Here to see music. Its set up like a theatre and not a music venue. Made for a poor experience…read more There is the stage with live music which was most excellent. Then in prime real estate are folding chairs set up in rows perfect for quiet viewing and we'll mannered zombie audience as the band plays. Hemming in the space with the chairs are church pews emphasizing the 'be quite' behavior of the crowd. Behind this set up are tables for dining from the food truck. Nice but bad placement. There is a food truck who will bring you your orders which is good. Any dancing or moving to the live music has to happen on the fringes or behind the people having dinner. Nothing about this set up let's you enjoy a crowd, to dance, or to get close to some really good live music. Such a shame. such a waste. Then after the first set the house lights got turned on. Totally killed any good vibes

From the owner: Music & Spirits is a concert series performed in the unique setting of the A. Smith Bowman…read moreDistillery at 1 Bowman Drive in Fredericksburg, VA. We feature old time, blues, jazz, bluegrass, folk, and Americana music. The red brick buildings that house the A. Smith Bowman Distillery, just minutes from downtown Fredericksburg, provide the perfect setting to listen to timeless music. Our goal is to provide concertgoers with an enjoyable listening experience, free of the noise and atmosphere of the bar scene, in a unique setting. Feel transported to another time and feel a connection to our uniquely American culture, surrounded by a group of people who are there to enjoy and respect the artists and other patrons in a listening room setting. Concessions are available for sale at the shows.

Came here to celebrate my birthday with a friend and I was not disappointed! Place has an amazing…read morefeel inside... cute lamps at tables, great colors, art work, etc. Our server was attentive and friendly and made some great recommendations. Had some happy hour drinks and a crab pretzel... amazing. Then we tried a flat bread and I got a piece of cake for my bday. All were awesome and well prepared. I can't wait to go back!!

A charming historic building with a much more charming and attractive bartender. She's got the…read moregift of gab and serves beers faster than a vet in line at the bank on payday. Would close the place down again any day.

I have been to The National numerous times over the years. It is a decent mid-sized venue that…read moregets 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.

Date night to see comedian Kathy Griffin at the National Theatre in downtown Richmond. Great show…read morehowever 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!!

Caught a show at The Canal Club in Richmond last week for the first time, and it was such a fun…read moreexperience. From the outside, the building has this classic warehouse vibe that fits right in with the historic feel of the area. There's a big sign so you can't really miss it, and the overall look is super inviting if you're into that old-school industrial style. When you up to the entrance, you'll go up the stairs to find the staff checking your tickets. Once you're inside, the place opens up into a big, open floor plan with a solid mix of standing room and a few spots to sit along the wall. The layout works well for concerts, the sightlines are good, and everything feels close to the stage even if you're not right up front. The inside keeps that warehouse feel going. It's exposed brick, high ceilings, just a bit gritty in a cool way. The bar is off to the side and stretches pretty long, so grabbing a drink was quick! Bartenders were friendly and the drink selection covers the basics. Nothing wild, but you'll find everything you need for a good night out. I went to see Jutes for the first time, and it was such an awesome show. The energy in the room was electric, and the sound quality was surprisingly clear for a venue this size. Everyone seemed to be having a great time, and you could feel the crowd's excitement the whole set! This was definitely a solid spot for live music in Richmond. I love a small concert venue, and would definitely go back for another concert!

Great venue for live music in RVA! I came here on a Friday night to see a lineup of metal bands…read more Getting in was seamless: I.d., a wristband, and bag scan since I brought my Fanny pack. There's a full-bar, but they didn't have any non-alcoholic beer options, only sodas and a couple of juices. I was upstairs, but they do have a downstairs section of their venue. I will be going back.

Solid concert venue in a convenient location in DC. Parking is available on surrounding streets if…read moreyou arrive early enough. You can also pay for a parking pass through their website but the lot only opens up an hour beforehand so be sure to plan your evening with that in mind. We ended up parking on the street for only $3 since we arrived early to grab dinner nearby. The entry line was super long and literally went around the block but it moved surprisingly fast. Staff was friendly and helpful at the door. The inside was dark when we arrived and it would've been nice to have some house lights so people could find their way around the venue a little easier. The AC was cranking and the temp was comfortable. Upstairs has standing room and some bleachers which provides a good view with less of a crowd. Their VIP area looks nice and I'd be interested in splurging next time for a seat and a better view. There's bars downstairs and upstairs and even some food concessions. Getting out of the venue from the balcony was a bit stressful with only one way out. It makes you imagine what would happen if you needed to get out in a rush... other than that, it's a good space.

