throughout the years i've been at cain's ballroom, it's been on different occasions. one of the first times ever was during a whiskey tasting called giving spirits. that was one of the first times being part of something like that & i really enjoyed myself. during that time, i started attending tastings outside of cain's ballroom & that event played a part. another occasion was seeing mac miller live in concert. his set alone was close to 2 hours, he absolutely crushed his set! outside of mac miller, cain's hosts A LOT of artists that you couldn't think of. if you ever want to come close to coming in contact with the performers, they usually hit the bars on the street to get a taste of how the city gets down (it's happened numerous times during open mic events at neighboring bars for the past couple of decades). something major is that local acts perform here as well, whether they're opening for another act or they're hosting their own show. one of the more recent occasions was being part of a fundraiser. that was maybe the the first time i've ever had people place bids on my artwork. it was a different experience that i enjoyed, seeing what all people had in-store (i wanna say the event was the chili cook off that cain's hosts yearly). all in all, i've had nothing but positive experiences here. when you ever get a chance, look up the history behind this place. read more

Friendly staff and great music. Parking is free and the iconic venue is well maintained with plenty of areas to take a brief break from the music. Be prepared: while there are stadium benches available along with limited seats along with a private bar and bathroom on the mezzanine, the best views are available to the standing room only crowd in front of the stage. Drinks, merch and food are reasonably priced, lines are well managed, bathrooms are clean and tidy. Make sure you make time to view all of the posters, photos and memorabilia - you are surrounded by history in this amazing space. read more

It was our first time at Cain's ballroom and it was a fabulous experience! We will definitely be looking for more shows to attend there.

Like many other native Okies, my first ever concert at age 14-15 was The Click Five & Ryan Cabrera at the amazing, iconic, historical Cain's Ballroom. Since then, I can't even count how many shows I've seen there. It's an awesome intimate venue with the charm of history. Prices have stayed super reasonable over the years. Bar staff are friendly and try to keep lines moving quickly. And having BBQ on site is convenient. I will always love Cain's. read more

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Attended bingo loco and had a blast. Didn't love the very long lines for drinks though. They should have more bartenders and bars to count down on time. Drinks were good though and not overpriced. read more

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Ambiance? Hellllo? Its the historic Cain's Ballroom! OF COURSE it has ambiance! It had been MANY years since I've been there up until September. I love going to concerts here. Intimate setting which I love. And the BBQ place inside? I'm so sorry I've forgotten the name, but HOOLAAAAY! Best BBQ sammich I've had lately!! 5 stars all around for the Cain's!!! read more

Historic venue with large photos of legendary music icons. Felt and looked similar to a gymnasium. Same levels throughout. Difficult to see unless up front. Hostile environment to leave seconds after show ended. Security guard, Tim, extremely aggressive and hostile with unnecessary threats about being kicked out. Amazing show, but disappointed with after show treatment and wouldn't attend again. read more

Cain's Ballroom - Music Venues Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

Very cool and historic! It's an even better experience when there's a live performance! I'd definitely go back again. (Food is $$$) read more

Cain's Ballroom - Exterior (in the winter) - Music Venues Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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A cool 100 year old ballroom serving Tulsa, Oklahoma Home of Bob Wills Very ADA compliant. read more

Feelings toward Cain's Ballroom are mixed. I wanted to take ample time to reflect on our experience before reviewing as I know Cain's is very popular and historic. The staff was kind, the food in the connected concessions was solid, but our recent concert experience was disheartening. My husband, who has MS (multiple sclerosis), has mobility challenges. Despite informing the venue in advance and receiving assurances for ADA seating, our seating experience was disappointing. Seats were not reserved or appropriately located, and as the venue filled up, it became clear that guests needing seats had zero chance of seeing the stage. I reached out to a staff member to see if there was any other options so my husband could see the concert and the staff explained that the wall seats were the only available option and there was nothing else they could do. While the venue may be great for able-bodied guests, it fell short for us. The lack of handicap parking and seating accessibility was a significant issue. I hope sharing this review will assist future ADA concert attendees to either avoid the same disappointment and frustration my husband faced that evening or allow the venue to make improvements to accommodate concert goers in the future. read more

Cain's Ballroom - Definitely not able to see the stage and the place was not even full yet :( - Music Venues Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

Five for Cain's always but I wanted to just comment on the VIP tickets for the mezzanine. It really wasn't that much more to upgrade (maybe $10-$12) so we did it for a recent concert. I had already read and knew that the view of the stage was blocked by the rafters but since you could come and go as you pleased, I thought "No problem." I enjoyed looking around upstairs and it was nice to have a basically private bar and bathroom. IF you knew it was going to be a packed crowd, I would totally recommend this. If you suspect it won't be that crowded, I would forgo the VIP tickets. Still a fun experience (as always). (It's also nice to have Mac's adjacent.) read more

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Saw Sam Morril tonight. The show was alright, but when we left my fiancé said, "you're funnier." And to me that's worth 5-stars.

