The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall.-  An expensive venue with a cheapo attention to customers. It is a mostly standing-only uncomfortable venue. People are shovel in shoulder to shoulder, with practically no seating available; no good specially on Covid times. The seats are not guaranteed. I paid $130 to see a 2 hours show standing up! No mercy. People talking and making all kinds of noises on the hallways and bad-tempered lantern carriers. Too many alcohol booths and alcohol sellers walking up and down the aisle selling booze and something that looks like microwaved pizzas. It appears that they are paid by commission: who sells more alcohol!! It really seems that patrons are the last of the priorities in The UC Theatre. We feel treated like a herd of swindled cows, who are being squeezed out of all possible money, at all costs; in a theater that boasts of being a proud institution of Berkeley? What a joke!! read more

The UC Theatre is a great place to see some pretty big acts. It's a large space, so it's not usually so packed you can't breathe or get up close. The venue appears to be well-run and professional: it's clean, nicely finished and--the big one--they start on time. I never cease to roll my eyes at venues that routinely don't start until half an hour after show time, so thank you UC for not being one of them. Security is tight at the door, but the front is run so well that the whole experience is pretty painless. One caveat for some music-lovers: this place is LOUD. This doesn't bother me, but I recognize that everyone is different. People who are sensitive to loud venues may wish to bring earplugs or hang out near the back. All in all, a great mid-sized venue for some great bands. We're lucky to have them. read more

This place is my favorite venue very classy and they treat their employees nice a good place to get involved lots of opportunities for young adults read more

We went and saw Get the Led Out which is a great act in itself.! Initially sat in the last tier which still was close enough and a great view of the stage. The other 2 tiers are lower, so you won't have too many heads to look through which is great. Later I moved up to the stage area which is a pit just in front of the stage. Definitely nice to have this option. Each tier had it's own bar which made it easy to get drinks too! Place has a very laid back feel. read more

Loved that it was close to Bart. Drinks were big and decent priced, Bartenders were attentive & quick. Quick and easy entrance through front security. Loved the remodel. The worst part, the security on the floor. Terribly rude. Not doing their job and watching the show instead. A group of about 5 guys people were knocking people down in the back of standing area. I went and told security and they just shrugged their shoulders and turned back to watch the show. If a concert is unsafe, people will not want to attend. Women were being knocked on the floor. Safety is a big issue when you have that many people on the floor.All they had to do was tell them to chill out... It clearly was too much for them to do their job. Hate that a easily preventable problem will stop me from coming back to this venue. read more

Beautiful venue and beautifully run as well. Staff is amazing and went above and beyond to answer my questions and provide amazing service over the phone and through email (no I'm not a crazy problematic kinda customer, just had an issue with a credit card). read more

Went to 2016 nye show. Left early. No place to dance at a dance band show. Management Un helpful:"Sorry, you have to dance on the dance floor",) when that is obviously impossible . Waste of time & money read more

I had an amazing time at this venue! The sound quality is unrivaled - you can literally stand anywhere in the venue and it will not affect the quality of the show. The tiered layout made it possible for me to stand in the very back and still see and hear the show perfectly. I'm very short so this was a welcomed change of pace from other venues in the bay! The interior is also BEAUTIFUL - just looking at the details, it's clear what an amazing job was done during restoration. One aspect I really like about this venue is how intimate it feels. The high ceilings and floored tier plan make you feel like you have a lot of space but the vibe is very laid back and I would definitely recommend if you're going on a date or reconnecting with old friends. In regards to the bar - the drinks were good and I didn't have to wait in crazy lines to get served so that's always nice. :) It's also in a great location in Berkeley - so many great food places around if you want to grab a bite to eat before the show. Overall, A+! I will definitely be returning to this venue! read more

I had a chance to check out the UC Theatre when I went to see the Rides a month ago - a great show and a really cool venue! The band sounded fantastic and I was impressed with the setup at the UC Theatre now that they're really up and running. Despite a blackout in the neighborhood prior to the show, the staff didn't miss a beat and we were brought inside quickly. Grabbed a drink before start time and had a few moments to look at the theatre's renovations - a really lovely and unique spot. I'll be back! read more

New renovations are great. Place looks beautiful and acoustics are good.

