Date night to see comedian Kathy Griffin at the National Theatre in downtown Richmond. Great show however after 2-1/2 hours of sitting on a hard uncomfortable folding chair I was ready to go home!!! My butt is still numb, lol!! read more

See all

I have been to The National numerous times over the years. It is a decent mid-sized venue that gets some decent acts. But I am not comfortable there becuase of the audience space. When it is set up as standing room, as it is for most events, it is too crowded and "atmospheric" on the floor when everyone has been availing themselves of the bar's wares. When I was younger I would not have minded as much, but now standing for an hour or three is not my thing. BUT when they set the hall up with seating, as they did for Patton Oswalt's show last night, you have to deal with very cheap plastic folding chairs that put pressure in the wrong places and strain to hold folks of any above average size. I know, it's hard to please some people. Accoustically the hall is good. Bathrooms are cleanish. Ticketing was easy. Parking is a challenge. read more

I recently went to the national for the first time to see Muscadine Bloodline, and I can't say enough about what a positive experience it was! From both an accessibility and live music perspective. For my first time at The National, and I wasn't sure what to expect ... especially since I had just had my spine surgery and needed to use a wheelchair. From the moment we arrived, the staff went above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable and could easily access everything I needed. We were greeted right away by a smiling security guard at the front door, who immediately made me feel welcome. They quickly cleared a path through ticketing and security, and helped guide us straight to the accessible seating area. They rolled me right up to the barricade near the sound stage, so I got an up close view of the whole show! The security staff in this area were incredibly friendly and attentive, checking in often to see if we needed water or anything else during the concert. What stood out most was how seamless the whole process was. The staff made everything stress sree so we could focus on enjoying the show. At the end of the night, security helped us navigate through crowds and even guided us right to the restroom before wheeling me outside. Amazing. And of course, the music itself was fantastic! The sound quality was great, Muscadine Bloodline put on an amazing show, and the energy in the room was infectious. The National itself is spacious with a really cool vibe, and a perfect spot for live music whether you're in the seats, the pit, or as I discovered, enjoying the show with unique accessibility needs! I can't wait to return when I'm able to enjoy the venue from the pit! Highly recommend this venue to everyone. read more

See all

First review but know that I've been to maybe 20 shows at The National. I think the venue is really good for shows. Basically not a bad seat in the place. Now I've never had drinks there, since I'm always the DD, so I can't give that a review. I've always found the restroom clean, which at a concert venue is a small miracle. Staff, including door staff, have always been friendly. I will say the place has a few rough spots. Could use some TLC. I know they keep a full schedule but they really need to do some maintenance in a few spots. So I really say this is a solid 4 1/2 star place. But I could round up and decide to round down. There is city parking all over the place near the venue. But don't get me wrong it's Richmond and they can charge parking prices well over what they should. Taking full advantage of the National patrons. I do fully recommend taking in a show a The National. read more

If you have the chance to see a band at the national, TAKE IT! I had such a good time with all my friends here, gather a large group and ROLLLL! Do: get a beer, super cheap, super quick. Thank bouncers, security and service people, they are so nice and polite here! Don't: crowd surf, surefire way to get kicked out. Come to the national! read more

See all

No food No service... Just the ambiance of the world famous NATIONAL in Richmond, VA and they have SOLD out the theater for Tabitha Brown! It doesn't get any better than this!!! read more

The National - It's Tabitha Brown time and what could be better than that?!!! - Music Venues Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

How lucky us Richmonders are to have The National. The National is an incredible venue whether it's for music or a comedy show. The door and bar staff are always very friendly. The drinks are pricey but what venue has cheap drinks anymore. My first experience at the National was a paint party my freshman year in Richmond and I've loved it ever since. I've been to multiple music events and a comedy show. If you don't mind walking you can find street parking on the surrounding streets and there are a few parking garages near by as well. If you have the opportunity to see a show at the National I would definitely go! read more

Went here for a music event. The acoustics were good and it was laid out ok. We saw 2 bars downstairs and did not venture upstairs. The floor was standing room only but it appeared that there was seating upstairs. I would say it was average. We order a vodka and cranberry and a coke. After getting the coke my wife said it was diet. They poured another one and the same thing. Could have been coke were but definitely not regular coke. We took that one back as well. They swore that it was regular but if ya drink coke you know if it is regular or not. This time we opted to replace it with a water. Overall we had a good time. Location was good and parking was right across the street beside the venue. It was $10 for the parking deck for the event. Card only. Would we come back again? Yes read more

