We love Freight & Salvage, the box office customer service is stellar, prompt & helpful. We live in south bay so we don't get up there as much as we would like but it is a fantastic venue with an eclectic lineup. The adjacent parking garage is very convenient. read more

Excellent music venue! They always have great shows! Love their selection So glad they are open for business and that they have taco options. We did not try them this time but will next time . Fun!! read more

This is a great venue to listen to music. I have been here several times and each time is wonderful. Acoustics are great and no bad seat in the house. The other nice thing is you can see legends of music here. This is a non profit place. Come and support it! I am so read more

The Freight - Don Mcclean. At his finesr - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

No matter who I see at freight and salvage, the venue is almost always the star of the show. It is a very nice small music venue in the heart of Berkley. Accessibility is superb, whether by private or public transportation. There is a giant public parking lot literally next-door with stairs that lead to the front door of the venue. Once inside you will find a a very chill atmosphere with comfortable seats, large aisles, good vending and great sight-lines. We frequently sit in the last row and dance behind our seats all night. The acts that play here are diverse and talented. You might see Hawaiian Masters one night and Hot Tuna the next. I recently saw Paris Combo there and the entire delightful show was in French. Tickets are generally sold at a modest price but this is the Bay Area so nothing is cheap. Enjoy great music at the Freight and Salvage. read more

The Freight - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Really great venue! So glad I discovered it when I bought tickets to a Jon McLaughlin concert here. Very intimate setting. Affordable shows. Advance general admission tickets for Jon McLaughlin were just $17 ($20 at the door, I believe). Hardwood floors, wood panel walls, chandelier style lights hanging from the ceiling. Quite lovely. The space isn't huge which I really like because it makes for more intimate performances. Would be interested in returning to check out some other performances! And also to try out their "concessions." There's a bar that sells some alcohol, coffee, water, not sure what else. The performance I went to included an intermission. Probably hard to find street parking around here, as it is in downtown Berkeley. But it's SUPER close to Bart so I would recommend taking public transportation here if at all possible. Lots of restaurants nearby all within walking distance if you want to grab a bite to eat or a drink before your show. read more

The Freight - Stage - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is probably one of my favorite intimate, classy and BEAUTIFULLY structured small music venues in the Bay Area. That could be in part because it hosts plays and local charity events as part of the community, but this place is just lovely. I went here a few months ago to see American singer-songwriter/bluegrass aficionada Sarah Jarosz perform, and... Let me tell you a story. Sunday night. Left late. Decided to skip on the opener. Since tickets were sold out, I went in for Standing Room only. No ticket bystander was at the box office. I heard the musician playing overheard over the front-of-house speakers. I thought to myself, "Oh my gosh! I'm missing it! Is this how I'm going to experience this show? Outside the venue as I happily listen to her perform over the speakers?!" Luckily I was able to ring the buzzer and the lady came to me and let me go in and enjoy the rest of the show. Might I add, there is not one single bad seat or view in the entire room. The stage is centered downward as the audience seating angles upward all around the venue. The music and acoustics are GORGEOUS. You can hear every little sound, as I would like to think this place makes for a great live recording venue as well. They usually house American bluegrass singers and songwriters and local music groups, which makes it more of a community-driven all-American venue. Transportation is EASY as you just walk a block or two from the Downtown Berkeley BART station. Parking can be a little difficult as it is downtown, but there are little spots and alleys all around (and Berkeley makes for such a great and easy walk-around). I absolutely fell in love with this venue and would love to go again. Although they house more musicians that I am unfamiliar with in the Americana song branch, I would definitely come again... Book fair? Readings? Speakers? Local choirs? If something catches my attention, I'm there. The venue itself is gorgeous, classy and clean and serves its musicians and audience right. read more

