The Reel Moment had the incredible opportunity to photograph San Holo while he performed live at The Van Buren in Nov of 2021! Venue was on point and staff super friendly! Show was amazing! -TRM read more

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I attended the Devo concert on 4/13/26 at The Van Buren, and unfortunately, the experience was very disappointing. The venue felt significantly oversold, to the point where it was nearly impossible to move comfortably. From where I was standing, I couldn't see the stage at all, which made it hard to enjoy the performance I came to see. Beyond just being crowded, it felt unsafe. The number of people packed into the space seemed excessive, and I genuinely question whether it exceeded fire code limits. People were standing all the way back into the bar area. Navigating through the crowd was difficult, and there didn't appear to be enough room for people to exit easily if needed. I've been to this venue since its 2017 opening and had much better experiences, but this event felt poorly managed. I hope they take crowd capacity and guest safety more seriously in the future. read more

I went for the Lauren Spencer smith concert on the 13th. I called the venue to make sure we were lined up for 3 hours before the doors opened, we were the first people there and they told us it sounded right lol. We then were told rudely by other fans that "if we had been there before we would have known" mind you we aren't from here lol. We had an extra VIP ticket and wanting to give it out for free but the lady was rude asf saying she's not gonna be here all night to give the ticket away lol. We were trying to help a fan who had GA get VIP for FREE. The building was really nice but there was a lot of homeless people walking by. There was no clear signage stating the entrance was around the corner, which I found disappointing. Let alone the fact that there was 2 workers looking at us through the window and didn't tell us or the fact that we called and asked lol. The concert though was amazing lol but the venue could do better. read more

The Van Buren - The stage - Music Venues Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

The venue was great! The seats were really close together but I saw the staff space them out for those that needed more room. I didn't buy any drinks so not sure of the cost but I do know there was a variety of things to choose . The security/screening process was slow but once I got through, I understood why. They were double checking to make sure there were no crazies with forbidden items. read more

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I love this venue. I have seen a number of shows here like Johnnyswim, Damien Marley and Long Beach Dub Allstars. The building itself was built in 1929 for the Phoenix Motor Company. It was refurnished and opened as a concert venue in 2017. The Van Buren holds just under 2,000 people and is standing room only unless you have VIP seating. It is owned by Live Nation Entertainment. I personally like standing room only venues and the intimacy that the Van Buren brings to their concerts. There is a bar in the lobby and an open patio area out front. There are a few parking garages a couple blocks away or you can pay at a meter. I have yet to see a bad show here and think this is one of the best places to see a show here in the Valley. read more

The Van Buren - Johnnyswim - Music Venues Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Love this venue! Been seeing shows here for almost 30 years now. Everything is expensive but that's the name of the game at any venue. Depending on the show, but service can be quick.... I will say it is quicker than most. Never had the food if they even have food but the vibe is the entire reason we all love to come to this place. Can't wait for my next visit. read more

As the self-appointed king of concerts in Phoenix, while I've only been in town since January, I've been to almost all of the major venues in town and surrounding areas. I've been to The Van Buren twice: once for the Hinder concert and once for the Stephen and Damian Marley concert. Here's what the experience is like. Located in downtown Phoenix (in not the nicest part of town), I've found free street parking seven minutes or so away by foot both times. I hate paying for parking, so I'm happy it's possible at this venue. The Van Buren is connected to Ziggy's Pizza, so that allows you to do a one-two punch with a concert and dinner/drinks right next door if you'd like. There's typically a food truck across the street, too. At my first concert, the line to get in was nonexistent. The second time around, there was a long line that took 20 minutes or so to get through. One of my only knocks against them. The Van Buren is a relatively small venue. I've gotten general admission on the floor both times. The architecture of the venue is beautiful, the aesthetic definitely adds to the experience. In fact, the Van Buren was inspired by president Van Buren. He even has a bust that is somewhat hidden in the corner of the venue close to the bathrooms. There are several bars. One inside on the side in the general admission area. One outside on the patio. One inside as you're about to walk to the general admission area. And I'm sure there's one or more on the second level where the seated tickets are. Full bar. They also have some food, but I have yet to try their offerings. With how pretty the venue is, the size of it, and the overall experience it offers, the Van Buren is firmly entrenched as one of my top three venues in town. Sometimes, tickets can get expensive (one of the downsides), so try to get your tickets well in advance to get a better price. I even saw some swingers at one of the performances I went to, which made for some entertaining people watching. Looking forward to my next show! read more

