The The Palladium in Worcester is hands down a 5-star venue with an electric atmosphere and great sound that makes every show feel unforgettable. The layout gives you a solid view from almost anywhere, and the energy from the crowd and performers is always next level. If you're catching live music in Worcester, this place should be at the top of your list. read more

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All I can say is.... I absolutely loved this venue. From the pleasant workers and bouncers, to the lovely acoustics, to the fact that there was parking ACROSS THE STREET!! There was a huge bar, a small concessions stand behind the bar that had popcorn and hotdogs to soak up that alcohol, 4-person booths (for an up-charge of course), and you could get up and personal with the bands! read more

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Upstairs is tiny but the downstairs room makes up for it! My 3rd time here, and I don't even live in MA! read more

The Palladium - Zero 9:36 IG:LEGITPIQ - Music Venues Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

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My review is based on limited experience: didn't get food or use the restroom Bought VIP booth tickets (sits up to 4) to see a favorite metalcore band and it spoiled me. Not having people knock into me, not worrying about my space being gone if I leave to get a drink, and having a decent view was beyond incredible. The booth tickets cost as much as a single ticket out in LA but that could be because the band isn't mainstream. Only regret I have is not paying extra for front of the line which turned out to go down a few blocks and took a substantial amount of time to get through. I had minimal interaction with workers but what little I had was totally fine. The sound was also fine. I've heard better, I've heard worse. I heard it well enough that I felt I got my money's worth. Parking is rough but if you're willing to walk, there's street parking several blocks away read more

The Palladium - Imminence - VIP Booth - Music Venues Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

Second time at the Palladium for NYE and I really do enjoy this venue. The staff are phenomenal and handle the lines and security checks so efficiently. We always choose to be upstairs where there is seating as I'm not a fan of standing concerts and the crowd can get a bit rowdy at times and packed. Drinks are not too overpriced here which is a nice plus for a concert venue. There are ample bathrooms located within the facility on all floors and are kept clean throughout the event. read more

The Palladium - Music Venues Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

So I'm at a show at the Palladium Upstairs (not the big venue, the one they shoehorned in) and what a crap venue to see any bands with any kind of following. Seeing a band here tonight and it's like a can of sardines, completely smooshed with all the people, everyone shoving because they can't move, and while the women's room is relatively easy to get to, as it should be, whatever idiots designed this space thought it was a great idea to put the men's room close to the stage where everybody crushes in so no one can get to it. And of course, if you're seeing a show upstairs those are the only two bathrooms there are. Genius. If you can deal with all of that the sound is good, and there's an upstairs you can take a breather in. I couldn't so I left pretty early. Definitely won't be back to see a show here. If it's not at the Palladium proper I'm all set. Pretty trash. read more

My absolute favorite venue. As a hardcore metal head, I go to those place ALL the time. Although on occasion I come to see other shows here as well. They're definitely THE venue for metal and alt rock in New England and I've never had a bad time despite how many times I've seen shows here. The staff is all incredible, especially security. Metal shows get a little wild with things like mosh pits and crowd surfing, but security is so good at walking that line between letting everyone have fun and keeping everyone safe. And that's huge these days with so many venues not allowing moshing or surfing. Shout out to the barricade guys specifically for their amazing work coz I've never seen them drop a crowd surfer, which is crazy consisting how many there are at shows sometimes. Smaller shows held in the upstairs part are cool too.a little cramped, not then you get a much more intimate show, often get to interact with artists, and you'll still have a great time. Drinks are reasonably priced (especially compared to Live Nation venues where the mark up is insane.) The bartenders are all chill and good at their jobs, very friendly people. Everyone at this place is. And one of my favorite things is that there's an actual physical box office, so you can buy tickets direct at the box office for face value (no BS fees like with ticket master). And as a metalhead, the crowds are just generally good too. Good energy, lots of fun, people really getting into the music. Never had any issues with other patrons either, but mostly I think that's a commentary on security doing a good job at keeping everything chill. There's some pretty cheap garage close by too, so I've never had an issue with parking. I genuinely can't say enough nice things about this place. I've easily seen over 50 shows here and have never once had a bad experience. There's a reason it's my favorite venue in all of New England. read more