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Love the space!! Attended a Moth StorySlam here the other night and got premium seating tickets which didn't seem necessary b/c I think all the seats in the space probably have a decent view of the stage. They have a coffee bar and a wine / beer / cider bar as well that has light snacks (pretzels, nuts). There was a taco truck outside and some patrons came in with burritos or tacos so that's at least a food option. There is a garage next door for accessible parking and lots of places to eat and explore in Berkeley. Hope to be back for another show in the near future! read more

The Freight - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse is a fantastic music venue. The acoustics are perfect. The lighting sets a comfortable mood. One doesn't sit in the dark during the concert. Every seat does indeed have a great view of the stage, but front row seats, be they in front, to the left or right of the stage, can't be beat. It's a bit like sitting with the artist in their living room as they perform just for you. Less than a block from BART, Freight & Salvage is so easy to get to. The folks here are so nice and you can tell that music is their passion. I always watch the calendar and try to get here as often as I can. read more

The Freight - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Great venue for musical acts. Not too small but not too large either. Great seats and views from pretty much anywhere. Walking distance to nearby restaurants for post-show eats. read more

Very cool venue for a work conference. I did not try the food or drinks. The good: Nice warm wood paneling and tiered seating. The ceiling was high and created an open atmosphere. It was a little dark, but just added to the ambience. The meh: As a presenter, I couldn't read my slides on the screen from the podium. Not sure if this is a venue specific problem due to the stage size, or if it can be easily remedied by moving the podium. Pro tip: For all day parking on a weekday, the nearly adjacent parking lot offers an early bird special ($10 all day). read more

The Freight - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great smaller venue for a show. Decent prices on snacks and drinks outside of the hall. Beware of the biatch mask police lady who ruined the entire experience by insisting our masks placed a certain way. Everyone knows how to wear a mask by now. This pushy woman had her own agenda. Everyone else was great!! read more

I visited the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse for the first time tonight and this is the place that I've been looking for. Unpretentious musical talent in a setting that is both small and intimate but also big enough to give me the anonymity I desire so I won't get singled out to be serenaded by the singer (ha!). I just love live music and this venue didn't disappoint. I enjoyed the vocal stylings and music of Molly Holm & Her Fab Band. There isn't a bad seat in the joint. The sound is great and you can view the band from any seat with near to no obstruction (unless the person in front of you plays basketball for Cal or something). I really look forward to years of visiting this place. I can see that volunteers help during tickets/admissions. The costs to see a show is so minimal and totally worth it. read more

The Freight - Molly Holm & Her Fab Band - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

Hello, I would like to say how disappointed I am in your companies ability to notify your customers of a RESCHEDULED show. I purchased tickets for the Andy McKee 1/11/22 show, took time off work, drove 3 hours to Berkeley, lodging, etc. just to find out while visiting your website for directions that the show was rescheduled to May 2022. I received no call, no email, NO notice whatsoever that this show was rescheduled. I find this extremely unprofessional and will not be returning to your establishment. read more

Mahalo Freight & Salvage, what a beautiful venue you have. No seat is a bad seat. Chairs are so comfortable and not tight, get space. I wanna say Mahalo nui for bringing Hawaiian music here to the bay area Kalani Pe'a, Landezza Ohana, Kumu and her halau and much more. Please continue to reach out and bring more artists from the islands to here. read more

I have been supporting Freight & Salvage off & on for about a year. This review is way over due. ... This is an intimate world class venue that does everything right!! They have a wide variety of different types of events. I personally have seen Blues musicians (Ray Charles Experience with Chris Cain), harmonica blow outs, International Piano Festivals, Cuban Salsa Band,Irma Thomas, The Blind Boys if Alabama & Presentation Hall Jazz group, etc....all within the last few months. Acoustics are great, seating is comfortable, venue is always clean (Huge plus on the bathrooms ), no bad seats in the house, snack bar isn't that robust, but it's good enough to get through the evening. Nice, relaxing, semi-reasonably priced venue. Great Experience! ! Now special note of the staff: Exceptional! Small crew, of extremely dedicated exceptional staff. I recently had need to avail myself of their ADA ...what impressed me most....was the courtesy call inquiring about any preparations needed to ensure a successful experience. I don't know if they are always able to reach out personally, but it brought tears of gratitude nevertheless. This is a truly exceptional venue being run by exceptional people! Thank you, thank you, thank you for another memorable experience. Warm regards Sharine read more

