Just saw an excellent show on a Monday night. This was my first time to the venue and I was really impressed. Huge standing room area, and a wide stage makes sure no one has a bad view. Could hear all music clearly some side banter from the band was a little harder to hear, but I believe that was more about them stepping away from their stand up mics. Second floor balcony with bar stools for VIP pricing, was offered that upgrade in several emails and as I bought tickets. Parking $7 but lots of free street parking available if you're willing to walk just a bit. It's worth noting that there is no re-entry if you have to leave or want to suck out, but there did appear to be a smoking patio. Only downer for me was bar prices. This isn't some big arena where I would expect to pay $10 for PBR, but alas I pointed up anyway and had a great time. read more

The Ritz - View from fairly far back, ground floor near the sound booth. - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Horrible venue!!!! No view, overcrowded and overpriced for everything! You are much better off to drive to the National in Richmond or the Orange Peel in Asheville. Will never see any band here again! read more

If I could give this "venue" 0 stars I could. Went to the All time low concert this past weekend, or at least some of it. We get there and without any warning they asked for our vaccination cards for proof negative test from last 72 hours. We were not told about this choir to buy tickets for after buying tickets. I do not keep my card on me so I told them no. They then directed me to a tent where I can get tested and it would only take 15 minutes.... I get there and I asked for $40... in cash. Who carries cash anymore? And when you call this place they pride themselves on being 'cash free' . The person administering the test told me that I would have to go to an ATM that was in the Costco parking lot, Just so you know it's not in the parking lot... so she lied. Ended up having to walk around for an hour looking for an ATM and finally I had a walk into Jimmy John's ask the employee if I can cash app him $40 so I can have cash. I missed the first to ask which were the ones I wanted to see most honestly... I had the manager call me and I don't know if you can really call him that or not because he did nothing to help me and pretty much blamed me for the situation. Very rude dude, I told him I was writing this review and he said OK and that was the end of the conversation. I have a big following and I will be sharing my experiences with everybody.... DO NOT GO HERE TO SEE A CONCERT... you're just going to waste money read more

What a beautiful venue! It's really nice on the inside. I love how it has floor and balcony seating. I've passed by it but never had a reason to stop in for a show. As a performer myself, it's the perfect venue for an intimate show with fans. It would be a great place for a solo artists or independent band. I love the light set up and stage. It's not too big or small. The staff is kind and professional. I look forward to visit again in the near future. The Nick Carter event was fantastic. read more

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Went for the Zach Bryan concert. Left before he even got on stage. Horrible experience due to way too many people packed in the ritz. Staff made people push back to the walls where we couldn't see anything. Then told us all we couldn't stand there. The ritz should look into some solutions. read more

The Ritz is a great venue in North Raleigh and the concert was really fun. I think it was taken over by Live Nation a few years ago and Daniel mentioned how different it was from when he went to a concert many years ago. We saw an Eagles tribute band based out of Charlotte called On the Border. The show started at 8pm on a Saturday so we arrived 15 minutes early. The Ritz is located behind Costco and parking was super easy (either on the street or in the Ritz parking lot for $7). Security checked bags upon arrival and were putting on arm bands if you were over 21 and going to drink. The temperature in the Ritz was really cool on the inside and I was not sure how the temperature would be in a concert setting. There were bars stationed on the wall as you entered the hall. They served local beers from Big Boss, Foothills and then the standard Bud products in plastic cups. The prices are on par with other concert venues. There was seating on the upper balcony and you pay an upgrade for that. Below there is no seating and you stand where you want. It was not overcrowded at all and we found a great spot near the stage. The music is loud and I saw a few people wearing their ear plugs. The band started around 8:30 or so after everyone got settled and then played until close to 11. The acoustics were great, there was plenty of space and hall was cool. Security did a great job and had to remove a few guests from the premises. I am glad I got to check out the Ritz and was really impressed. It is completely different from Walnut Creek and the PNC yet a great addition to the music scene in Raleigh. read more

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Great venue. Easy parking. I would return for the right Band. Black Label Society sounded superb. Awesome show!!!

