Local small music venue. Will keep an eye out for visiting musicians.

This was my wife and I first time attending any event at Great Park LIve. We were here to see…read moreArrival from Sweden as part of our wedding anniversary celebration. Traffic to enter the venue was ugly and slow due to other venue events that were ending as we were entering. I take partial blame for not realizing that Great Park Irvine sent both a text and email to me approx. 7 hours before showtime to advise me of parking and traffic issues that I would encounter. Once we entered, we were both pleasantly surprised that the varied foods and drinks available for purchase. Finding our seats was somewhat aggravating. When I purchased our tickets on-line, it provided the section row and seat numbers. But at this concert, the signage for sections was not very prominent. We had to ask several Symphony volunteers where our section was. We finally stumbled onto the section but where the hell was row 03310??? Turns out that row was more like a table number, with 4 chairs and no seat numbers. Unsure if we had reached the right seating area, we asked some very nice folks sitting at the table next to us if we were in the right location. Yes! we were. My wife and I were quite impressed with the seating that we got for $70 each. We were seated at a round table with a tablecloth on it. The folding chairs we sat on were very comfortable as well. This seating arrangement was very nice for watching a concert in style. Just wish we were hungry, I saw a stand selling charcuterie boards and that would have made the evening that more special for us. After the concert, we waited several minutes for the majority nof the crowd to leave the parking lot. Overall, we really like attending the Pacific Symphony's Outdoor Summer Concert at Great Park Live. Knowing what we learned that night, we can now better plan our next evening concert there.

Came for Pacific Symphony Summerfest concerts and it's very well done. You are allowed to bring in…read morea sealed plastic bottled water and a gallon sized ziploc of food. They allow small clutches or up to a 12x13 clear bag. Our first visit on July 4th was super busy and parking took a while because there were roads closed off, however yesterday's Star Wars concert was really easy to get into with no wait at all for parking. It's very easy to get into the venue and there were ushers showing us to our seats. The VIP section and forward middle areas were all circular tables with chairs so you can eat and drink comfortably while watching the performance. The other seats are foldout style seats in rows with cup holders. The chairs in some areas had little platforms to put your snacks. There are vendors that sell all kinds of food and drink at premium prices but that's expected at these events. There are large screens to view different camera angles of the concert if you are further back and don't have a full clear view of the stage. The sound quality was excellent and the performance was spectacular.

It's always a treat coming here with friends and family to enjoy a show. There are so many to…read morechoose from throughout the year. We chose Beauty and the Beast this time around. We purchased orchestras seats for six people. The seats were great and our view was good. Staff are always nice and helpful. Venue is clean and magical looking, especially at night. Parking at the structure was $15. You can pay with card or cash. The show was amazing!!! You can't go wrong with whatever you choose to see!

The theater itself is gorgeous and spacious. The seats have plenty of room and are comfortable…read more Beauty and the Beast was a gorgeous production. I am docking points for my negative experience here. First of all, I was in orchestra row B and I asked where I would need to enter (go up the ramp or enter on ground level). I was directed to go up the ramp, which had 3x the line as the ground level, only to eventually find that ground level was closer and had a much shorter line. I had a handheld camera smaller than the size of my iPhone. The security attendant didn't know whether that was permitted. He asked someone else, who also seemed unsure/hesitated/stuttered at first, then he insisted that it was prohibited. I would understand if it's truly prohibited, but my issues with this: 1. It seemed like he was just making up rules 2. Their website says no PROFESSIONAL recording devices, but personal device recording is okay in the lobby (obviously wouldn't do it during the show) 3. I had to go all the way back to my car to put it in there. I read another review that the workers/attendants are rude; for me, this includes security.

A great new venue for live music! Been twice so far and the quality of the musicians does not…read moredisappoint. The atmosphere is great...love the disco balls, the entrance, the little nooks in the back for conversation, the bar staff is wonderful as is everyone there who makes sure the night runs smoothly. Looking forward to repeat visits, and more original bands!!

Nice little venue, great sound quality. Limited bar offerings. Please support this place.read more

Today was the annual OC Blues Fest. A fun day of great entertainment and camaraderie amongst Blues…read moreLovers. Music all day and a food truck right outside the back door. This dark old school entertainment bar is a great venue for artists as well as customers. Love the two stages, this means there is no downtime between bands to setup & tear down. They have a full bar, but if you are a wine lover nothing to write home about. The drinks prices are reasonable and the staff is friendly. Great acoustics for listening and players. Good event space if you need one.