What a great space for intimate music. And a non-profit, hooray! Staff and volunteers were lovely. Conveniently located next to a parking garage. Simply nothing to dislike. Thanks for keeping the Freight rollin'! read more

Freight and salvage great venue for music. Even though I attended UC Berkeley, I had never been there before. They have music seven nights a week. My husband, best friend and I chose to go here for a zillion Bandalin music. Venue is wonderful. The seats are comfortable and there is enough room in the Rose to move in and out without disturbing other people. Dancing can be done in the aisles. As it's been said and other reviews no seat is bad. Visibility of the stage is perfect every seat. read more

Vienna Teng put on a stellar performance at the Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse. It was disappointing the drink service crew found it necessary to stock the fridge with glass bottles during the second set. WTF? Put the music first before side work. read more

Awkward place to see a performance. The seating is awkward and gawd forbid you should have to use the restroom during a show and disturb everyone next to you because of how the seating is. Not really a place to get a beverage/snack though they have any awkward place in the back of the audience to purchase. I recently received a refund for a canceled concert that had been rescheduled 3 times, and they shorted me $7.42. For what? There shouldn't be a service fee. There was no service. They should throw in a couple extra bucks for inflation and for my time spent tracking down where the refund was. I'm sorry the pandemic has hurt everyone, but this is not the way. read more

We had our first visit to F & S Coffeehouse to see Booker T. Jones and his newly formed pre-school aged band. We didn't realize that the auditorium was mostly seating with hardly any standing space. We also noticed that 90% of the audience were Caucasian senior citizens (hmmm...). Sadly, the performance was terrible most likely due to the fact that the band just doesn't play well together or that age has manifested full force. It was reminiscent of a couple of friends jamming out in their parents' garage with little consideration for staying in tune. I love Booker T.J. but not enough to pay $40 for an ill-performed show in a coffeehouse full of senior citizens. I strongly feel that the price had something to do with the name and not the quality of the music. I hope they keep jammin' together and hone their skills as musicians. On a good note, I applaud the musicians for putting themselves out there and trying to do their best. I'm sure there are more 'fitting' bands that should be playing in a theater-like venue such as F & S. I may or may not come back for a second show but it was nice to check out a new place in a new part of town. read more

Freight & Salvage is definitely one of those "Only in Berkeley" type venues - a non-profit, community based coffee house that also happens to host some amazing live music. The acoustics are awesome, the coffee...not so much. If you are the type of person that must drink while at a show you might want to look elsewhere - this is a dry venue and as much as I like to drink (ok, I LOVE to drink) it was refreshing to see a sold out house there to enjoy the music instead of shouting out "FREEBIRD!!!" drunkenly every five minutes. While I don't see myself becoming a regular here (after all, it is across the bridge) I wouldn't hesitate to return to Freight & Salvage to catch one of my favorite artists. read more

The Freight - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

Such a great place. We have enjoyed a few concerts here. Cozy but still plenty of room for a decent sized crowd. Very intimate venue. Ever seat has a decent view. Cute snacks and drinks available. We will definitely return. read more

Spent time with my baby nephew to see this play that is non-profit. It was the piggy and the elephant kind of show. It was a nice outing. Adequate seatings and good layout. Great location with parking lot right next door. read more