I live in Hampton roads Virginia. Very familiar with how good the Norva is. This place is 1 million times better. Numerous bars to choose from so you're never in a line for more than a few minutes, and the entire place has a great view. read more

Got to see Jimmy eat world, and Dashboard confessional. Great concert, and great venue. Would recommend!!!

idk when this place was renovated or whatever but I came here in March 2015 for die antwoord. The lines were long, probably because of the security checks which seemed excessive bordering invasive. It was way packed even upstairs, barely any room to dance and the venue itself seemed really dinky. The beer did not seem over priced to me, but I'm not a big drinker anyway, so I wouldn't know very well. I think the bartender was nice. The main problem I had with The Ritz is that the security guys are complete nazis. I understand you have to do your job, but c'mon. I was mostly sober and trying to help an almost passed out drunken stranger find his friends and the bouncers wouldn't let me come back into the venue from the SMOKING AREA after the show ended, and it was just minutes after they left the stage. I have never been to a venue where you couldn't re-enter the venue from the smoking area after the show has ended and I've been to a lot of shows in a lot of places. We had to exit through a gate in the fence. They just did not give a flying f*. At all. I at least wanted to help him get some water. Luckily there were EMS there that were able to help the drunken stranger. I still worry about that guy to this day. read more

VIP upgrade is not great. Part of why we upgraded is for the bar with the shorter line. Well....shorter line with only one bartender is longer than a long line. Need 2 bartenders at the VIP!! read more

Hadn't been in quite some number of years and now I remember why. The place was over packed, and pretty dirty. The bars took forever to serve drinks and two of the bartenders needed me to explain to them what was in a LIT after telling them I would not drink the one they poured from a bottled mix. They had all the liquor to free pour it, but TWO of them had no idea what was in it. Then came the bar tab, over $120 for 3 drinks and 3 double shots. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I can drink in NYC for less. The bathrooms were disgusting. The floors, sticky. The staff, mostly idiots. The parking lot, seemed unsafe. Drinks, over priced. And most importantly (for a music venue), the sound was awful. I seriously doubt I will ever go back to this hole. Think twice before you do unless it's an act that you have little chance of seeing elsewhere. read more

Disco Rodeo rebranded itself as The Ritz about a month ago, and with the name change came an apparently huge change for the better. My first time attending this venue was last night's sold-out Passion Pit show. I had read the reviews of the venue here and was not expecting the best. The Ritz/disco Rodeo (the Ritzeo?) was a pleasant surprise. The crazy-sounding raised dance floor is gone, leaving a decent view from just about anywhere in the venue. The sound was pretty good, but I think that the one big draw that this venue has over its competition is the fact that there are several small bars throughout the venue, even up on the balcony. The selection is a little weird but the convenience of not having to snake your way through an entire venue for a beer makes up for the focus on Bud Light and Tecate. The heat level last night was about on par for most indoor concerts that I've been to--yes, it gets a little bit toasty but it's very difficult to keep a room cool when it's full of 2,000 jumping, dancing people. I'll be back! read more

My husband and I went here last weekend to see Interpol (incredible, by the way). Having read the reviews on here first, we were a bit nervous about what we'd find. We were pleasantly surprised. Parking was very easy, and the attendants were helpful and cheerful, which was a nice experience. The process to get inside was simple, with a check to see if we would be drinking (we didn't plan to that night), a bag check, and then a ticket check. Everything moved very smoothly. Once inside, the establishment was very clean, and surprisingly, the temperature was very moderate. It was in the 80s outside, and they had all the fans running. I saw a conversation between two staff members about closing a couple of the doors to keep the cold air in, so that was nice to see. I am a very short person, so we headed upstairs to find a spot to watch the concert from. Up there, we saw there was a VIP section, and were curious about that. The woman running the show there said that each stool (on the front row of the middle and left side of the upstairs area) ran $50, and each tall stool at a table right behind the first row ran $35. This was my birthday present from my husband, so he decided that we'd pay for a table, which cost us $70. It turned out to be really worth it as the place filled up. We were given wristbands, which let us leave to get drinks/snacks/merchandise/go to the bathroom, and then come back to our reserved table. We had an unobstructed view over the heads of the people on the stools in front of us, so it was really great. It also wasn't half bad to be able to sit for those hours! The staff was incredibly helpful and friendly! The venue in our hometown is run by a lot of really pissed off types, so I was pretty shocked by this. One of the staff members even took the time to have a friendly conversation with us. We constantly saw them patrolling to make sure that everyone was safe and having a good time. The one complaint I have is the sound quality. You can hear the instrumental parts perfectly, but if I didn't know the words to the songs, I would not have had any idea what was being sung. From other reviews, this seems to be a common issue, so I hope they get it sorted out soon. We decided that if we ever find that a band we love is playing here again, we'll make the 4 hour drive to see them. This really is a great venue, and it seems like the new owners have put a lot of money and attention into the structure and how it is run. read more