We went for a NYE concert. Bar service was great. Security officers are kind and aren't jerks. Overall a great atmosphere and ambiance if you like smaller concert venues. Great location as well. read more

Both times I've been have been great. Parking in the area is easy. I love the wide stage and the entire ambiance of the room. Miller Lite tall boy was $6 which is so reasonable for a concert venue. They book great acts-- one of the few reasons I wish I lived in Tulsa instead of OKC! The crowd has been great both times. Feels like the inverse of the Criterion in OKC where the crowd pretty consistently sucks to the point where the venue feels cursed. Cain's feels blessed! So wonderful. Only had good times so far and never felt unsafe. Did have some crowd surfers at the most recent show which is... not for an Oklahoma crowd who likes their personal space. Glad no one got dropped, and bouncers were ready for them at the barricade luckily. Also, I love love love that they still do will call tickets. Mobile tickets make me sad, but that's personal. Feels so good to go to the box office and get a printed ticket handed to me. The drive back to OKC after a show always sucks, but it's always worth it! Thank you read more

Cain's Ballroom - a crowd of people at a concert - Music Venues Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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I love the overall ambiance and venue. However, they have this one male bartender who has HORRIBLE customer service. He's an elderly male who works behind the bar and he was incredible rude and mean. I asked if he took Apple Pay and he said "yes" with such a bad attitude. And then I ordered a margarita and a vodka soda and as he was making it, I asked him for a lime in my vodka soda and he rolled his eyes, paused and rudely said: "people these days, they don't have any patience." First on all, sir, not ever bar automatically puts a lime in a vodka soda. There are many places that do NOT do that. Secondly, what a freakin rude thing to say to the customer. I now regret not saying back: people these days, they don't know what proper customer service looks like. Thirdly, when I asked for his name he pretended not to hear me. He was so incredibly rude. Management needs to talk to him! He made the whole experience of being there awful. He gives off the impression that he doesn't want to be there and that he despises his job. What an awful way to live your life sir! read more

Arrived to the venue, Cain's ballroom, I was looking forward to hearing Geoff Tate and the opening band. I appreciated the conversation with the Facebook host who told me about the venue, where to buy seats and the BBQ. If you need information about the place, reach out on Facebook. Also, be aware that you do not have to pay for parking in front of the venue after 5 pm M-F. My monkey and I walked in with the smell of arthritis medication and a slight smell of glaucoma medicine was in the air until the BBQ punched us in the nose. We walked first to the restrooms located up the ramp that were clean with many stalls for the men. Afterwards, we went to order our meal. The first bad experience was with the 2 cooks at the register. They were not friendly and acted like we were annoying them, note we were the only ones in line, as I asked about the menu. I asked for 2 orders of 3 pork ribs that came out quick. There was a slight smoke taste to each bite and you could taste the rub. Each bite was juicy and didn't require BBQ sauce. The cost was $30 for 2 orders of ribs and 2 bottled waters. The other kind of bad experience was the bartender who snapped at my son and the joyful bouncers who did nothing as my generation hits the AARP stage. The venue is beautiful, the meal was good and would go back in the future but the workers....well..you make the call. read more

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The historic Cains ballroom manages to bring in some amazing acts and is located in a cool edifice. I have been fortunate enough to be able to go to some really fun shows and events and I'm looking forward to continuing that tradition in the future. I wish that they were more compliant with the pandemic safety precautions. I also wish that they were more mindful of public health and safety. read more

I will not be able to count how many shows I have caught at the Cains. I absolutely feel at home here. I get excited when each new line-up comes out for the seasons. The location is perfect and they have come a long way to make it a comfortable place to hear music. (I remember visiting back in the day to see a show and there was zero circulation of air, people were allowed to smoke and there was cork flooring. The latter was the coolest thing. I miss it). For a few examples I will tell you some shows I have seen at the Cains. Beach House, Death Cab for Cutie (in same week. Yes!) Smashing Pumpkins, Damien Rice and today, Sara Bareilles. Seriously the Cains is a happy place. They now have a BBQ restaurant and two bars available. Yes there are usually long lines but they move quite quickly. There is special balcony seating available for most shows but the bleachers on each side of the floor is always available. Security is usually pretty good and helpful. normally encounter friendly faces when I am there. One more thing, the bathrooms are fairly large and kept somewhat tidy. See more shows at Cains. It is a great way to have that intimate musical experience. The acoustics alone are worth it and ticket prices stay pretty reasonable. read more