Oh how fun! More than community theater. Less than super high budget performances. Serves coffee, tea, cookies (vegan ones too!), hot cocoa, and the like along with your performance which makes you feel very cozy. The chairs are VERY comfortable and clean, and the whole place is classy modern with an environmentally friendly twist. I went with my family to see "Dr. K's Home Grown Roots Revue series: Misner & Smith, Three At Last, Family Lines-harmony-rich americana/folk music" The premise of the show is that if you like one band, you'll like them all. I found this to be very true. By far my favorite group was Misner & Smith (http://www.reverbnation.com/misnerandsmith) Their CD is in my car that plays over and over until I get to my destination. They have 2 albums and I have the first. The Dr. K Show was a great place for all the groups to showcase their music and the audience was really receptive and supportive and in general it was a lot of fun. Tickets were really reasonable for the high quality of experience, $14.50 pre-sale, $15 at the door. We had no trouble getting tickets at the door. Only draw back (as is normal for Berkeley) is parking, but there are a few lots near by and I think it is worth the extra $5 to not be hunting for Downtown Berkeley street parking. read more

The Freight - Logo - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

I think the Freight is great. They give space to beautiful acoustic music in a comfortable, spacious setting. I liked all of the staff that I encountered-- good humored and engaging, even if it just involved selling me a tea. I really recommend that you hear some music here if you want to get a good taste of Berkeley at its best. read more

Such a nice venue ! The staff & volunteers were all certainly welcoming . They even let me in a bit before the doors opened for the show --- to use the bathroom ! I may as well mention , said bathroom was up to date and very clean ! The parking garage was only a few doors down & reasonably priced. ($5 flat for the evening ) We liked the comfortable padded chairs and moveable seating ! It let the venue create a dance floor for the headlining band, Rusted Root . Cuz you gotta shake your booty to " the Root " The whole vibe was " community playhouse/theatre " more than "concert venue". It made things seem a little more "upscale". As did the beer & wine selection . They had local microbrews , ciders& A varied selection of wines --- much more than the usual " red? Or white ?" Also nice snacks of nuts or pretzels. The bartenders were all friendly & paying by card was easy with their modern touchscreen payment system --- that let us save our cash to buy a T-shirt from the band ! read more

The Freight - Rusted Roots tour bus ! - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

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What a great auditorium! Every seat has a clear view of the stage. The room feels surprisingly intimate for a 200 seat space. Good room acoustics augmented by a hi-fi quality sound system, stage and auditorium lighting is easy on the eyes, the seats are comfortable, and there's a snack bar with beer & wine. I saw the Milk Carton Kids last night. It was one of the best concerts I've ever heard. And I've been to 1,000's of concerts since 1959 from dives that sat 20 patrons to the greatest symphony halls on 5 continents. Freight and Salvage, Yeah! read more

Another classy find in downtown Berkeley! I came here for a Valentine's Day event which featured AYCE/AYCD oysters, chocolate, and champagne with a performance by the local Bay Area bluegrass group, Supermule. If you ever want an out-of-the-box night out, I suggest coming here! I love the way the auditorium is set up--the seats are slightly elevated so you will get a great view no matter where you end up sitting. The acoustics were amazing and you can still hear the music out in the lobby. And there are tables in between the seats so you can bring food and drinks in. What's even better than enjoying a live performance? Watching it with a plate of oysters and a flute of champagne in hand (or on table). They also have a small wine bar outside in the lobby area. If you want to check out local Bay Area performances in a more intimate setting, I would definitely make my way out to the Freight & Salvage Coffehouse in Berkeley. read more

Got my daily dosage of culture recently here. WHAT A GEM! I live near the theater and often see it crowded at night and thought we would check it out! It's mostly an older people/senior crowd, BUT THAT'S EVEN MORE AWESOME!! There's a 50% discount if you're under 25 which I AM SO TAKING ADVANTAGE OF!! For us poor college students, a 50% discount is enough for me to treat myself to some good nontradtional music and MEET NEW PEOPLE. Every is SO SO nice here!! I feel like everyone knows each other and its sort of like a family! We were def the only college students there, but enjoyed every moment of it!!!! Oh, not to mention the sound is AWESOME. FUN FUN FUN. read more