I've actually always been a fan of this venue. As far as space and sounds it's terrific I've seen many shows over the years and enjoyed all of them. What's improved at this venue is the amazing staff and updates. Live Nation recently took over this venue and as you can tell from the amazing list of concerts coming up they are doing a great job booking some awesome talent. I got a chance to see Delta Rae this weekend and everything was fantastic. The staff collecting membership (yes you need to pay $1 for a membership it's an NC law) were very friendly as well as will call, and all the bartenders. The drinks may be pricier then your average bar but it's not different then any other large concert venue. The Ritz is two floors with a balcony looking over the stage. For a shorty like me it's easy for me to find a place where I can see the stage in this venue. There are bars stationed all over the venue so you never have to wait in a line for a drink. Ignore the poor reviews of this place as I mentioned it's recently been taken over by new ownership and they are doing a great job! I look forward to checking out another band here soon. read more

I'll try too make it easy. Pros: It's a large area and restrooms on both sides of the building. The stage is very large and high off the ground. Cons: Lots of them. Only four choices of beer at $5 a pop for a 12oz cans that were hot. Bud, Bud light, Modelo and one I don't remember but it's from Mexico. The Bud and Bud light I know how much they paid for it as I work for a Bud distributor. They make up for the case they bought after three beers. Cash only, yes cash only and it's 2014. Who still carries cash? ATM charges almost $4 surcharge. The sound guy/system is a total joke. The best way to ruin a show is make it sound like total crap. For some reason at a heavy metal show they thought it would be a great idea to have the vox and guitar really low, the bass guitar turned to 11 and all the toms on the drums sound just like the bass drum that's also turned to 11. The band I came to see I could hardly make out the songs they were playing and I've been flowing them for ten years. Long story short, For some reason this place gets good shows. If they are playing anywhere else close by, go. If you get stuck going here hopefully things will change but if they haven't, be ready to fork out a lot of money for garbage and the show to be ruined a lot by how bad it sounds. read more

I think it's time for a name change at the ole Ritz. This is one of the worst music venues I've ever been to - and not Ritzy in the slightest. It's a giant warehouse in an industrial looking part of town, with very little around it. It seemed a little shady to me but I'm used to city places. When you go in it's a 3-part process, tickets, searching, and membership. Wait, membership? Yeah, you have to get a membership card for $1 in order to drink? So strange. Once you have your membership card and wristband, you're free to enjoy one of their overpriced beverages. They have a bunch of bars on all different sides which is nice but two domestic beers for $20? This is a warehouse in the middle of nowhere, not a bar in DC. The show itself started crazy late. I know a lot of concerts start late but this seems to be a running theme in a lot of the reviews on here - and I'm pretty sure it wasn't because of the band but I won't get into that. But once the music started, that's when I knew I'd probably never return. It has horrible, horrible, sound quality. No matter where you stand, front back, middle, right by the sound booth - it's atrocious. The poor sound guy was running around with his iPad trying to make it better all night but you just can't make a giant ugly warehouse have good acoustics. It simply wasn't meant to be. The night I was there it appeared that there was more staff than attendees. There were literally packs of them all over which makes you feel a little awkward - like a fish in a fishbowl. I'd recommend seeing what other cities your favorite band is playing in and skip their stop at The Ritz. It's not a great experience, even if you love the band. read more