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This is an awesome venue. Came here for the first time over the weekend to see Tech N9ne. When you walk in, there are tables next to the bar and a place to grab some BBQ, all while viewing the big screen of what is happening on stage. The actual concert hall is in another room, with two separate entrances. The sound was great inside the concert hall. There is a huge open space with a bar in the back and stage in the front. The bathrooms have several stalls and were pretty clean considering how much use they get. Staff members were walking around all night cleaning and picking up garbage, which I appreciated. We parked in overflow parking a few hundred feet from the venue, but it was a short walk. In my opinion, you can't complain when you don't have to pay for parking. We had a small hiccup with one of our e-tickets not scanning, but the box office fixed it quickly. Also, you can buy and carry a 6-pack of beer! What world is this!! What happened to 2 drink limits?!? I will definitely make the 2 hour drive from NWA to check or more concerts and this venue. read more

Was there for a show there was a woman standing at the front with ample room on both sides of her and my kids tried to stand next to her I stood behind all of them she said I was trying to squeeze my way in. I was fine standing 3ft back she told her bouncer friend a different story. The bouncer didn't even care to hear my side. I was sober and he still gave no interests in hearing both sides. Just took the side of his friend. read more

This was my second time at Cain's and I just love it! The staff are always super quick and nice. The venue itself is pretty neat because it's an old square dancing venue with large pictures of square dancing champions all around the place. I've only ever seen 1 band here, The Floozies, an electric funk group. It's always a great time. Alcohol prices aren't bad, and you can even get a 6 pack for $12 to walk around with! If you're out of town and don't mind drooling $130 for a room, there's a hotel just down the street, Fairfield Inn & Suites. We love Cain's! read more

Cain's Ballroom - The Floozies - Music Venues Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

Great venue. Saw Oliver Hazard and Caamp. Staff were great and they had plenty of open bar spaces to grab a drink before and during the show. Definitley worth the stop and it was impressive to see the old pictures throughout the venue itself. Got a chance to enjoy the upstairs lounge to sit and watch the show. Special night and the team at Cain's definitely made it possible. read more

My husband and I recently attended a sold out show at Cain's. The venue was severely overcrowded. It was a very unpleasant experience that could have absolutely been made better by this establishment. Cains has been in business since the 1920s so surely they know it's hot in Tulsa and that people want to drink when at a concert. There was little to no air moving in that place and the heat was unbearable, I guess their ac system cannot keep up. To make things worse the line to get water or beer was at least 30 to 40 people deep in all three lines. We waited 30 minutes to get one drink, waited another 45 later in the show and still had 10 or more people in front of us. We decided to leave since it was unbearably hot and definitely made more uncomfortable to go without anything to drink. Also, this was an all ages show so there were lots of young adults getting water and sodas in line. There could have been a separate line for soda and water and some speed wells for beer/water to get the overstuffed venue served. The venue could do MUCH better to get people served and was clearly overwhelmed. Cains itself was very cool with all the history and photos about, just made unbearable by inefficient ac units and overwhelmed concessions. Terrible execution and unfortunately I would not go back nor would I recommend this venue. Minimum requirements of some level of comfort is expected. read more

One of the first places that I wanted to see during our weekend in Tulsa was Cain's Ballroom, located across the railroad tracks, and up on Main Street, near the interstate. This musical icon is the birthplace of Western Swing, and they've been designated by the National Register of Historical Places as the "Carnegie Hall of Western Music". Famous country musical acts such as Bob Willis and the Texas Playboys, Hank Williams, and Patsy Cline have all crossed the threshold into Cain's, which was opened in the mid-1920s. Outside, and embedded into the sidewalk, is Cain's version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with large stars featuring the big names acts that have played in the ballroom over the years. As times, and musical tastes changed, so did Cain's Ballroom, and after a while this smaller, intimate concert hall saw the likes of Van Halen, The Police, and INXS performing on their stage. Nowadays, Cain's is the place to see diverse indie groups and bands not likely to rock the larger BOK Center. Cain's is only open in the evenings when they are having a concert, and no longer open for tours during the day. There are numerous reports of ghost sightings inside the ballroom, so don't be surprised if you feel chills when someone brushes past you. This is a fun, intimate location to see your favorite musical group, and enjoy the history which made Cain's Ballroom famous. read more