Stages Bar in Santa Ana is a great spot if you're looking for a fun night out with a lively…read moreatmosphere, good drinks, music, and a crowd that knows how to have a good time. The vibe is one of the biggest highlights. The energy picks up as the night goes on, making it a great place to meet up with friends, celebrate a birthday, or simply go out for a night of drinks and entertainment. The atmosphere feels social and upbeat without feeling overly formal. The bar has a good selection of drinks, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. I also appreciated the overall setup and the attention to creating an environment where people can relax, socialize, and enjoy the night. If you're in the Santa Ana area and want a place with a nightlife atmosphere rather than a quiet sit-down experience, Stages Bar is definitely worth checking out. Overall, I had a great time and would definitely come back. Great atmosphere, good drinks, friendly service, and a fun nightlife vibe.

Love this tiny venue and how it has open seating AND a hard 10pm curfew! Get there a little early…read moreto secure a good seat in the shade (the seats to the right as you walk in will be shaded as the sun sets). Great sound and not a bad view to be had. Food and drink options were reasonable too. Parking is street only but you can park at Steel Craft and walk over. The venue closing at 10pm ensures you can get back to your car without issue. Can't wait to see another show here!

One word that describes it: GHETTO!! After paying $20 for…read moreparking at the church across the street, I walked into the very small venue for the first time, I was greeted by the smell of marijuana. I lasted less than 30 minutes and left. Absolute ghetto all the way around. Never again! Yuck Drunk people stumbling around at 6:30PM. No open seats (general admission) No ventilation/fans. Didn't buy any food or drinks but saw some of their food and it looked gross. Door security checked my clutch and did a pat down. They weren't friendly or welcoming at all. Wasn't worth the drive/gas. Yuck!

First time visiting this venue and my initial impression was... WOW!…read moreLocated on the grounds of Soka University in Aliso Viejo, the campus is gorgeous. I drove about 1 hour to attend a concert by world renowned jazz artist, David Benoit. The music hall was ideal for an intimate experience. The 1,000 seat theater is acoustically perfect so there isn't a bad seat in the house. My seats were comfortable and roomy and afforded me a bird's eye view of the artist, and the symphony orchestra that accompanied him. The restrooms were easily accessible, as were the concessions stands. Parking was free and simple. I got in and out as if I were parking in my own private garage. Ample handicap spots were available, thankfully. Shuttle service from the parking lot to the entry gate was abundant and a thoughtful convenience for less mobile patrons. The staff was helpful when needed. Ok, now if you're interested... a music review. David Benoit & Cecilia Tsan: Resonance & Renewal - World Premiere ... was amazing! I laughed! I cried! I whistled & applauded through countless standing ovations! I thoroughly enjoyed the performance, and I was not alone. Interestingly, I also learned about a life saving program available right here in Southern California that coincidentally, helped save the life of Mr. Benoit, himself. As he shared during the concert, Benoit suffered from kidney failure and desperately needed a transplant. Unfortunately, his wife Kei was not a match. However, a ground breaking program at UCLA allowed participants to donate healthy organs to those in need. It's kind of like a "trade-in" program for vital organs. So, in turn, if someone else donates an organ that matches your needs.. viola! We have a match made in heaven, on earth!! So, Kei donated her kidney to save a life, and someone else eventually donated a kidney match that saved her husband David's life! Team work makes the dream work!! If you, or someone you know, needs an organ transplant, check out the program at UCLA! Ok, now back to the music, I promise!! The first half of the show was Benoit and a 40-piece symphony orchestra performing his Resonance and Renewal original composition, which was inspired by his life journey. From the hectic days of his early musical career, to the challenges of his health struggles, to the gift of new life following his kidney transplant. Knowing just a few of the personal details he shared with his audience allowed everyone to enjoy Resonance and Renewal all the more. Of course, the most memorable highlights of the evening followed in the second half of the program where he sat alone at his grand piano, accompanied by just his drummer and bass player, as he riffed through several jazz classics! Standing ovations followed. But there's more. When you have a symphony orchestra at your disposal, you use it to the max. Especially when the orchestra is made up from your own former students!! So, when the orchestra re-joined Benoit on stage, magic ensued. He opened with a tribute to his wife with a piece entitled, Kei. It took but a handful of musical notes, ushered in by several amazing violinists, to bring tears from my eyes and down over my cheeks! It touched my soul so deeply I could not contain my emotions. It was the best cry I've had in years. Thank you, David Benoit. And thank you, Kei Benoit, as well.

We attended a terrific charity concert at the Soka Performing Arts Center. Cancer Teamwork…read moreResponse hosted an event headlined by Mike Garson (former piano player for David Bowie). Joe Sumner (Sting's son) and Veronica Swift were both featured signers. They performed a number of David Bowie songs, and they all sounded great. The event raised money for the charity and the audience truly enjoyed the evening. The staff at the Center were all friendly. I would not hesitate going to another event at the Center.