I went to a bunch of shows here The outcome was always awesome.... It's a dive hole.... butt the bands that they get to go there are freaking awesome .... I wish they would bring more '90s bands nowadays than this weird music they have out read more

I've never walked out of a venue for terrible sound but here we are. I saw Tribulation\Opeth tonight. The sound from the balcony was atrocious. You could barely make out the guitars\vocals and the drums were mixed way too loud. Tried to go down to the floor for Opeth where the sound was slightly better but people were packed in like sardines. The seats in the balcony had less leg room than the planes on Spirit airlines. There's only 2 bathrooms in the whole place from what I could tell. It's a total sty. No soap. Just nasty. I was super bummed as I've finally got to see two of my favorite bands but couldn't enjoy them at all. I wish they played Roadrunner instead where every place in the venue sounds great. If I was still a teenager, I probably would have overlooked a lot of these things but I'm 41 and paid good money to see amazing bands. So disappointed right now. read more

Went for NEMHF 2023. Staff was helpful and venue was kept relatively clean for how many people were around. The downstairs stage looked cool, was a shame it wasn't in use. Upstairs is small but a cozy kind of small. read more

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For whatever reason, the Palladium seems to attract more metal shows than any Boston venue. Ergo, I find myself in Worcester more often than I'd care to admit. As a concert venue, the Palladium is pretty spectacular. They recently renovated the balcony area and it doesn't seem like there's a bad seat (vantage wise) up there. The main stage area downstairs is huge. The floors are inclined so it's easy to get a good view. Upstairs is a smaller more intimate stage where the opening acts usually play. There are two bar areas and drinks are reasonably priced. In all, the Palladium is one of my favorite concert venues. YELP'S 2019 REVIEW CHALLENGE: #3 read more

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really hard to get in/out or walk around to go to the bar or the bathroom because the venue is so narrow, still had a good time but how crowded it was wasnt the best read more

The Palladium - sweet pill - Music Venues Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

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Palladium is an amazing club with huge balcony seats, great sound and all of the good bands pass through... read more

The Palladium - Teloch & Aerik Von - Music Venues Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

came here for an outdoor show and the fact that the parking lot is sloped was great for the concert as everyone was able to see (I'm short, so it was still kinda an issue). Lots of parking nearby, so that's great as well. Not expensive for an all day show either. read more

This venue always has great shows and lovely staff. I've been coming here for decades and love it.

My friend bought me a ticket to see Slander last night. Unfortunately, he didn't play until 12am and we were there around 9:30ish. The previous acts were all just beats? (Not familiar with the EDM scene, but it went booom booom something booom) Slander on the other hand had visuals and lyrics into his playlist. For people driving in, there is parking across the nightclub, $20 with no reentry allowed. Also, there is NO coat check, so we just hung our jackets on a railing and just camped there for the night. I'm glad they have a lot of security staff, but they need other staff to come around and dispose of empty cups and such. We had a table next to us where party goers were just piling up on the trash. This is my first time here, and with my knowledge of how things work around here, I'll be better prepared next time. read more

I've been here twice to see different metal shows. Both have been good experiences with only a few issues. It's easy to get to, and I parked right across the street for $20. I walked up in a short line, was frisked, had my ticket on my phone scanned, and I was in. There's a few places to get drinks inside. I had two Coors lights and found they were different prices, at different bars inside. The sound is good, but your view can be obstructed in a lot of places. The worst part of the experience was people smoking inside, especially in the pit, and the bathrooms. I only found one men's room, and it always had a line, a dirty wet floor, and a cloud of smoke. The bartenders were nice, and so were the merch people. The GA floor can be shoulder to shoulder. So don't get pissed if you get pushed or a pit starts. Also, it can be hot as hell in the pit, so don't bring a sweater. The pit floor is all wet with people throwing beer cans everywhere. They have live TVs up by the bar, and out in the lobby area if you need to get away from the people that stink. The palladium is the best place, and the only ones with any balls to host the most extreme metal bands. I give them props, and hope they are open for many more years. read more