This place is amazing Maddox's played here it was so much fun and the have good service

We attended the Hinder - Back to Life tour here, it was my first time at this venue. The venue is great, it's beautiful on the inside in an old world kind of way. The sound was good, drink options were plentiful. My friend needed a chair in the ADA area which we located right away, by the bar area way in back. What's not great is you can't sit or stand in the area with your friend who needs the ADA accommodations. It's like they put them in time out and the ushers (only doing their job) are constantly reminding you to stand outside the roped off area, even if you're just talking between bands. It's definitely a cool venue but the ADA seating area would definitely deter us from returning. They do recommend you call in advance to save a spot in the ADA area but they accommodate walk-ins also. read more

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The Van Buren is one of my favorite concert venues in the Valley! It's the perfect size and they get a lot of artists that I like. The sound, visual, and light aspects are all great. It's not located in the best part of town but I am able to find free street parking a short walk away. There usually is a short line to check in. read more

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Awesome smaller venue, fun to have the bars and restrooms so close so you never miss anything. Service was nice and fast. No food but the pizza place ACROSS the street is an awesome slice to grab before heading in. We're keeping an eye out for shows so we can come back soon! read more

The Van Buren - Niko Moon - Music Venues Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

On Friday, March 6, 2026 I attended the East Forest concert who we love and had a mixed experience at the venue. The event itself encouraged attendees to lie on the floor and get comfortable, which created a relaxed and unique atmosphere for the music. However, there were a few things that made the experience less enjoyable. The venue only sold water in aluminum cans that could not be resealed. Since the event involved lying on the floor, this made it inconvenient because you had to constantly watch the can to avoid spilling it. We had to babysit these cans for people walking through. On top of that, the price was extremely high -- about $25 for three canned waters -- which felt excessive for something so basic. I was also expecting the sound system to be better for a music-focused event like this. The audio quality didn't quite match the immersive experience the concert seemed designed to create. Overall, it was great that we had the choice to lay down, but the venue could improve the guest experience by offering resealable water bottles at an affordable price and ensuring the sound quality meets expectations. read more

I will say that my first experience at The Van Buren a couple of years ago was not a good one. They had a square lined out in tape for bag size and I had carried a very small fanny pack with me. The security person put it down and because the straps came out of the tape, said I wasn't allowed to bring it in. I pointed out that the bag itself was within guidelines, that was just the straps, but they weren't having it. Luckily, another person (maybe a manager?) stepped in and said it was fine. Their bag policy seems to have since been updated on their website to the standard 12x6x12 rule, but the entrance process still felt incredibly chaotic. But once you're inside, it's okay. The venue itself is really nice. The restrooms were clean and generally not too busy, despite the crowd. The sound and lighting was great! read more

Saw the Pixies for the umpteenth time last month. I've been listening to them since the late 80's and they are my most favorite of all time. The Van Buren is such a great venue. Such a great show! read more

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I've been to this venue numerous times for many shows. The atmosphere is elevated with the chandeliers, but remains relaxed with exposed brick and wood. The acoustics are always great which makes the shows enjoyable and there's plenty of room for the shows, but a small enough venue to feel intimate. I've never tried food here, although I see they serve some outside. The bar tender service is always fast and friendly. read more

The Van Buren - Music Venues Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Outside of being a touring drummer on a professional level, I also have an interview based podcast Features well-known artists as well as, not so well known yet. I've been to venues all around the world and have met some very impressive and special people that help connect the dots for these places. I have been to the Van Buren four times now, and I have always been rubbed wrong by staff, and then there was tonight. I went there, explicitly to see a Drum student of mine play with his band and was met by, Jeff the head of security(basically, a shift leader at Jack in the Box type job), Where he disrespected me entirely, and instead of the" Customer is always right" Attitude he had the," I don't give a crap what you're saying to me right now and made it extremely difficult for us to get into a show where we had missed 75% of that particular bands set. I know these kind of people well and usually they are in menial tasking jobs which doesn't require a lot of skill. Jeff had a very organic feeling man-bun and all the attitude of a female St. Bernard.. unfortunately, you connect that with his extremely lacking IQ and you now have a problem at the front door for any gust that may be challenged. While this might seem normal for that venue, I have been to thousands of venues across the globe, including right here in the great old USA and this is by far the worst experience(s) that I can remember. I hope, Jeff can get some good training on how to take care of the customer before he makes a bad name for himself, the staff and the venue he's representing. Just absolutely horrible experience with him, and if I could rate this in the minus stars category, I certainly would! Stay tuned for my podcast on the venue. read more