Saw CHVRCHES here last night. They played fine but the venue was terrible. Sound was atrocious, you couldn't even hear them singing it was just a big drown of noise. As other reviewers said, lows were way over cranked and mid/highs we're drowned out. I'll pass on any more shows here. read more

Seems like the place has really turned around since some of these other reviews were written... Went to see Fun. in concert here last week and it was great, especially compared to what I expected after reading about the venue on Yelp. Parking was free and super convenient but you definitely have to get there early to get a spot. The line moved in pretty quickly. We only waited outside for a few minutes and doors opened on time. Bathrooms were fairly clean. Beer was over priced (to be expected) and of course, it gets hot with 2,000+ people rocking out in one room. The raised dance floor I read about is gone. The place was packed but I thought the upstairs was pretty comfortable and gave us a great view of the band. No one tried to stop us (or anyone I saw for that matter) from taking photos or video. Overall, I thought it was a pretty decent place for a rock show. read more

Okay, it's not THAT awful, and I'm pretty damn picky. I saw Bastille and Wolfgang last night and despite the faults, it was still a great show. Yes, it was, quite possibly, the hottest building on the entire planet. Yes, beer comes in cans for $5, tiny waters are $3, and I think the mixed drinks were $8. The sound wasn't amazing. If I hadn't taken my migraine meds beforehand, I probably would have gotten sick there and been taken out by the waiting on hand EMS crew. I got really scared when I read the awful reviews, but then I thought about it - did I really expect a nice, cold, reasonably priced wonderland? Sadly not. I did feel some wafts of a/c across the floor sometimes, so maybe if they opened earlier just to crank the a/c they would have had more success in cooling it. The previous reviewer (a really detailed, accurate review - good job Kellie R.!) said you can't bring anything in, but I'm not too sure about that, though they do check bags and pockets at the door. I saw a guy with a 1 gallon water and someone else with an icy Starbucks beverage, - I'd say call and ask them and check, but their answering machine is en espanol and my Spanish isn't good enough to know what they said. Kudos to Wolfgang and Bastille for being amazing and not dying under the heat of the room + the stage lights! read more

Let me just say that another concert goer and the band UMPHREYS MCGEE have confirmed out loud that LiveNation came in and put millions of dollars into this place Common complaints about this place are that drinks are too expensive/cash only, it's too loud/bad sound, and that its too hot... Okay first of all I will say that the drink prices are a little steep (and this from a North easterner where everything is more expensive than the south) but you do get LARGE drinks ($10 for a 20+oz PBR or about the same for a pint of craft beer)...still you can almost always expect to pay a premium on drinks at a concert venue. Also it's no longer cash only...I used plastic on all my drinks and left an electronic tip The sound was awesome! However I was also in the best spot (center stage on the floor about 20 feet from the stage)...if you don't want the sound to be like shit...know where to go aka away from walls/ceiling...lights were incredible too! Also I'm biased a little because I wore shorts to the venue (expecting it to be hot) and it was a cold night out...however we were shoulder to shoulder at a sold out show AND I was feeling pretty buzzed and I never felt hot at all In conclusion: GREAT venue and it sounds like lots of improvements were made. Don't be afraid to go here! ENJOY it :) read more

worst venue i've been to, was cold and raining and they made us wait. they had staff going up and down the line trying to upsell people on vip tickets for the "premium" security line. no seating unless you pay extra. read more

I've seen The Strokes, the Black Crowes, Death Cab, and Dashboard Confessional (give me a break, it was years ago) here and I don't really think it's that bad. They book some pretty decent shows, and ticket prices are usually reasonable. Drink prices are, of course, a different story. Don't even try to sneak in a bottle of water - they'll throw it away during the bag check. I think I remember the bottled water being about $4 and the beers being about $7, but I could be wrong about that. Shame they don't have a website I can check. The set-up is definitely strange, what with the previously mentioned raised platform in the middle of the first floor and an upper level where you can usually grab a spot but might have your view obscured by a large pole. Unlike some other venues in the area, there are definitely places here where you can't see the stage. That said, the upper level is the way to go; my favorite spot is to the far right of the stage. You can also see backstage from there - I spent the majority of the Black Crowes show observing Kate Hudson. There are definitely better places in the Triangle to see a show, but if there's a band you really want to see playing here, just get there early and you shouldn't have much of a problem. read more