A nice music venue in downtown Richmond. I have been here for several concerts and each one seems set up differently based on the artist. A couple I have been to have had seating on the main floor but most have been standing only on the first floor and seating in the balcony. Seating in the balcony is very tight with little leg room so it is not comfortable. The sound was good throughout the venue and the bathrooms were clean. The bar staff were friendly and they had a nice selection of drinks. As with most venues they have dynamic pricing so the prices can increase or decrease based on demand. For our recent event we paid $75 per person and as it got closer the seats in front of us were for sale for $29. The fees per ticket are high so if you have the opportunity to buy in person at the box office it is cheaper. read more

This is actually my favorite concert venue in Richmond! It's a small venue but we get a lot of very known/big names that go! Tickets are reasonable, especially when you go pay cash at the box office. Their hours are at horrible times that make it hard to actually do that option tho. Parking can be hard but they do have some parking areas close by. It's standing room mainly. They do have an upstairs balcony with seats but I don't actually understand how to get those seats. (If someone knows please let me know) The drinks are expensive but it keeps the place running and it's convenient and normal for a concert venue. I hope this place never closes!!! read more

Just saw an amazing concert put on by Jose Gonzalez!!!!! The staff was very helpful, full bar and very clean. read more

The National - The stage before the Jose Gonzalez show!!!! - Music Venues Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

One of Richmond's biggest and most well known concert venues. We get a lot of big names here. It's a charming theater too. I love the balconies in this space. It's a really gorgeous venue. I should start with the fact that it's a standing room kind of venue. If you're short (like me), you either want to get there early, get a balcony seat, or stand near the back (there is a slight incline on the standing space). I'm not sure if there are more, but there was a bar near the back left (if you're facing the stage) and a bar at the front before you enter the room with the stage. Drinks felt reasonably priced. I also appreciated that they had bathrooms with A LOT of stalls so the wait is never too long. We came for the Tove Lo show and had an incredible time. The stage and lighting were amazing. I highly recommend buying tickets for a show from will call before they sell out online. You can get them for the best price by buying them this way. read more

See all

5/5 Great venue for a small concert. Cool, old theater with interesting architecture. The main floor is slightly sloped downward which helps with viewing and it's not a very deep theater so even if you are in back you are not very far from the stage. One of the better small-concert venues I've been to. read more

The National - The Struts! - Music Venues Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Rolled up here for 311. It's an older venue so there's some character behind it. The sound quality and volume were just right and it's located on E. Broad Street making for easy access. Parking is easy to navigate on the side streets as well. Had a good time seeing my favorite band here and the staff was helpful in showing me how to get around the areas. I made the mistake of purchasing my ticket online as I'm seeing many recommend going straight to the box office and purchasing. I'll have to do that next time I'm in Richmond as there were still plenty of tickets available for the show. Can't wait to return for another show here! read more

See all

Such a historic building that the city has kept as a staple for many music and comedy acts to perform at. I've been to many shows over the past 30+ years the acoustics of the building and the architecture are amazing. read more

This was my very first time here and I must say, I look forward to returning. I've been to many shows before and I can say this was my favorite. Main floor was nice and spacious (the slope however caught me off guard) plenty of standing room, never felt too crowded at any point. Whoever was manning sound did an amazing job as well. Everything sounded very clean. read more

The National - Music Venues Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

We had a terrible experience trying and failing to buy tickets on the venue's website. We made multiple attempts, on two separate computers, to buy tickets being resold on the venue's site. Vague message said all fields not completed. We looked over and over and could not find any not completed. None were indicated as not complete. We used their chat function. My spouse was typing; I was there. Because my spouse had indicated that they were communicating, they would no longer respond, even though I was there. Sorry to miss the show (Mary Chapin Carpenter), sorry for the people who were trying to sell their tix through the venue. We won't bother again with The National. read more