Awesome venue with great vibes, good drinks, and lovely souls. Easily accessible from Bart. The hieroglyphics show was amazing. The vibes were high. Sound quality was great. Beer was cold and delicious. Only complaint is there is no coat check. So plan accordingly and don't bring you skate with you. aside from that it's a great venue with lots of potential for mind blowing future shows. Keep it up UC theatre! read more

I love this music venue. It is undeniably the best place in the Bay Area to see a show. The theater itself is just beautiful - polished, modern, and elegant. The ambiance is perfect, with deep red curtains draped wall to wall and dimly lit chandeliers suspended from the ceiling. Oh yes, and the sound quality is second-to-none. With a capacity of about 1400, the theater draws well-known musicians from a diversity of genres, while maintaining an intimate setting. There are fantastic local beers on tap, specialty cocktails, and in true Bay Area fashion, even some delicious New American food options. The staff is courteous and professional. I also love that the UC Theatre is a non-profit with programs to teach young adults the music business. This venue is a truly wonderful addition to the Bay Area community. And the GM has a nice butt. read more

Two stars for resurrecting what was my favorite movie theater, but my experience with them as a music venue was pretty unsatisfying. Recently, the Dark Star Orchestra came through, and I was determined to see them, this time. My problem, such as it is, is that I'm an old guy, with some arthritis problems that can flare up, sometimes, so I emailed the venue to ask if there was any way I could be assured of a place to sit, if I needed it. I received no response, so I decided to give the show a miss, rather than get caught in a bad situation- but the experience left a bad taste. I understand that, at 82, I don't exactly represent their main audience focus, but simply having my query ignored seemed rude; how long would it have taken for someone to answer? In any case, clearly the place is not for me, or people of my age with any kind of disabilities. I'm a little sad about that, but I get it. I had a lot of great times in that theater, and nothing lasts forever. read more

Lovely remodelled venue (formerly a movie theatre) in downtown Berkeley. Great sound system.Nice that everything is super clean - no sticky floors!! Eclectic mix of music, from Dark Star to hip hop to a talk by a member of the Russian collective Pussy Riot. I'm at a New Year's Show, can't wait for the baloons to fall! read more

This is just what Berkeley needed. Definitely seems like they are working out some early kinks on the systems end of things but the two shows I have gone to have been absolutely stellar experiences. Great Sound, Great Lights In general a fantastic renovation on an treasured Berkeley Landmark. I look forward to coming to shows here for years! read more

Coming here is a treat. Went to They Might be Giants, and just like their music is down to earth, the venue was really down to earth, not so big that the music becomes impersonal, but just big enough to have the energy of all the people enjoying the music. My favorite part was the theater brought in a few people who were translating the songs into sign language! Now that's something I haven't ever seen at a show, and it was fantastic. When the band found out their names to thank them, the whole crowded chanted their names in appreciation. I also love downtown Berkeley, and given the theater is a stone's throw away from a ton of great restaurants and from the BART station, it really is the perfect location to watch a show. read more

Terrible sight lines. Went to a seated performance and was seated on the balcony/level above the orchestra pit. The floor is about eye level with the stage. Since the floor is not raked, you cannot see the stage through the person sitting in front of you. I sat through the performance looking at the back of the head of the person sitting in front of me. What an idiotic design. Unless the venue is hosting someone you really want to see, I'd think twice about seeing a show here. The workers were nice, however. read more

Worst experience EVER. Went to the DMX concert on Easter night. UC Theatre sent out an email the day before that the artist would be on the stage by 9pm sharp. X didn't show up until more than 2 and a half hours later, and ended up playing for 40 minutes on a terrible mic where people could barely hear him. UC Theatre refused to issue refunds, though the parking garages closed at midnight. I was stuck on the streets of Berkeley until the morning. The smart people left in droves around 11pm, well before the show started. PEOPLE NEED TO DEMAND A REFUND! Dispicable. read more