I recently saw Bush (the band) at the Ritz and the show was great, and I thought the venue was a great size for this type of show. I think the low reviews are for when the Ritz had previous ownership. My understanding is that Live Nation is actually the management group now and they put a lot of money into renovations. I can't compare to how the place used to be because this was my first visit! When there is a large crowd it does get hot, but they have overhead fans which helped some. There were some meathead bros doing some slam dancing when Bush played which was annoying, but overall the crowd was well behaved and very enthusiastic to the band and music. With the renovations you are probably going to pay more for beer (I paid $9 for a bud light), but they have two bars downstairs and I didn't have to wait in line very long. Also when I arrived I had to pay $1 and buy a membership which was somewhat annoying, but was painless for the most part. I think the Ritz serves Raleigh well as a small venue where you can see well known bands up close and personal, and I would visit there again. read more

Not a venue I will go to again. Unless they make changes. First the place was the hottest building I've ever been in. NO air circulation at all and way too overcrowded. Drinks were expensive, sound wasn't great. Uncomfortable. Not worth the price of admission. read more

Purple Reign Tour was on 03/02/16 @8pm Doors Open at 6:30p for VIP ticket holders General Admission opens at 7pm This was my first time in Raleigh, NC. I didn't know what to expect. The first thing I noticed was there was a lot of security outside the club and in the parking lots, keeping everything running smooth and peaceful. I can always appreciate that. Parking was $10 on the lot. You can park on the street, if you want.... But who really wants to look for their car? Not me. I had a VIP ticket so I went directly to Will Call, after being searched by the security. They gave me my lanyard and let me in. I was directed to the merchandise table to get my goodie bag. Once received, I was escorted to the VIP Lounge by security. I told him I had never been there before so he showed me where it was. The VIP Lounge was an additional $25 to Live Nation, I believe. My ticket for Future was $125, I believe. In my opinion, the VIP Lounge is necessary for anyone who doesn't want to be in the crowds with the younger kids. They only allow about 50 people in the area. It's a private Bar with a Top Shelf menu. I had a sunrise with patron shots...Amazing!! In the lounge, it couches, chairs, free appetizers... That were actually pretty good. I believe it was fruit, cheese, chicken, brownies, sandwiches, etc... Finger food. It was a very vibrant little area, that exited to an upstairs balcony. The view was perfect for the show. Hmm.... Oh, there was a coat check. It $2.00 per item. I have them my bag and two VIP gift bags, so it was $6. The girl was super sweet. I was hesitant to leaving my LV bag with her but she guaranteed that no one would be back there but her. And the bathrooms were very clean. Usually night club bathrooms are filthy! Not this one, perfect lighting for selfies too :) They have a little food stand somewhere in the venue downstairs. From what I was told they sell hotdogs, chips, drinks... That type of stuff. I didn't go down stairs, so I can't say 100% Overall, I had a BLAST and I would come back here everytime!! Especially if it's for Future :) read more

The Ritz - I'm so in love with the VIP Lounge #goodtimes - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Was here for Bastille and Wolf Gang a few nights ago. Miserable experience, worst I've ever had at a gig, thanks to the lack of ac/ventilation. Waited in line all day in 93 degree heat (the front of building is in direct sun) and was at center barrier for the show. No ventilation to speak of down on the floor, and people were passing out before the opening band even came out. About a half hour in (still 30 minutes before opening band), someone placed a standing fan on the far left side, aiming it down the gap between the barrier and the stage so that it hit those of us in the front row. If it wasn't for that, I would have left because I was feeling pretty sick/lightheaded by then. We asked the security guy in front of us if they would have water and his reply "sorry, we only have ours." Great, I knew I was in for it. Thank god for the audio guy and the other security guy that walked through right before the opening band and snuck us some water. The one security guy asked us if we felt sick and brought the girls behind me a bottle as well. If it wasn't for that, I don't think we would have made it through the show. I'm just glad Wolf Gang was pretty decent, and of course Bastille was amazing and made it worth the suffering. Both bands were sweating buckets on stage and when Dan made a comment about being from England and not used to this heat, I honestly felt bad for them. I'm grateful they didn't cut the gig short. Anyway yeah, I would not recommend coming here if it's remotely warm outside -- also, if you're short like me you MUST get barrier or balcony railing, otherwise you're screwed and can't see anything. read more