Great place to see a show ! Balcony for the older people and dance floor for the pit they also have cocktails and weeds legal ! Parking and lodging close by . read more

I went to a show last weekend. The show was good, only because the artist is amazing. The acoustics are horrible. Band managers should take a closer look at this place before they book it. The only reason I'm writing this at all is that I had an extremely disturbing experience with one of the staff. At the end of the show, I went to leave out the exit. Apparently the wrong exit... the little twerp that works there's literally SCREAMED IN MY FACE, saying "what! Did you just try to go out there!! And I said yes and that it's an exit. He continued to scream in my face that is was an emergency exit as I moved away from him. This kid must have been all of 18 years old, if that. His intensity was sociopathic. And never have I been spoken to like that by a stranger, let alone someone who is paid to keep people safe. read more

Came all the way from Maryland to see my legendary straight edge hardcore band Have Hearst's 1st show in 10 years. The Worcester Palladium was a great venue. Had a classic theater vibe: balcony w/ seating and layered walkway and standing area leading up to the floor. The stage was huge and the ceiling high. Plenty of areas to get drinks, including a huge island bar at the top layer of the floor level. There is a small variety of food options: hot dogs, pizza, popcorn etc. The actual music quality was top notch. My biggest knock was the seating in the balcony area: very small seats with ZERO leg room, making for a very uncomfortable experience for a big guy like myself. read more

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Firstly, they never answer the phone or emails, even during the week or when the box office is supposed to be open. Sound guys often times dont know how to mix audio, resulting in a venue that is literally too loud/poorly mixed to hear anything. That could be the fault of the performer or the venue itself, not quite sure. I would only recommend this venue if it was the ONLY possible place you could see your favorite artist, otherwise, steer clear of this hellhole. There is literally no staff other than the people inside of this building during shows. This place as a business is impossible to get in touch with. read more

Paid a ton of money for vip early entrance and limited seating and there was none. Totally ripped off everyone who paid for that. Limited I get but NONE is unacceptable for the price. There were seats available for thise with people in a wheelchair. But not in VIP. Grown older folks who couldn't stand for 6 hours were forced to sit on the ground, including people like me with recent surgeries injuries and canes. Completely unacceptable. ​ read more

The place is OK, you go there because they get the good bands. The sound quality is pretty good, they manage to keep the line moving well on entry but the seats are terrible. There is no way I could have sat in my assigned seat (this show was 6 hours, so i didn't want to stand the whole time), fortunately, there were plenty of empty seats. If I buy a seat, I want a seat, not standing room. If I agree to buy standing room, that's on me. read more

The Palladium - Great if you don't have legs - Music Venues Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