I recently attended a Joywave concert at this venue and enjoyed it. There was free parking a few blocks away which was convenient and cost effective. It was a clean area of downtown Richmond that seemed safe and well lit. I showed my ticket on my phone to the people at the front door and they scanned it and let me right in. There was no line toward the end of the opening band's set. I liked how the front door was only a stone's throw away from the first seats. I was in general admission which was only a few feet in front of just 2-3 rows of seats. Security wasn't letting people go upstairs, but I would've went upstairs for a song or two. Only a couple people were up there. It wasn't extraordinarily loud, but I jammed pieces of paper towel in my ears and it worked pretty well. The entire stage was easy to see from the side of the general admission floor. I was on the left side of the venue, but the bathrooms were on the right side. They were clean enough. Joywave was co-headlining and I left after they played, but most of the crowd stayed to see the last band play. This made it very easy to leave without crowd interference. This venue reminded me of Amos' Southend in Charlotte, NC. If more bands that I like play here I'll consider returning. The ticket was $25, but $38 after taxes and fees. read more

The National - Joywave - Music Venues Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Went to see Dogstar. My first time at The National. Venue was great!! Acoustic were good, well staffed, organized. Had seating which is essential for people of a particular age. Would definitely attend more concerts there. read more

See all

My family and I went to this venue to see The Shins play which was AWESOME. However, I do have advice on seating. If you sit in the balcony do not choose the front rows. In front of the general balcony seating is the "VIP" seats where the people are allowed to stand, blocking the view of the stage. When I asked one of the staff members if I could ask the person to sit down to not block the view of myself, they told me "they are allowed to stand, if you ask them to sit you will be kicked out, they pay a lot of money for those seats, front row sucks" So to sum up, don't sit in the front row, and don't speak to the elite, else be kicked out like the peasants we are read more

The National - Stage - Music Venues Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Yes, I've been here for concerts... but on this occasion I came with a group of fellow journalists for a "venue showcase". The National opened its doors to photographers, writers, chefs, restaurant owners, florists, magazines, event planners, etc. to showcase their concert hall as more than a music venue, but an event destination. Several restaurants were there providing light bites, there was an open bar, lovely tables displayed for a wedding or party, a cool jazz trio playing, and a fun photo booth providing lots of laughs! The photo booth would be a hoot at a gathering: wedding, graduation, bridal/baby shower, retirement party, business convention, or any other event! We were offered back stage tours of the facility and the staff was attentive, accommodating and top notch! The dim lighting added to the cool, retro/deco vibe. I'm not sure about the parking sitch for big events, so call the National for deets! I'd recommend this historic spot for your next party! A great time was had by all! Well done! read more

See all

The National has been within walking distance for more than a year, but I hadn't found a show that I *really* wanted to attend until a couple nights ago. I purchased a ticket for Metric in advance online. In the future, I'll just walk over to the box office if I can make it while it's open; they have a $10 online convenience fee. I arrived right around start time (7:30 p.m.) and didn't have to wait in any line at all. I had worn a coat just in case it was long like some of the photos here. Not the case at all. I was ID'd, wrist-banded, and went through security all within a minute's time. Coat check is to the right when you walk in, but be sure to carry some cash since it's $3 cash only and only available during winter months. I had just emptied my wallet of cash (only walking at night alone with the bare essentials) so I wrapped my coat around my waist instead. I noticed lots of others did as well, so either we were all too cheap to pay or all just didn't know it was cash only. Maybe the venue could make that more clear. Anyhow, it wasn't a huge deal...just wanted to mention it here. The venue itself is gorgeous inside. It's such a regal concert venue! I also love that there's a decline in the floor, which makes it easier to see the band even if you're not in one of the front rows. I stood in front of the sound box and had a good view. The light show that Metric had was just insane. I had seen them once before, in 2013, at an outdoor venue in Philly. So the juxtaposition of the two shows was mindblowing; this one was a thousand times better. The crowd was chill, the music was amazing, the sound was high quality. I didn't purchase a drink because they were expensive and bland. Didn't use the bathroom either, so can't speak to that. But the actual venue? A definite five-star host. Can't wait to return. read more

See all

It all depends on who's running the sound board for the band I like this venue in general and have been to many shows here If it's too loud well.... When the sound is right it's magical place I live three hours away and am always checking the schedule for the next potentially magical show! read more

If I could give a zero I would! The National is such a beautiful venue and a decent spot to see all of my favorite artists just because they happen to be performing there. But my brother and others got their phones stolen while at the Ken Carson concert, the staff did nothing to help with this and acted as if it was the least of their worries. Although it isn't necessarily their responsibility they were very rude and could care less about their visitors. read more