Meh. When I heard The Ritz had gotten a makeover, I was interested in checking it out, since it's a convenient location for me. That being said, it's going to take a lot to convince me to go back. The show itself was great - no sound issues! The inside looks nice - lots of bars scattered throughout the venue, so there weren't many lines. Drinks are overpriced and weak, which is to be expected. The ONLY way you can even hope to sit down is if you have a VIP pass to go upstairs. There are literally no seats downstairs. No benches, no stools, nada. This is unlike any venue I've been to, where you can at least grab a seat for a few minutes at the back of the venue if you really need it. Isn't this a safety issue? What if someone was injured or got dizzy, etc.? There's more expensive "in first out first" parking fir $10 and then $5 regular parking in the back of the building. I'm glad we didn't spring for the extra parking, because there didn't appear to be any advantage. Parking personnel was giving everyone equal time at the exit. If you plan to go to this venue DO NOT spring for the extra parking, definitely a scam! I wouldn't come back here unless there was a show that a show I REALLLLY wanted to see. And even then, I'd check to see if they are going to be at a venue I wouldn't mind traveling to like The Orange Peel or The National. read more

We went to see Kane Brown here and it was our first show at The Ritz. The Ritz is standing room only unless you pay extra for the VIP Area. The VIP Area has padded bar chairs and nice views of the stage. In order to get into the VIP area, you have to pay an extra $30 per ticket. In the VIP area you get: - A raised platform that offers amazing sight lines (which it does) - Access to the Stella Artois Lounge - Private bar with top-tier liquor offerings & specialty cocktails - More room to enjoy the show - Fast Lane access (shorter line to get into the show) - Reserved cushioned barstool against the balcony railing or at a high top table - in-seat wait service from a cocktail waitress Is all of that worth an extra $30 a ticket? That is for you to decide, but I think it is. I know there are some shows where people might want to be in the pit, but I like to enjoy the show. Sing along with the band and watch their performance. The VIP Area was sold out for the show we went to but I plan on getting the upgrade for the next concert we go to. Parking is $7 but is pretty close to the venue and there is a ton of parking there, but it makes it fun trying to leave. Overall, The Ritz is a great venue to see a concert and we will definitely be back. Next time I will get VIP Tickets, an extra read more

Came to this venue right off Six Forks Rd to see the Jazmine Sullivan concert. As far as concert venues in the area, it really is just A-Ok. Typical standing room only venue with a balcony section. The reason for the 3 star review is I don't appreciate being nickled and dimed once I arrive at a venue. Having to pay to park in the parking lot when there is ample street parking is whack!! Also, you can only get a drink if you pay a $1 membership fee?? I would've hoped this venue would have permit approval to serve alcohol without requiring membership. Plus, $7 for a well drink is a pass for me. Overall, I would come back if a performance that I really want to see is there, but I would make sure to arrive super early so I won't have to pay to park or just find street parking. read more

The Ritz is fine. If there's a band you want to see, the place isn't bad enough to keep you away, and if you're ambivalent about a show, it's not good enough to warrant making a trip. Comfortably big, and the room is much wider than it is deep, giving a few good spots to chill on the floor as long as you steer clear of the massive pillar. Parking is $5 or $10 depending on what you choose, but we've found street parking to be easy enough and a short walk, though be mindful of the many "don't park here" areas. Bathrooms were clean and trough-free -- a nice surprise. Beers were ridiculous at 9$ for a tall boy PBR, but that's somewhat to be expected. Staff were maybe slightly friendlier than an average club. Sound system was okay. Bass heavy, instruments came through well, drums were actually a bit soft. Vocals were not good; both opener & main act were indecipherable, and there was feedback issues at least twice, each time lasting 5+ seconds and a lot of cringes. Kind of inexcusable during a song. For me, Cat's Cradle is the gold standard in the area, and given the option, will always find myself there, but really, the band is what drives decisions for concert venues. read more