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Is there a better small venue for live music in Tulsa at the moment? No way. This dance hall goes back to the days of Bob Willis and the stories that have built up over the year are as legendary as the acts performing here. The place has great acoustics and really is a great space to jam out to a band like Ghostland Observatory, or listen to the lyrics of Iron and Wine. The breadth of acts here is great, you can always find an excellent show and the crowd is great because it's Tulsa! read more

Cain's Ballroom - Music Venues Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

Cain's keeps Tulsa cool! For being a moderately sized town in the middle of oil country, we have the historic Cain's Ballroom to thank for giving Tulsa a great music scene. This is an incredible place to see all genres of nationally known and local groups in a small venue, and its nostalgic nature makes it even more memorable. A unique feature of the ballroom is that the dance floor is spring loaded - this feature was original to Cain's so patrons could dance the night away without having to stop to rest their feet. It's really cool to feel the bouncing when the entire crowd simultaneously starts hopping to the music. If there's a group you like that's coming to the Cain's, you will LOVE the experience! Tickets are always pretty reasonable, so don't hesitate...get some friends together and GO! read more

Amazing show. Had q great time. Can't wait to be back. Need to come to a show soon. I saw Quite a few here in 2019

Cain's Ballroom is the gold standard in American historical venues that are still standing and in constant use. The first show I attended at Cain's was the day before I was born. My dad and super-pregnant Mom took me to see Asleep at the Wheel(early birthday present, no doubt). Sadly, I don't remember very much about the show, but that's not Cain's fault, as much as it was mine, for not being born yet. It's a shame my folks didn't take me to see the Sex Pistols the next year. In fact, it was several years until I made it back to Cain's to enjoy the awesomely warped, original hardwood floors, during Faith No More's Angel Dust tour('92). The common myth was that the floors were spring loaded for dancing- that turned out not to be the case. In 2009, the entire floor was(wisely, lovingly) replaced. Maybe it was really just the distance between the joists, which could have given the floor that springy feel. Cain's has certainly retained it's old-school, historic charm even through major renovations, and the addition of Air Conditioning. The venue consistently performs at it's peak, on a national level- making Tulsan's proud- several nights a week, year 'round. read more

Excellent time here at the recent Cam concert ! Had not been here in a while and it hasn't changed much... in 50 years. I was especially impressed with the GT security squad! Made everyone feel safe and they were friendly! Bartenders were very attentive, fast, efficient, and reasonably priced! Looking forward to going back there again sometime! read more

The Cain's is a Tulsa staple and a top music venue across the nation! The bouncy hardwoods and great acoustics make it such an awesome venue to sing & dance around at with your favorite artists/bands! read more

Awesome venue ! It's huge and the stage is huge as well so there isn't a bad seat in the house . Sound was excellent , lights were excellent and it even had a disco ball ! The staff is all super friendly . The Merch is set up with light actually shining on the T-shirts so you can see them . They sell booze , soda and snacks . There is a upstairs with its own bar and restroom. When it's a smaller crowd they have chairs , tables and even bleachers set up . I heard some pretty sweet ghost stories happening around this place ! The venue has been around for 90 some years , the acts to have gone through here are amazing ! read more

Cain's Ballroom - Music Venues Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

Great, iconic place to see live music. Been going there for decades. However, the current situation with LONG drink lines is horrendous. I'm not a huge drinker, but it's gotten beyond ridiculous. At a show last weekend I spent over an hour in line over the course of the evening to get 3 beers (which is all I usually drink). I missed half the show just standing in line. May not go back:( read more

Welp, folks I'm short. My love for music is deep. Real deep. 90 percent of my concert going experiences is looking through the occasional iPhone video that someone shoots in front of me. But hey! It's OK! I'm there for the music anyway, right? Cain's Ballroom makes dreams come true. This historic venue has such a home-ee feel to where I feel like I am bee-bopping or weeping to my favorite artist in someone's huge garage house band party. Make sense? Every show feels like a reunion of old or perhaps new friends. The venue makes it easy for one to walk around to all the nooks and crannies. Everyone seems to be in a happy mood once they walk through the doors. The bands they book are of the highest ranks and diversity. I have jumped, danced, cried and sang along to bands from Beach House to Cut Copy. Make your experience broader and take a look at the Cain's Wiki page to appreciate the history of the venue before going in for a show. BEST OF ALL... There are places to stand and stadium seating that line the sides of Cain's making it possible for your shawties like me to SEE!!!! read more