My friend, Tylea, loves death metal... and a year or so ago she had tickets to see Soul Fly (Brazilian death metal) and no one to go with her. I am not really the death metal type, but I'm also open to anything so I went. I am basing this review on this experience. The Palladium has good sound. Or, at least, the ability to get really loud. Tylea actually brought earplugs for both of us to wear, which made me feel old at first and grateful later. I could hear the music quite well with the earplugs, and I had that post concert semi-deaf feeling after despite them... I can only IMAGINE what that does to your ears without. The Palladium has a full liquor license. Yes, I've been to places to see concerts where you could only get wine and beer. Or NOTHING. Gasp! But here I could get a delightful mixed cocktail to go with the ear wrenching Satanic tripe that the opening band was spewing out. (I should add, although unrelated to the actual location, that I thought Soul Fly was awesome.. and it was the opening band that sucked. And I'm not just throwing "Satanic" around as some denunciation of all death metal as Satanic.. this band made opening pledges to Satan and had an upside-down Pentagram with the beast as their giant major background dcor. Nor, for the record, am I being prejudiced against Satanists... this band would have sucked equally if it was wailing for Christ or Buddha or Vishnu. In fact, the fact that they were Satanists just made the whole thing seem trite. But I had my earplugs, and the people watching during this part of the show was SOOOOO entertaining. Who knew watching Satanist death metal fans could be so much fun?) The Palladium is clean. Well, not really CLEAN, just not as dirty as I had expected it to be. I did not sit on the toilet seat in the ladies room, to be sure. The bartenders were efficient. They actually got to everyone waiting pretty quickly and didn't dally around with idle chit chat. Security was pretty good. There were plenty of "bouncers" walking around and they kept the door well. Overall, I'd say this is a pretty good place to see a show. Maybe next time I'll get to pick the artist. read more

Been trying for over a month now to get in touch with someone about their Covid policy. I have called and got an answering machine that says there box office hours are Tuesday-Friday 12pm-4:30pm. Has left multiple messages with no call back. I have also sent an email, Facebook message and instagram message. Very poor customer service. The concert I'm seeing is on Saturday and I still don't know what I need to get my 2 year old son in. I know before Covid times he was free, but I am just wondering if this is still the case and if so do I need to get him Covid tested to provide a negative test result. read more

Been to this venue several times over the past few years, most recently for Mindless Self Indulgence. I really like this venue for a few reasons. 1. It is set up in a way that you can be as involved or not involved in your music listening experience as you'd like. There are many tiered levels from which to view the band on stage. Bottom most with "the pit", a level with curved booths and tables, bar area for those chilling in the back, and a mezzanine to view from above. Doesn't matter where you are, you can see the performer with clarity (unless your glasses fall off while moshing and are crushed under someone's Converse sneaker). 2. The bar is relatively cheap, $4.25 for Coors Light on draft. This is a huge improvement from venues like the Tweeter Center in Mansfield who charge $8+ for a simple bottle of Bud Light! Ticket prices are reasonable as well for the bands performing. MSI tickets were $20. 3. You honestly do not have to wait in that gigantic line that always forms outside the building waiting for doors to open. I sat in a bar across the street until the show had already begun, and found myself front row and center watching the band play. If you rush up the front from the very start not only will you get tired of being pushed around but you will get a uti from not going to the bathroom and will probably just get pushed to the side eventually anyways. 4. Tons of parking in the area! Paid $10 to park right next the building. Easy in and out! No hassle, off the road, easy to maneuver. Do not be deterred by driving your car there. 5. Bouncers do their job. . . although some are a little big-headed about their importance. Great at pulling crowd-surfers off the crushed front-liners. . . bad at not showing their distaste for them. They do a decent job of taking care of the items that work their way to the front to be able to return to people in search of them after the show. If your favorite band is listed for this venue, check 'em out! It is definately worth the drive out there. Remember, no re-entry so bring in what you need and leave behind what you don't want to end up carrying. Happy concert going!!! read more

- I guess as a venue its about 3 stars. - As a venue that regularly hosts brutal \m/ METAL \m/ its 5 stars. - See my awesome photo upload I'm not really sure why exactly.....but Wusta seems to be the metal capital of New England. The Palladium is pretty cool and actually sort of perfect. You want to hit the pit and thrash it out? Go for it! The floor area is large. You want some personal space away from the riff raff to actually enjoy the music and performance? You can! There's plenty of space and with the tiered approach to the stage, visual obstructions are at a minimum. So yes, The Palladium is the masshole metal fan meathead Mecca..... and its all good! read more

The Palladium - The greatest death metal band ever.... at The Palladium! I'm just mildly obssessed... - Music Venues Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