I wish they allowed 0 stars as a rating. I don't care if Jimi Hendrix rises from the dead to play one show and it's at the Disco Rodeo, I will never, ever come back here. I've never been to a worse venue, and I go to a lot of concerts. The physical place was decent, but the management made it a miserable experience. We went to go see Bassnectar with two opening acts. on 9/22. We got there at 9 and waited for over 2 hours in line to get in, missing both opening acts and part of the main act, despite being there on time. The one line they had for Will Call also served as a box office to purchase tickets. Later, they clumsily split the line up into three, sorted by last name, and people who got there an hour after us were inside long before we were. This was a techno show, but for some reason, "No Glowsticks Allowed." Really? What's the point of that? When going in, every person got searched and patted down thoroughly, making it take even longer to get in. They also didn't allow you to go outside and smoke, so everyone gathered in the bathroom to smoke, making taking a simple pee an eye- and lung-burning experience. This is the worst management from any venue I've ever seen and I will never be back here. read more

I attended last nights COC/BLS show. It will be the last show I ever go see here. I have been to 10 plus shows at the Ritz over the last couple of years. What use to be a cool venue now sucks. This place was packed with little room to move. For starters, it was pouring down rain and some people like me had umbrellas. We were not allowed to take them in...I get it...but were given no option but to leave them outside with 100 plus other umbrellas. Yeah I know...I can check the website for not allowed items. Did you expect all people to walk in the pouring rain? That place would have smelled funkier than it already did. When I ask how we can know someone won't jack it...she said it is the "honesty policy"-ha. Sure was not the "honesty policy" when I was having to stand it the rain and get patted down. Yes-blah blah blah...I do know from reading your other replies what you will say about this. I am glad you check people for guns, knives and other weapons, but my friend got his junk squeezed! Of course when we leave...early...it is gone as are most of them, leading me to believe anyone that left just grabbed one- even if they didn't come with one. How bout being able to check them? Another opportunity to milk people for more money$. I would have paid a buck to be able to check my umbrella. This new VIP thing is a joke for anyone not wanting to spend the extra money. The whole upstairs is roped off for VIP ten feet from the rail. This leaves no visibility for us peasants that want to see the show we PAID for and actually be able to SEE the band. Having to stand up against the wall so employees can come through with kegs is just poor planning on your part and you might want to rethink how you can do so without having to tell people, no matter where they are standing; that they have to move. Instead of having roped off VIP sections you should rope off the walkway the employees need to utilize for keg moving and such. OH WAIT- that would not make you guys more money. Maybe your capacity numbers need to be lower since so much space is now being taken up by VIP leaving less square footage for non VIP people. I find it hard to believe, that the amount of people in the place last night AND all the space used by VIP sections was not a fire violation of some sort. There was no way to see the stage from upstairs, so we had to go downstairs. I am not a short person(5ft8-female) the visibility of the stage was hit or miss- more miss than hit. Risers of some short would make your venue more enjoyable. I am sure you will respond with something to the extent of...our insurance won't allow it. I hope my review makes you guys think about what you can do to keep people like me coming back...but for now, you will not get my money or recommendation. I PAID, to not be able to SEE a band I like AND got my middle finger umbrella stolen. SMH read more

Saw Delta Rae perform here and it was great. I was amazed by how polite the ENTIRE staff was. One of the people in my group had a cast on his ankle and a guy named Tommy (can't remember last name) made sure that he could navigate the stairs alright and even brought out a chair and for him - just awesome service all around, Tommy in particular. Looking forward to seeing more shows here! Also, people complaining about the parking should complain to the city of Raleigh, and the people complaining about the $1 membership should complain to the state of North Carolina. The Ritz has no control over either of those things. read more