Love this intimate concert venue. I have seen the Hu and Mariana's Trench. You can get close to the artists. The bar is generous with their pours of alcohol but if you don't know exactly what you want, they will give you weak lemonade with mostly vodka. You also pay concert venue prices. It is recommended that you call ahead for ADA accommodations if you have mobility challenges and cannot stand on the floor. Know that it is at the back, high top chairs so you are elevated, it is only for you and not your plus one. Sit by the rope cordons so you can vibe with your party on the other side. Sometimes, they will release seats that are not being used, but that is one hour before the concert ends. read more

The Van Buren - Music Venues Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Absolulte disaster last night for Dark Star Orchestra. Our party of ten ate at Cornish, then came to venue at 7:05 pm. We waited in a three-block line for 75 minutes, missing 70% of the first set before we were let in. This is unacceptable and a total hose job. I'll never get back that time or memories with my friends celebrating the life and loss of Bob Weir at the DSO Tour opener. Shame on Van Buren. I'll never go back there unless I get the next three shows of my choosing in VIP. Management can call me to shore this up, please. Minus 10 stars. Todd Bolser 480-540-7672 read more

Great location for concerts like the layout a lot having the small outdoor area was a nice touch when it was too cold inside I'd go outside for some air read more

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A venue owned by livenation. They have ZERO interest in the fan experience. The bar service is great; However, the security is amazingly horrible. The lack of help, the constant side eyes and overbearing attention is crazy. I have found myself watching them more than the show. When they kicked out my autistic son with his mother, probably was the last time I will ever see that place. Just be cautious, me and my group have been asked to leave for talking loudly on the patio. While a metal show was playing inside. Just standing and talking. See another show elsewhere, everything about this place is sketchy and God awful.​​ read more

This venue is stronger than ever. Great show, great sound, just an awesome place to catch an old fashioned concert. It can get packed but hey that's what's concert going is all about ! Great community ! read more

The Van Buren - Matt Maeson killed it !!! - Music Venues Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

What an awesome venue! I live for live music & I cannot believe I'm an Arizona native and I've never been to a concert here!?!? Went to Nico Moon this past weekend and it was excellent! Standing room only so wear comfortable boots (shoes) but it was fantastic! Easy to get in, get drinks, plenty of bathrooms - never had to wait. Not crazy, crowded and easy to see the stage and get close to the artist. Will definitely be back! read more

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I am writing to formally express how unacceptable the experience was attending the Dark Star Orchestra show at your venue. The entry line was absurdly long and moved at an unreasonably slow pace. Security procedures felt invasive and poorly handled, creating discomfort rather than safety. As a direct result of this mismanagement, a significant portion of attendees (by my estimate, nearly half) were not admitted until after the first set. Missing an entire first set due to venue operations is not acceptable for a professional concert space. This was not an artist issue, but a clear failure in crowd management and entry logistics. Your inability to efficiently handle a standard concert load negatively impacted the experience people paid for. Additionally, the staff inside the venue were incredibly unwelcoming and unfriendly. People used to love the Van Buren but I have heard nothing but complaints recently. Given that many ticket holders were forced to miss a substantial portion of the show through no fault of their own, refunds should be issued to those affected. I hope you take this feedback seriously and address these operational failures to prevent future occurrences. Sincerely, Portia Preston Attendee and Ticket Holder read more

We saw a concert here and this was a nice and cozy venue. There was no on-site parking but they had a link to ParkWhiz with nearby parking options. We got drinks after going through security and went inside. There were merchandise tables in the corner, bathrooms on one side of the venue, and the area next to the stage where you stand to watch. In my opinion, the venue was small enough to see the singer/performers from anywhere. There was seating upstairs (for a fee of course) along with a bar. The sound was good and everything was good to me for the night. Overall, I thought the venue was good and I would come back in the future for another concert. read more