The National Theater thinks you're stupid. First, their Service Fee is a ripoff. They want $13 for a $43 ticket or 30% of the ticket price. Service Fee for what??? You mean to tell me they don't get a percentage of the cost of the ticket??? SMH. Second, they require you to create an account so they can sell your email address. Why in the sam hell do I need to create an account to buy a friggen ticket? These guys are nosey, controlling, entitled, and think the public is stupid. Take your money somewhere else. read more

Great venue for live music. I've been to a couple of concerts at the National and there isn't a bad spot in the house. On the lower level, you stand, which isn't bad because the floor slopes down so the closer you are to the stage, the lower the floor. This means people in the back still have a pretty good view. The top floor is seating for folks who don't want to stand for the whole night. To me, the upstairs smelled like pee, so maybe it's time to recover the seats or at the very minimum clean them. The sound system is phenomenal, there's a nice bar with beer, wine and mid-level mixed drinks. Everything is between $6-12. Bottled water is $3. Parking nearby is $6 per hour. The area is a little sketchy...the first time in the area, we were asked for money by two different people who had a strong odor of alcohol. The second time wasn't as eventful, but it was still a little scary to be in the area. Lighting is very dim, so be sure to watch your surroundings. There is a security scan when you go through the door. That's newish, maybe the last year or so, but I'm okay with that because it means that I'm safe. The National has a great list of shows and attracts a wide variety of artists. You can see anyone from Gwar to The Psychedelic Furs. With a friendly staff, the music lover will definitely have a good time. read more

The National - Music Venues Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Really cool music venue. It's nice and old school, very ornate and detailed. Just small enough to feel intimate, but large enough to pack a whole lot of people into. Be a lot better if I didn't have to pay $12 for a pint of Bold Rock, but it was a fun place. Went here to see Dead South with some friends. read more

I saw Metric here in February. It is a great venue! There's lots of drinks for sale on all the levels. read more

I have a chronic pain disorder and not having seats available made it difficult to enjoy the show I paid for . They need to accommodate for everyone. I saw other people struggling due to the lack of seats but I was told I would have to leave if I tried to sit down. read more

They treated us extremely poorly. We paid 250$ for a ticket for my uncle last minute (plus 9 others who were in our crew) he flew all the way from Omaha Nebraska just to see GWAR (his favourite band) he was picked up and thrown in the air and this led to him being "crowed surfed" he got down then another member in the crowd picked him up again and he was once again in the air being "crowed surfed". This time he was brought to the front where security quickly grabbed him and brought him to the front with no explanation as to why. They then proceeded to throw him to the street and say wait here while we get a manager. They then slammed the door and locked him out it was cold and he had no way of getting in touch with the rest of our crew. They gave him no warning and no assistance. I saw over 20 people be crowd surfed throughout and they had no warning and most certainly did not get thrown out. I am extremely disappointed and appalled with this establishments behaviour and treatment towards its customers. Will never be returning. read more

We attended a Flogging Molly concert (Celtic punk band) this week. We had a blast. Was originally concerned we would have to stand the entire concert as the first floor is standing room in Front of stage. Luckily and thankfully, we were able to secure four seats (first come first serve) on second floor. Great seats for anyone really. There is a special area for members (may have to look into this) which is ropes off and the seats and tables have a straight view of the stage (think balcony seating). Of course we loved the show. This is our second visit to The National. Can't wait to try another performance. Parking is easy also. Just around the corner for public parking garage. Event parking was $7.99. Just make sure you download the parking app before you leave the garage after parking. Otherwise the app just spins while others who forgot to download are trying to pay and exit. read more

I have seen dozens of shows at the National throughout the years, and it is definitely one of my favorite venues in Richmond. On the lower level the floor is sloped, so if you are short and end up in the back, you can still see. The drinks are a bit on the pricier side, but that's to be expected. There is also plenty of parking on side streets or in the parking decks/lots on the surrounding blocks; this has never been an issue for me. All in all, the National is a great venue and attracts a myriad of great artists each year. I highly recommend it! read more

The National - Unknown Mortal Orchestra, July 2018 - Music Venues Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