Beautiful concert venue! Not sure why they kept the coffee house part in the name; it's really just a small-medium concert hall. I guess they do serve coffee, tea, beer, and wine. They bands they host are excellent, and the staff/volunteers are very friendly and passionate about music. We had the privilege of seeing Ruth Moody and then stayed around for 15-20 min talking with the people from the box office and buying tickets for other events. They were kind enough to recommend 3-5 shows from their list of 60+ bands, they also even took the time to play some samples of music for us and told us what would sell out. That's dedication! I should also comment on the seats. Really, really comfortable with side tables every 3-4 spots to hold drinks. There is plenty of legroom and space between seats so you don't feel to close to your neighbours, but can choose to lean against your significant other should you choose too. The only thing that holds this back from being a 5 star venue is lack of beer selection, and the lack of anything on draft. I would love to see draft beer here from a local micro brew. Oh and another tip: buy tickets in person. They are cheaper (no $1.50-$2.00 surcharge and ANYONE UNDER 25 GETS 50% OFF ALL EVENTS!!!) Can't wait to come back in a couple weeks to see The Milk Carton Boys! read more

The Freight - Those are what the seats look like. Very comfortable! - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

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For my first time at Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse for a show, we went to the 1st Annual Hawaiian Music Festival with musicians and singers like: Dennis Kamakahi, Kawika Kahiapo, Weldon Kekauoha, Waipuna, Patrick Landeza, LT Smooth, Keale, Mahealani Uchiyama, Steven Inglis and Faith Ako - it SO rocked!! I had never been to the previous location of F&S, but I love that this location is so easily accessible by BART. Please note, all show planners need to be mindful that the nearby parking garage closes at midnight (at least it was supposed to that Friday), and the LAST BART train leaves at 12:30 AM. I had to miss part of Dennis Kamakahi's performance because 1) it was getting really late and I could not keep my eyes open and 2) because I did not want to miss the last train back to San Francisco - or else we would've had to get a room somewhere in Berkeley, potential nightmare! The coffee bar was open throughout the show, so that was nice to get some drinks and snacks, and you could munch away in the auditorium during the show too. The seats were real comfortable - looooved that. And the sound was GREAT!! Can't complain. I would come back to see another show, and I would recommend this place to see and hear great live music. Mahalo! read more

***200th Yelp Review*** (sheds a tear of joy) For me, there is no better performance to write about than the night I learned how to dance swing. While cruising in downtown Berkeley, I often passed by the outside of this performance venue and wondered why a place advertising itself as a coffeehouse looked so much like a theater. I chalked it up to the fact that Berkeley's buildings can be rather eclectic. On one July evening, I decided to check this place out during a performance by a New Orleans-based band called Tuba Skinny. The interior is much larger than the exterior would make it seem (similar to a certain phonebooth). First I walked through the spacious lobby where tickets were collected and merchandise tables (that only accepted cash) were being set up. While looking for a bathroom on the second floor, I couldn't help but admire the colorful decor and the sheer number of flyers for events that have been hosted here in the past. The auditorium was something else entirely. As mentioned in several other reviews, it's a large and wood paneled space with many rows of seats and a bar serving rather pricey refreshments in the back. This performance was open seating, so I decided to hop up front. Interestingly enough, there was a large blank space between the front row and the stage, and a small crowd of people waiting on both sides (which I assumed was the standing room only space). The musicians entered, set up a myriad of instruments, and began to play some of the most toe tapping and melancholy New Orleans jazz I have ever heard. And the people waiting on the sides swarmed onto the dance floor in a beautifully chaotic mix of swing dance styles. I was totally caught off guard by the two performances happening simultaneously, as the band comfortably shared the spotlight with the dancers. Most of the audience watched silently in the background (clapping at the end of each song of course), but occasionally the people sitting next to me got up to try their moves out. The music and the dancing in front of the stage mixed to create a completely immersive performance experience unlike anything I had ever seen before. In short, it was cray and in a good way. I couldn't help but jump up and try to dance myself, but confession time: I didn't know how to swing dance. An old gentleman next to me tried to teach me some of the moves, but after a bit I decided it was best if I just watched, and sat down sheepishly. But once I got back to school I began taking social dance lessons and am now at a more proficient level, so I hope if/when I return to Berkeley, I'll be able to tear up the dance floor with the best of them. read more