What a beautiful renovation of a space that was once lost in the community! The UC Berkeley Theatre is now an awesome destination venue in the Bay Area. Sure The Greek is amazing for those long summer nights, but UCBT will be fun all year long :) The acoustics are spot on and I really enjoyed the staff who were working. Great space, great people.. I don't relate to the negative reviews on here. 10/10 from me :) read more

Went to a show at the UC Theatre tonight to see Dirtwire and Tinariwen. The staff was fantastic, friendly, professional, helpful. The venue was beautiful, classy, tasteful...like a mix of Yoshi's and the Great American Music Hall. Unfortunately, the sound was awful. The music was so loud and improperly mixed. There was so much rumbling bass and low humming that it washed out all of the other instruments and singing. What is it with the BOOM BOOM BOOM approach to mixing. Louder is not better. Overwhelming bass is not better. I was seated to the right and on the same level as the mixer. Dirtwire was talented but almost unlistenable because of the constant over-driving bass. Tinariwen was lucky because they had less low register instrumentation, so there sound was spared somewhat. Bands: make sure you know what you sound like in all parts of the venue. The sound guy or gal can MAKE or BREAK your show. Hard to recommend a show there if the sound remains that bad. Disappointed that I didn't get to hear either band at their best because of poor sound. read more

Unfortunately this venue was a great disappointment to me and my group. We attend many shows in the Bay from the Fillmore, Fox, the Independent to GAMH and found this venue to have a poor layout for GA show (Psych Furs/ The Church), fair at best acoustics, fairly expensive tickets comparatively speaking in the bay and extremely poor temperature control. During the headliner there were nearly 30 people sitting in the hallway with red faces trying to cool down. During the headliner! We left early it was so uncomfortable. There was also about a 45 min wait between opener and headline which appeared to be an attempt to increase food/drink sales as the typical indications of tech difficulties were not apparent. The location is great (so close to BART) but some definite work needs to be done. I doubt I will buy tickets again for this venue without some improvements. read more

The theatre itself is beautiful, has great sound anywhere in the room, and is just small enough for shows to feel very intimate. I will admit that I have only been here once, but the management was horrible. I was sent an email before the show I attended that detailed everything I needed to bring to pick up my will call ticket (ID & credit card used to buy ticket). Once I got to the venue, I was told that I also needed to bring a copy of the email in order to get my ticket. My phone was at 1% battery and I'm not a human printer, so I asked one of the people who worked there what I should do because the email never said I needed a copy of the purchase email with me at the venue. His response was "well, you're screwed." Thankfully, my friend's phone wasn't dead and I was able to get my email on her phone and go into the theatre. There were two lines, and I was pointed in the direction of the one farther from me. As I walked over there, the same worker that told me I was screwed came up to me and told me I wasn't supposed to be in this line and needed to move to the other line. Whatever fine, I'm getting into the show. Finally, once I was in the venue, I wanted to go buy a beer. I'm 24 and had my ID with me, but because I wasn't stamped at the door (nobody at the door said ANYTHING about a stamp or had one) the bartender refused to serve me. All in all, this is a great theatre, but management really needs to get itself together. read more

Not a big fan of this theater, especially as a photographer. They make it hard to photograph bands. The stage is so high up it's pretty hard to get great shots of the musicians performing. Location, pretty close to Bart so that's a positive. And the acts they draw are pretty great too. If I had to choose between The UC Theater and The Greek, I'd go with the Greek. It's more of an experience going to a show there. read more

This has quickly become one of my favorite venues in the Bay! Great location, very spacious with lots of room to dance, awesome sound system, and impeccable ambience!!! read more

Great addition to the Berkeley live music venue scene! The renovation was very well done and the interior has nice detailing though not so much as to distract from the performance. Despite having a rowdy crowd for the Gogol Bordello show I attended, the GA area was well staffed with security. Drinks were decent with quality options available. Finally, I don't have to schlep over to SF for a high quality music experience. read more

Love this venue. Such a beautiful space that has brought in some really cool artists so far. Awesome addition to the community!