We traveled 100 miles and booked an overnight stay to see Cory Wong on 2/21/23. We had general admission tickets, not knowing VIP seating was available. We got in line before the doors opened and got second row seats in the balcony. That's when we realized there were a row of tables and a single row of cushioned seats in front of the general admission balcony (which stayed pretty much empty during the opening act). When Cory Wong came on stage, a couple at a table in this VIP slice of balcony (with literally some of the best seats in the house) opted to stand the whole show, causing the four men behind them on the cushioned row of seating to stand, which in turn caused an entire section of the general admission seats to have a hindered view of the stage. (Great views of their swaying butts and stupid air guitaring). Ushers kept the walkway cleared that separated the two balcony sections, but allowed VIPS to remain standing. I foolishly thought maybe they didn't realize they were hindering the views of so many people behind them and asked if they could sit for a while. Not a chance. Key to note; the vast majority in the VIP section sat and did not block the large area of general admission balcony seating behind them. Eventually I went downstairs where the standing area was a mosh pit. I actually liked that experience better than the swaying butts. read more

First time attending a show at The National. Loved the older venue. Plenty of space to spread out. There are no seats unless you are in the ADA area. They have multiple concession stands for easy access to beer and mixed drinks. If you are looking for artist merch, they are typically in the main lobby. There are plenty of staff monitoring the venue and helping to keep it clean. I appreciated the venu requiring you to be vaccinated or show a negative test in order to enter. I was expecting a backlog of people but it moved very quickly. A very efficient process. I look forward to returning. read more

I feel odd doing a review for a venue but hey! If you wanna know what it's like, then I got you! So the SO and I came here on December the 1st for The Internet concert (internal fangirl shriek) and this was the first time I've ever been to both this venue and a concert! So my opinion shall be very limited. One, it was hella cold outside. We drove past the back of The National and people were waiting to get in. (We were searching for parking, which was insanely hard since we came 45 minutes before the show.) I say get to whatever event early if you want to find decent parking! The venue itself is most definitely what many would consider small. I thought it was cozy and created a great experience between the artists and their fans. There's and upstairs, which we didn't bother with because the main entrance was super crowded. Beers/Ciders are available if you are 21 and up. ($8 per cider for us... $16 seems like a stretch but not going to complain). I mean The Internet was amazing. 100 out of 5 stars! Their act before them were a surprise to me since I never heard of them. Oh so good as well. Great stage presence, no audio hiccups, very happy first time concert goer! read more

See all

The National is my favorite venue when it comes to concerts. This venue is fairly intimate with a staggered floor and stadium style seating upstairs so no matter where you are there isn't a bad view. The staff are generally friendly and there is street parking in the surrounding area. If you're there for a livelier band just be aware that they do not allow crowd surfing. The drink prices are a little on the high end but I think that may be expected for a concert venue. The acoustics are great - if the music is too loud for you the bar sells earplugs for $1. I'll definitely be back as The National always has a great concert coming up. read more

Smaller venue which is my preference. Good view from anywhere. Ample amount of bars and restrooms which leads to short lines. Currently, must provide proof of vaccination or negative COVID test. Event staff is friendly and constantly walking around picking up empty cups, monitoring the crowd, etc. We would definitely return to the venue for another show. read more

This is truly a great place to get up close and personal with the bands you enjoy. It's been so long since I have been here I had forgotten how cool this small venue is. It wasn't even called The National the last time I was here, that's how long it's been. I will be back again soon. The old architecture that has been maintained here is for sure a Richmond classic. Before the show my kids were running around checking all of the "secret" spots, as they called it. Even my kids loved the old wood floors and all of the balconies. Oh yeah, and the band was good too! We came to see the Yonder Mountain String Band, these folkes rocked it out! It's was a full house for the show also. If these guys come in town again I will be back! read more

The National - Music Venues Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

See all

Not strong feelings for or against this place... it's got a good setup for a show or performance. But the design and decor are not great. It just appears to be a bit beaten down. The parking can be difficult so you typically have to do paid parking in lots. The prices are very reasonable - not expensive at all. read more

An amazing music venue. I went to my first show here earlier tonight and I really loved the quality of sound and intimacy. I personally love smaller intimate shows, but the old theater turned into a music venue has lots of character. I was surprised that the National allowed crowd surfing during a New Found Glory show. I highly recommend coming to a show here. read more

See all