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Came here for a Foster The People concert, and we had a great time! It was my first time at the Van Buren and I didn't realize they had a full bar, and service was pretty quick. The venue is big enough for a concert but not huge. We got pretty close to the stage with our GA tickets but as you would expect you are right up next to everyone. They do offer this sort of indoor balcony seating from up above which seems like VIP, but it's a cool option if you don't wanna be in the big crowd. We found plenty of paid parking nearby and it's in the heart of downtown. read more

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WARNING PSA MAKE SURE TO THROW YOUR ALCOHOL CANS AWAY BEFORE NEARING SECURITY It's too bad zero stars isn't an option! Head of security outside when you're in the security line in the parking lot to enter the building will ban you from the venue if you're holding a beer in your hand. And if you try to come back & they recognize you they threaten to press charges for trespassing!!! Fair warning to anyone going make sure to throw away your empty can before you get up to near the building! After being banned & heading to the curb in disbelief I was met by a bunch of girls bawling their eyes out & after chatting around found about 15-20 other people in the same situation... Most places have a trash can near the security area for you to throw your cans away.... This place will ban you if you're even holding an empty can!!! Met a few people who were holding someone else's empty can or even picked one up off the ground to throw away & they got banned nonetheless... they treat you like you've incriminated their business... all without asking any questions whatsoever NEVER GOING BACK HERE AGAIN read more

I had never been to this venue before, but I saw Jimmy Eat World's 20th Anniversary show for Futures here 10/17/2024 (AMAZING best show by the Jimmies I've ever seen, but that is not what I'm reviewing). It was great. It's basically all GA, there was some VIP seating on a balcony. You can take water in if it's in a sealed bottle. My favorite part of the venue itself -- the HUGE fans that I was standing under. That made it so much more comfortable. The bathrooms were nice and clean. I liked this venue. read more

This review is specifically to shout out the security team working the Hot Mulligan show 11/18. It was an absolute pleasure watching this team taking care of all the crowd surfers. They were so kind and genuinely looked like they enjoy their job. I've seen way too many security people be rough and aggressive yanking people out and down. You know the kind...miserable meat heads. Not these people. They are smiling and having a good time. A+ read more

This venue is such a vibe and luckily it's a vibe I very much approve of. Went with my bestie to see Our Last Night and it was absolutely amazing. Bonus points: there's a pizza spot right next door with a hidden speakeasy in the back. What was supposed to be a "responsible, not-so-late" night magically transformed into a "whoops, it's 2 a.m. and we're still out" kind of night. Zero regrets. read more

The Van Buren - Music Venues Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Been to this cool historic venue (it's on the national register of historic places!!) a few times for concerts and have always had a good time. The last time I went, I was told my tote purse was too big which had never happened before. I guess they had changed their policy on purse size. They however offered a free locker for my purse so I was fine with it. After all, it is a safety precaution. Their staff and security team was courteous. The bathroom is clean. They also have a bar inside and a courtyard outside where you can grab a seat and a drink. The only thing I don't really like is that this is in a very sketchy area and it's very difficult to find parking. We were very lucky to find street parking about a couple blocks away instead of having to pay $30 at a garage. I will most likely continue to go here for a great show. read more

The Van Buren - Music Venues Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

lowkey very chill vibes which i loved for my brother's first concert. i have loved this venue for decades and i love sharing it with people.

First time visiting Van Buren and this place is amazing! We went to see Grent Perez and Rocco this weekend and Only good things to say about this Venue! Love the intimate feeling yet not feeling cramped like a bunch of sardines but then again we did get awesome mezzanine seating!!! Check-in was a breeze. Not sure what everybody's complaining about regarding Security because we had no issues.!! Very friendly. Staff , parking was as expected i recommend arriving early as there are street parking and parking structure down the ways. Everyone was friendly and helpful. Place was very clean. Felt safe! definitely will be returning for other events. Might not order the churro bites as they were a bit hard lol but hey, was with the kids and they just wanted a lil snack along with a Shirley Temple, which they enjoyed very much. However I do recommend bringing a sweater or jacket as it does get very cold up on the mezzanine as the AC is on full blast. Lol but that's a good thing considering we are in Az!! read more