Terrible venue. Usually packed with teens. Many columns disrupting views. Trashcans taking up tons of space in the massive crowd you stand in the entire time, only to see very little of the show, unless you some how make it up front. If you don't make it up front, plan on being constantly pushed by people moving forward to the stage or going to the bar. (It's a flat concrete surface with people constantly moving in and out of the crowd, blocking views.) You spend majority of your time dodging people, standing on your tiptoes (if you're a girl) to catch a glimpse of the show, and listening to everyone around you talk. They have upstairs seating with an actual view of the stage with a bar, etc. However, it is an upgrade. An outrageous upgrade. You have to first buy your general admission ticket and then spend about double what that ticket cost to add on the "vip section." An absolute rip off. Your lucky if the lowest price for one of those tickets is $150. It sucks, because this is where majority of the good shows are held these days. Wish they'd play anywhere in town but here. Raleigh needs somewhere like the Orange Peel, who actually pull off the type of venue the Ritz wishes it was. read more

Went to see the band garbage recently and had a blast. They checked IDs at the door, went through a small security check and scanned my ticket to enter. The temperature inside was nice and cool despite the crowd. Awesome Bar and the bathrooms were clean. Sound system was great and I will definitely be back for more live music read more

Very dissapointed in this place today. Here to see Trial by for the Journey tribute band and they are charging $35 a seat for the upstairs. thats a lot to add on to the price of a ticket but I guess people pay for it read more

I came here for a Ben Rector concert on Halloween weekend and it was great! The line went super fast, the ticket scanners and greeters were extremely friendly, and the views of the stage were decent from just about every angle. It was pretty clean too! The only things that bothered me were the drink prices ($9 for a beer and $4 for a bottle of water) and that we couldn't really understand what the artists were saying/singing from the balcony. The best place to stand is on the floor, which was pretty crowded. Overall, a great experience! read more

Overall, I thought this venue was nice but, there are some things that need to be addressed. First of all, I knew going in that drink prices would be high. It's a fact of life these days when hitting a venue or event like this. Keep in mind that we fuel the cost by buying drinks! A nine dollar bud light? Yup. I am not going to bash them for this. The establishment is nice. Yes, it is just a warehouse building but, they renovated it on the inside and the warehouse look lends to the whole industrial feel. The colors are dark and the place is clean overall. Even the restrooms were not bad. I liked the layout and the VIP lounge and bar were comfortable. In the VIP lounge there are trays of fruit and finger sandwiches and little desert thingys. There are several comfortable sofas to relax on also. The VIP section is roped off and there is an event staff person there guarding the entrance however, this does little good since squatters can come up the back stairs and slip in at the opposite end were there is no staff. This really pissed me off since I paid an extra $45 a ticket for VIP seating and service only to have some "interlopers" in the VIP area that didn't pay the extra money. The dedicated waitstaff for the VIP area is pretty non-existent. In the five hours I was there I was asked twice if I wanted anything and it was much easier for me to walk over to the bar and get my own drink. Another area that needs improvement is with communication when trying to actually acquire VIP tickets. It took three weeks and up to the last minute before I even knew of we were going to get VIP tickets. I will say that after getting the tickets and meeting the actual person who manages that was nice. Rachel was great in showing us all the VIP areas and to the seats. She was really sweet actually. Upstairs in the VIP area, there really is no bad seat. If you do not have a VIP seat you will be standing the entire time. Nice venue overall but, with a few kinks that need to be worked out. I had an enjoyable time and would probably hit this venue again for the right artist. read more

The Ritz - From the VIP seating area - Music Venues Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Not the ideal place to have a hip hop/ rap concert in. If you're not front row by the barricades then you're going to have to survive through the shows as people like to get crazy and push you, elbow you, punch you, etc., saw too many people yesterday passing out because of the heat. Mixture of heat and dehydration caused my friend to pass out and she had to leave because she couldn't take it-she couldn't even enjoy the show. i've had to pull people out of the crowd because they were passing out and people around them were elbowing them and stepping on them hard. I can never enjoy a show here (except Mac Miller and PND, where I was front row) because i've had to decide whether to help people out or be a douche bag like the rest. on the bright side- it doesn't matter if it's raining outside because this is an indoor venue, and the employees are nice. read more