Beck (twice) MGMT Willie Nelson N.E.R.D. (OMG I totally need to have Pharrell's babies...) Wilco Billie Bob Thornton Old Crow Medicine Show Girl Talk *Not to mention all the shows I didn't go see because I'm lazy, poor and generally uncool, OR all the sweet local shows that Cain's hosts on a regular basis. Now- if you're thinking to yourself, "I could see that anywhere!" You're probably right, but the thing that sets Cain's apart is the venue itself. I've never been more than 30 feet away (I'm really bad at estimating, but you are CLOSE) to the performer- even when I'm in the back. The floor is literally legendary. The acoustics are unbelievable. The drinks are cheap and strong. And the crowd is amazing. We truly appreciate good music when we can get it, and Tulsa comes out and supports! If you weren't already sold, in 1978, Cain's Ballroom was one of the very few venues chosen by the Sex Pistols during their brief and only American tour. The history, man- the history! read more

I've always loved this venue. The venue setup is great and more of an intimate setting. The drink prices were not bad, but the lines for the bar moved super slow. That's my only complaint. read more

Without question, this is my favorite place to see a concert in Oklahoma. The set up is perfect and there really isn't a bad place to stand (or sit) in the entire venue. The crowds are always excellent and make whoever is playing feel right at home. They get great shows for fans of all different genres here. This venue is a must for anyone visiting or living within a 200 mile radius - you won't be disappointed. read more

I've seen two shows at Cain's Ballroom; most recently Beck (with openers MGMT) and previously saw Ohgr (of Skinny Puppy) there. I'm not here to review the artist(s), however, but the venue itself. The venue is a really cozy dancehall type place with a great stage and excellent overall atmosphere. It has been in existence since 1924 and there are paintings (or prints) of famous country'n'western artists hanging on the walls, testament to the early days of the business. The building is old and built solidly (as evidenced by the wooden ceiling) but everything inside is nice. They had air conditioning which is fantastic given that most shows I've been to in this sort of club/dancehall are not. I hardly broke a sweat even though both times I've been there I was on the rail in front. Apparently it is no smoking, too, which is awesome since I hate going to shows and breathing other people's smoke. The sound in the venue is great but since I was at the very front I can't give an opinion how the sound reverberates in the back or middle of the venue. The bathrooms are very spacious and clean, unlike a lot of live concert halls. This is probably one of the most fantastic places to see a band and I would not hesitate to see another show here. In fact, I look forward to it. read more

Cain's is the ultimate Tulsa concert venue. It's filled with history, has a fantastic atmosphere, gets all the best artists, and I've never paid more than $30 for a ticket! From the awe inspiring stage to the beautiful spring-loaded wooden dance floor, there is so much to take in - not to mention the glorious sounds of the artist you are there to see! If you need a drink, there's a bar at the back. Need to smoke? There's a smoking area outside! Bathroom? They've got a large one of those. Whatever your needs during a great concert, Cain's has you covered. They even have bleachers along the sides of the ballroom if you need to sit down, plus some shows have provided chairs and tables. You can see literally any kind of music at Cain's, with artists ranging from Beck to GWAR. So do yourself a favor and catch a show sometime at Cain's Ballroom! read more

The house that Bob built. It has a wonderful history and a fantastic present. Cain's was the headquarters of Bob Wills, the king of Western swing, where he and his Texas Playboys played dances that packed in thousands even during the Great Depression. It's pretty much the best venue of its size that I have ever gotten the chance to visit. Huge, clean bathrooms. And it's definitely air conditioned now. Plus there's a bar. And when they say it's non-smoking, what they really mean is "non-smoking, wink wink nudge nudge". So it can get kind of smoky occasionally. read more

They get really good shows, and I'm impressed with the big acts they bring in. My biggest problem is the seating, aka, the few strands of bleachers way the hell off to the side vs. the big open floor. I guess it works for most people, I just noticed that I am many many other short girls get stepped on and cannot even see the stage. Two shows in a row I went to where I got there early, but still couldn't see what I'd payed for. Just one person's complaint, I know most people don't have a problem with it. I moved away, but I'm PRETTY sure I'm coming back for 80's prom if it's held at Cain's again. Best night of my life. read more