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The Van Buren is a beautiful, historic theater in the heart of Phoenix. If those four walls could talk, they would tell a story of wonderful theatre and music performances. Unfortunately in 2026, the security head pays deference to rewarding drunken fools who assault and shove those in the front to acquire their prized positions by the rail. I was forced to relinquish my spot for the DEVO performance who come to the show to cause trouble because here, they know they can. I was new to this venue and was not aware such assault was allowed because security, which traditionally comes with the price of a ticket, rewards troublemakers because it's easier. I sent a picture of the drunken fool to Tour Manager Roxxi, who informed me the gentleman had already been yelled at for his behavior at other shows. If things went south at the Van Buren, we were well and truly fuct. I felt quite unsafe as a result. As a patron of the arts, this place needs to stop booking popular acts if security is actively refusing to do their basic job of, you know, Security, against these types of assaults. Given their future lineup, they are already catering to that request in that regard. When security addressed the crowd outside in the queue to inform us he would rather not do paperwork related to such assaults, you know, his job, I should've foreseen the quality of the crowd control from the security head. read more

This venue has potential, but sadly it let us down as the VIP check in was at 3pm with us standing outside for over an hour in June. It happened to be the first day of the year we hit 110 degrees as well. There were two people that succumbed to the heat and asked for medical support sadly. They did pass out water during the show, but the heat of being outside to start left us beat which made a five hour show difficult to stand through. In the future, I'll avoid summer shows due to the excess waiting outside. I can see this being a great venue in the cooler months. read more

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Great place to catch live music. Good ambiance. Love their small venue vibe. Best to uber there.

Saw Great Good Fine OK and Saint Motel here and had a lot of fun. Cool venue that make for an intimate show. Looking forward to future shows! read more

The Van Buren - Jon Sandler, lead singer of GGFO with my wife and I - Music Venues Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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We had a great concert experience seeing Larry June at The Van Buren. We took an uber to the venue so we wouldn't have to worry about parking. The check-in / security process was simple and quick. The venue itself is pretty large as they have a second floor for VIP. The drinks were well priced & strong! The bathrooms were fairly clean for it to be packed inside the venue. Another plus is that Ziggy's Pizza is right next door if you want to head over there after your show for food, drinks & more dancing! read more

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I've been to four shows at The Van Buren over the years, and each experience has been fantastic! It's a large standing-room only type of venue but I think they offer VIP balcony tickets, which would be nice if you would like the option to sit down and watch a show. They used to bring bleachers into the venue so at least a few people could sit down, but this time, they did not. It was ok, though. Just be sure to wear comfortable shoes instead of trying to be fashion-forward. The crowds at The Van Buren have always been really friendly and courteous, maybe because most of the shows I go to (typically 80's bands) tend to have an older demographic. People say "excuse me" when they have to cut through the crowd and one guy even apologized for "taking my spot" when I came back from the restroom. It was very sweet of him. I told him there was plenty of room for everyone. A lot of times, the bands that perform here will meet fans (for free) in the lobby after the show or during a break, which is really cool. The parking in the lot next to this venue has gone up since I was here last time in February, 2020. I paid $30.00 for parking, but I didn't want to walk far in the dark, since I was meeting my friends there. The parking lot has a machine that takes credit cards. There are more and more restaurants near The Van Buren. Once you go through security, you can sit outside on their patio and buy food from their vendor. They also have a large bar inside. There's cups next to the drinking fountain for water. The restrooms are clean and spacious. It's really a 5 star place to see a concert. I like the fact that you can get pretty close to the stage if you get there early. read more

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I would give 5 stars, but the parking sucks. Friendly staff, good drinks, and the speaker system was not too loud. 4 guitars usually are ridiculously too Frkn loud!! Great job with the sound man last night for The Runarounds! Also, if you need to take a leak after the show, be warned, they close the restrooms down right away. No worries, just ask for a manager, and they will let you use the private bathroom. Yes, that was me asking for the manager. So lame I had to do that!! 4 stars! read more

Saw a show that really packed the place out. It was plenty big. Loud sound system. A little rowdy.