I am an avid concert-goer and also a full-time wheelchair user, due to Charcot-Marie Tooth Muscular Dystrophy. The condition affects the nerves in my lower arms and lower legs, inhibiting my ability to walk or stand whatsoever and causing me to rely on my wheelchair for 100% of my ambulatory mobility. I attended the Sum 41 concert at the Worcester Palladium on Halloween night. I had called ahead of time to check accessibility and was told everything was fine. So, I went ahead and purchased a VIP ticket. When I arrived, I was shown to a spot in the supposed VIP section, which had a bar across the front, blocking the view of the stage from wheelchair height. My companion and I did complain and ask if it would be alright for me to move onto the floor in front of the stage, where everyone who bought a ticket had access to. I was told that due to my wheelchair, I was not allowed to be on the floor with everyone else because of "insurance reasons." I was also told that there was no accessible way to get me down to floor level. When I pushed the issue further, I was directed to come along with a staff member, who led us outside around the building and through a door that led directly to the floor itself. But, instead of letting me just stay there, they made me bump up a couple of steps in my wheelchair only to lead to another spot off of the floor. Extremely degrading and awful experience. read more

In all fairness, I did not get inside the place until the first song was underway. I had heard that security was very, very tight the night before, but that was not my experience. Got thru the line in a reasonable fashion: perfunctory pat-Down, sailed right thru. The reason I will probably never go back, though, is because they must have oversold tickets by 30%. The whole place is general admission, which is great, but no matter where I went, I was shoulder-to-shoulder and front-to-back smooshed with people. There was no such thing as an aisle on the floor. Maybe if I had gotten inside earlier, I could have claimed a bit of space, but It did not feel safe. My friend and I wormed our way around the floor to try and find ANYplace where we could move a little, but we had no luck. So we went up to the balcony, all the way up to the top, where we found a little room. Great music, nice sound, but way too crowded. Not an inexpensive ticket, either. read more

A true Metal rock venue. Pros: Metal music acts (a lost art) Dark and dirty ( the way it's supposed to be) Cheap (tickets and drinks) Cons: The sound is awful but acceptable No AC in the summer If you like crushing metal shows then look this place up. They are one of the only venues in the Northeast that books top metal acts especially young and up and coming acts. I hope this place never changes. Thanks read more

I was a bit nervous going to Worcester for a metal show but I was pleasantly surprised. Parking was a breeze, showed up at 6pm, parked two blocks over. When you walk in you can tell his building is old. Beers were appropriately priced for a venue, about 8 bucks for a 16oz can. They have a mezzanine, a floor section with two raised side sections VIP I believe as well as VIP tables and a back standing area. I chose the back standing area against to railings and could see and hear everything without the threat of being trampled to death. My only complaint would be it was FREEZING inside, I suppose it's better than sweating profusely. read more

The worst music venue I have ever been too. Went to see Griz and Big Wild. Event was so over sold you couldn't even walk up the islse. Much less dance and have a good time. Getting a drink was along the realm of impossible. Bathrooms smelt of urine long before you ever got inside, and that was when doors first opened. Overall seems like a place that occasionally gets big acts and uses them as a cash grab to stay open. Too bad cause the artists worked so hard to put on a good show. read more

Well, I have been here a few times. Its not horrible...the downstairs is better then upstairs. Upstairs just seems stuffy. Just doesn't seem super clean. I have fun when we come here...we saw Alchemystics and Zack Deputy here. Sound system isn't great, and sometimes the vibe in there isn't always great. I always feel like I need to be aware at all times of my surroundings, I dont always feel super safe for some reason. Bathrooms are somewhat clean, but the sinks were kinda dirty. The people who work there seem cool. Bartenders do a pretty good job keeping up with the crowds. It's an ok venue but not my fave place to go. read more

Bethany was the best. Went to see a day to remember and Bethany went above and beyond to ensure I was of legal age for drinking and was very attentive to all of my needs. Please promote her for sure. read more