I like how the upstairs level has tiered height stands so if you're standing behind the first row…read morethen you have a bit of a boost to be able to see behind someone's head. Love how this place is metro accessible so it's an easy commute without having to worry about parking. The line goes by quickly for bag check, scanning tickets, and checking IDs. This is a small intimate venue, so it's easy to get a good view of the performer!

This was my second time going to Madams Organ and I loved it both times. I have gone here for some…read moreof the live music with tonight's performance by American Darling and they rocked. Not much else to say great place to come listen to some live music and enjoy some drinks.

Looks like a good place for open mic night! If they are there for open mic night or enjoy the music…read morefrom the on stage musicians!

I love the intimacy of this venue. There is not a bad seat in the house. I love the standing…read moregeneral admission option as well. The old architectural details of the building are BEAUTIFUL! There are plenty of parking options nearby. Just wish there were more bathroom options for a concert venue.

Love this venue! We came to Charlottesville to see Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. The general admission…read morearea is sloped so you get a great view even if you were in the back. There are three levels - the second level has seats and still a great view. The beer lines were busy but quick and there were plenty of cocktail, beer, cider options available. Coat check is available for only $2. The staff were all friendly - we were even given free tickets to the show the night before to see Blackberry Smoke by just simply passing by on our walk to dinner. The venue is located right in the center of the downtown mall so there are plenty of places to grab a drink or food before/after a show. It's only an hour from Richmond so worth the drive!

It was my first time to see a show here. Getting a ticket online was hassle free yet I think…read moregetting a ticket through the phone costs less. Check in was quick and I was assisted to my assigned seat for the show. The earlier you buy tickets, the better seats you get. My reservation was at 1:30PM for the meal before the show that started at 2PM. There's a minimum of $15 for food and drink per guest. Got the spinach pesto tortellini and added chicken. It was okay; I think it's overpriced. 20% service charge is automatic; service was not bad but neither is it excellent. I enjoyed Patti Austin's show. I might come back for other artists.

The ambiance was great, food was good, and the service was on point…read more It was an all around great evening.

Great wine and VERY generous charcuterie box. We spent an afternoon sitting on their porch sampling…read moretheir wine. Loved the Reserve Red! Very personable staff! Great, relaxing afternoon!

Great intro then they leave you alone to enjoy the wines. Top of the line red was very good.read more

If you don't know it by now, the missus and I are big believers in happy hour. We don't treat it…read morelike a hobby so much as a part-time job with better benefits. Today's venue of choice was a place called Rivers End, which sounds like either a cocktail bar or a warning label, depending on how your day's going. It starts off a little funny because you have to figure out the right door, then march yourself up the stairs like you're reporting for duty. Once you get up there, though, it feels like the kind of cool old place that's seen some things. You can almost feel the years rolling by, from Caribbean rum days to whiskey nights to the modern era of "smart cocktails," where they put things like herbs and intentions in your drink. The vibe was right. Cocktails were great--strong enough to matter, smooth enough not to apologize for. The food was excellent across the board, the kind that makes you stop talking for a minute so you can do some serious fork work. Most important, our waiter Shane was dead on the mark: there when you needed him, gone when you didn't, and never once tried to explain the menu like we'd just landed from Ohio for the first time. I can't find a single thing to complain about, which for me is almost a complaint in itself. Good value, good food, and a good scene--about all you can ask from an afternoon you're not spending at work. Next visit will be brunch, and I hope it's soon. Oh, and I did have the tostadas, but I got so excited by the smell I forgot to take a picture. Lewis would've understood. Some things are meant to be eaten, not photographed

Disappointing Experience…read more A group of friends and I recently visited Rivers and Speakeasy because I was considering renting the venue for a private party. After experiencing the service firsthand, I'm very glad I checked it out before making any plans. The waitress was nice, but the service was extremely slow. From the moment we arrived, we waited a long time just to be greeted, and then waited even longer to order and receive drinks. When our friends arrived, they experienced the same thing. They waited so long that they eventually went to the bar to try to get drinks, only to be told that they had to order through their server. The problem is, when the server isn't around and you've already been waiting, what are you supposed to do? Unfortunately, the food didn't impress us either. I personally did not find it appetizing, and overall, the experience was not what I expected. I'm actually glad I visited before considering hosting a party there because, based on this experience, I would not feel comfortable renting the venue for an event. If you don't mind waiting a very long time for drinks, food, or basic service, you may have a different experience. But for our group, the service moved at a "molasses" pace, and I would not recommend it based on our visit.