Incredible space in the East Bay on par with classic venues in SF, but more intimate! I saw the Psychedelic Furs here last weekend and had a wonderful time. As others have mentioned, the decor is similar to that of the Fillmore and the Warfield--dark, heavy curtains with ornate trims--works for me! There are three "tiers"/areas. I arrived just in time to catch the beginning of the Furs and was able to snag a spot right up in front in the first tier. To be honest, because it's a smaller space, I think you'd get a great view from anywhere in the venue. I'm not sure what a previous reviewer was talking about regarding seating in the first section--at the Furs it was all general admission, but perhaps that depends on the show. The staff are super friendly, and the drinks were strong enough for my taste. They even hand out posters as you're walking out. All in all a great venue and really really nice to have in the East Bay. I'll be back! read more

This week saw the Zombies perform Odessey & Oracle on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Then went back for Peter Hook and the Light performing New Order Substance for their 1st set; followed by Joy Division Substance for their 2nd set on Friday, April 28, 2017. 2 great shows! Not only a happy 1st anniversary to UC Theatre, but 2 happy evenings of great entertainment for me. About 1.5 blocks from Downtown Berkeley BART; attentive staff; excellent entertainment. One of the premiere places to see live music in the Bay Area. read more

I really want to see this place succeed and hope that someone in their management reads this. I have attended three shows there so far and hope to see many more. I enjoyed all of them but here is my advice. 1) Forget about trying to be a restaurant and focus on the shows. Face the fact that you are in Berkeley surrounded by many great places to eat. You can't compete. Ordered food last night to try it out. Not good. Expensive, hard to get service, slow, very slow, cold, soggy, difficult to eat with no table or lighting. Never again. 2) Keep the lower section table and chair free (at least for music acts). The front row for last nights show was a joke. The poor people there could see only the front of the too high stage. What were you thinking? 3) Train your staff. The bartender did not understand that food could be (or not) ordered there. 4) Forget about, or at least try to manage, a two tiered seat price system. Failure. 5) Take your staff (and MANAGEMENT) on a field trip to the Fillmore to see how a world class music venue works. Do some homework. You have great potential but need some improvement. read more

First, Toots and the Maytals performance Friday night was great. And the staff was prompt and accommodating with my request for ADA seating. Now for the bad. I'm seeing other reviewers say avoid the food at the UC Theatre and they're right, our order took 45 min. longer than promised, quality was so-so, and they ended up just giving us somebody else's order because it was exactly the same, so I hope the other couple got their food. And, I agree with others that the sightlines are awful, and I'm taller than most. But my real concern is: what are the ushers at the UC Theatre for? The two "ushers" in our area were chatting it up with the crowd that just wouldn't shut up, and everyone kept talking louder so they could be heard over the band, and the fake ushers didn't care or do a thing! When I complained about the constant chatter, one actually said "we really don't want to police anybody!" I guess that also goes for people standing on the stairways and using extremely annoying flash on their phones. So, are "ushers" just there for the free tickets, or are they all friends of the management? We've already got tix for a show in June, so we'll see how our experience is then, but that may be our last show at the UC Theatre. I can't totally blame the UC for the increasingly rude audiences and their constant chatter which is ruining shows for us, but I can fault them for doing absolutely nothing about it and even being part of the problem from the two examples I observed that night. read more

Disappointing venue; poorly considered renovation. From most points in the theater, you can't see the stage well at all. Very unlikely ever to attend another event here. read more

First time at the this venue and it was an amazing experience. I was lucky enough see Green Day last week. The sound system is one of a kind. Very open and well designed place. I loved it and I recommend seeing a show there. read more