I hope to die here. Being in this underlit, crumbling place is like looking at your own life: it's slowly crumbling down and falling apart, until one day it's all gonna SLAM you and make you sh*it yourself to death. If the ceiling doesn't fall on you, the crowd will. Last time I was here some CHICK fell on her NECK and it took like 10 mins for anyone to do anything. The beer is MAD overpriced but so is existing in Massachusetts. The bathrooms are like rivers of toilet paper and piss but I like that in a venue, it's real authentic. The workers hate you, but its ok because you hate yourself too, and it doesn't matter anymore because you become ONE with the band. Isn't that what we came here for? Yeah so stop b***ing about customer service when you're just here to sweat and explode your ears. The lights are nice. read more

sad summer fest was awesome and there was plenty of room in the outdoor space that allowed for not being on top of people compared to smaller venues ive attended SSF at read more

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I've been going to the Palladium in Worcester since I was in my early teens (over ten years) to see all my favorite bands. This is still my favorite venue in the Greater Boston Area to see metal music. It attracts the best crowds for metal shows because it draws from Western MA, the Greater Boston Area, and Connecticut. Despite its flaws (no air conditioning, definitely in need of a renovation, small bathrooms falling apart) I would still rather see a metal/death metal show at the Palladium than at the House Of Blues in Boston. It's just the right atmosphere. The staff at the Palladium, specifically the security in the front who catch crowd surfers/monitor the mosh pit are by far the best in Massachusetts. They're alert and quick to react when an intervention is necessary. They're excellent at providing a safe environment for all while still allowing moshing. I'm not a heavy drinker but my experience at the bar has always been pleasant. The drinks are priced at what you would expect for a concert venue so if you're not looking to spend a lot of money to get your buzz on, have a couple at the bars in the area before you head in. read more

This is the absolute worst venue that you could attend. I do not recommend this place for ANY entertainment. Even if it was free, I wouldn't go! The people who work there are rude. They have ridiculous policies. And they treat their customers like crap. They will NOT refund your money. And everything that they do is backwards. I do not recommend making plans to travel to Worcester to this venue. You WILL be disappointed. And the place is super dirty! The only time we did go, we all got sick from the water. Gross place. read more

One show and I'm in love with this venue... For me these are the plus points: :) decrepit big old theater with paint peeling off :) seats ripped out to give stadium standing - great views :) comfy booths with a plum view just behind the sound crew :) decent bar that no-one uses cause they're all 17 yrs old :) snack bar for $1candies :) shitty carpet to dance your feet into :) security that are happy to let the place go wild The bad points that sadly make it lose that fifth star: :( no re-entry if you go to smoke (that's harsh) :( PBR at $4.50 - too much :( sound is too echoey and distorted in the big old theater :( cold as hell in there in Nov :( it's all the way out in Worcester Well - maybe that last point isn't so bad. Worcester seemed like a kind of rough and skanky rundown town with grime and character and that's precisely what I loved about the Palladium. If they'd had coal fires in old oil barrels for us to gather round inside it would've definitely been a five-starrer. read more

My comments to a friend re: NEMH 2008: "The music was great. The venue was complete shit. That was the fourth or fifth show I'd seen there, and the squalor was 10x worse than usual. No seats on the toilets, no *doors* on the stalls, shit smeared on the walls, neo-nazis everywhere doing fucked-up shit. It was so bad I just swore off that place forever. I hope it burns to the ground with the owners inside." Edit: I went back for Slayer on 11/28/2014 because a bunch of friends wanted to go. The sound was awful: if I hadn't already known all the songs, I never would have been able to tell what they were playing. People smoking *everywhere*, including the bathrooms, and not enough venue security personnel to do anything about it. Vomit on the floor by the merch stand that took the venue staff 30 minutes to clean up. This place continues to suck the suck out of suck. Worst venue ever. read more