I am SO embarrassed to admit that I've only just recently been to a show at the Freight & Salvage...and spent a decent amount of my life in the East Bay. Sigh. I hope to go back soon, with my sweetie and maybe my son....or perhaps my sister. We had a fun time seeing the Squirrel Nut Zippers and the opening band was great too. Awesome horns especially. Nice intimate setup, good sound, a snack bar and very reasonably priced tickets I thought. No dance floor, but aisle dancing is permitted if that's your thing. We showed up when the doors opened per a friend's advice but it would have been fine to get there a bit later. We lucked into Milvia Street parking (free on Sunday) and being able to get into Angeline's without a reservation for pre show dinner a short walk away. Perfect 'Nawlins' themed evening. read more

Great first night here of Music and ( green jasmine tea for me). I don't think theres a bad seat in the house, and the sound was fantastic. We had purchased tickets and had them mailed ahead of time, so we walked in a sold out show (The Milk Carton Kids-Amazing!) after a short wait in line. Got a isle seat 3 rows back, so shorty here could see perfectly! Again acoustics were spot on, everyone that we came in contact with at Freight & Salvage was super friendly. Loved the reasonably priced refreshments, got a cup of pretzels for a buck! What a magical night for this first timer. read more

The Freight - Awesome Sold Out Show! Milk Carton Kids 1.28.14 - Music Venues Near Me - Berkeley, California

I attended a Leo Kottke concert at the Freight recently. The Freight made it clear that they wanted all patrons to wear masks, despite the City's posiiton that indoor venues recomend but not require masks (Berkeley has its own health dept and can set its own guidelines). I wore a mask as did all the patrons I saw. However, I and others were reprimanded quite vehemently by a staff mask nazis if our masks did not meet the staff person's ideals. When I was reprimanded a second time because my mask did not completely cover my nose, I left. I will not be going back. There is a fine line on enforcing personal standards. Using volunteers who may have some sort of animus attached to the issue at hand is not an approach I would recommend for a business dependent on public support. read more

Wonderful experience, the place is clean, well-ventilated , and friendly staff. We watched a jazz group that performed well. The only thing is if they can have more food selections in the cafe area, like sandwiches and/ or burgers. read more

We had such a lovely experience at the Freight & Salvage for Booker T. The sound was perfect in the listening space. There's really not a bad seat in the house, but if you want to sit up front, paying for the premium seating is still very reasonable. Masks are no longer required so drinks are now allowed in the listening space. It was a simply fabulous night. GREAT music! read more

Ditched by my sleepy crew, I decided to check out Berkeley and see if I could scare up some entertainment for the evening. I wandered by the Freight and Salvage and noticed a crowd waiting to get into a show. Even though it was sold out I got in SRO and even managed to find a seat. Enjoyed an amazing Nell Robinson show. Great venue with lots of history and well curated entertainment offerings. read more

I went there for a spoken word performance and got recruited as a judge. It was a great. The performers were gifted and mostly queer, trans, poc and masc. The audience was boisterous and good natured. The MC said the mostly masc gender thing was unusual. The show started a little later than advertised but it gave me time to flirt with my date and try a few things from the kitchen. The food was so-so, but oh well. read more

We came for a Vienna Teng concert here. Wow. The acoustics of this place are amazing. The venue is lined with salvaged wood planks that apparently work magic on sound. Vienna's voice came across so crisp. And I have to say, the planks just plain look cool. The venue has an intimate feel so that every seat feels like a good seat. That is, unless you get there late and sit on a stool. You can get cider, coffee, hot chocolate, alcohol, and baked goods from the bar. Mmmm, cider. read more