We've seen a couple shows here at the uptown theater. We really enjoy it. I saw Trey Anastasio with my wife. And then I took her to see her favorite singer, Patty Griffin the night before Halloween. This is a lovely venue, and the artist seem to really enjoy the ownership and management of this place. It's very close to Broadway and 39th St. So it's easy to find and parking is usually not a problem. The drinks are fairly priced as opposed to a lot of other places. I really enjoy seeing a show here. read more

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The theater was a super weird design, but overall it was fine! It was a sold out show. Security was long but it went quickly, same with the drink lines. We were sitting up pretty close but the sound and lighting were good. I didn't use the bathrooms but those lines were super long too so I waited until we left. The decor of the place was super weird- like it was trying to be old but built in 1998. read more

I have watched many concerts here and I love a lot of aspects about it. First, I love the parking accessibility where I don't have to hunt or pay for parking. Second is the architecture and decor. It has a very cool historic feel and there is lots of space in the venue between multiple floors and square footage. I even bought tickets to do a NYE party here and it was well organized. The audio production is good along w the acoustics. I would definitely come here again and I enjoy that the tickets are fairly affordable! read more

We went to the Uptown recently to see a prog rock legend. Turns out to be a great venue to watch a show. The place is ancient, which serves to give it a distinct charm, an old time theater with a balcony where you can imagine Houdini on stage handcuffed and in a straight jacket, padlocked inside a milk jug, submerged in a tank of water, surely to meet his demise. The seating, though, has been updated and is fairly comfortable if not roomy. The sound is exceptional. Every note was distinct throughout the guitar solos, the sax solo, the bass solo, the keyboard solo, the flute solo, and the drum solo. Pristine. All the old white dudes in attendance were loving it. In fact, there were so many old white dudes, I could've been at a referendum for the viability of voter suppression. There are at least two bars and all the servers were super friendly. Not the best beer selection you'll ever see. I mean, how many mass produced lagers do you need? After a thorough hunt, and a bit of misdirection from one confused server, I was able to locate an IPA for sale. Crises averted. So most definitely, great place, great experience. read more

Uptown Theater - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Out-of-towner here who visited the Uptown Theater during a visit to KC, and I could tell just by being inside that it has a lot of history! Just the feeling of old walls with beautiful ceiling decor gives you the sense that performers really enjoy the space. As an overall concert experience, it feels like standard fare for a theater of this capacity, and we decided to get balcony seating for this particular show. Even up there where it was more roomy, I couldn't feel much circulation or ventilation, so I'd imagine the floor felt even more stuffy. But that was my only knock against a venue that seems to have withstood the test of time well otherwise! Sound quality was decent too. read more

I feel this venue has never seen a point and shoot camera before. It's 2025 and I was interrogated like I was a spy or something. "Sierra" definitely had a power trip. If that flash goes off you're going to be asked to leave. I've been to 400+ concerts and never felt that harassment before. This isn't the TSA. Not only that, she has the gall the say "never cut me off again" (Poppy concert 9/23) read more

I use to work for them long time ago in the kitchen, I went to see Don McLean and than Saturday nite saw Comedian Brad Willams, this was my first time to see a comedian and I enjoyed him and his partners too, the place was packed. Friday nite he was in Wichita. The three had merchandise and after the show sold their merchandise and autographed and sign up to follow them too, pix taken with them, paying bills and they said they would wait until the last one came through, before they were done. I waited one hour before I went through the line, there are two places to park, One across the street and the across uptown parking in the back part read more

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This venue was a very pleasant surprise. We just held my son's wedding there and things could not have been nicer. Alia was wonderful, coordinating so many details. The huge open space (second floor) was ideal for our sixty or so guests. The catering staff prepared a wonderful vegan spread (as requested by the couple), featuring a wide variety of exceptionally tasty dishes. And having their names on the marquee was a special treat! We were, of course, pleased that the weather cooperated--only about 80° and partly cloudy that day. I can highly recommend the Uptown Theater for such an event. Another Ann and here many of them. read more

We've been here multiple times in the last year for concerts. Parking can feel a bit overwhelming, but if you don't mind walking ~5-10 mins there is always a spot available in the neighborhoods. The venue itself is very eclectic and sets the ambiance for a great show. Very organized for security checkpoints, with metal detector and bag check. I've never experienced any sound issues which is great. They could stand to have a bit more AC but it's worlds above what it used to be. My only gripe is with concession prices. Any drink is extremely pricey so plan accordingly! However during hot concerts they will willingly give out water to the GA crowd. Overall, they bring in some great acts and I do think it's a gem for Kansas City concert venues. read more

Uptown Theater - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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We attended Thundergong last night, and as always this venue delivered! It is a beautiful building, and a wonderful place to see a show. I was happy to see the restaurant attendants that were there preciously were not longer in the restrooms. There is now a lot more room for customers to wash hands, primp, and get back to the show. Although I was at a sold out show, and the line to get in was long, we only waited for about 5 minutes before reaching the security station. Once in, the bars were so well staffed we hardly waited at all. The sound system, lights, and stage are really great especially for such a historic building. Still one of my favorite places to see a concert in Kansas City! read more

Uptown Theater - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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The Uptown and I have a 40 year history. From seeing U2 on their first tour on my 18th birthday in 1981 up through last nights Dermot Kennedy show. With the many shows that I have attended, I have never had a major issue here and am always relieved when I see that an concert that I want to attend schedules their gig here. The capacity is perfect at 1700; just enough to make it exciting and energetic without overflowing entrances, bathrooms or concessions. The theater opened in 1928 and the interior is reminiscent of grand European Renaissance style, with arches, alcoves and statuary. It was closed for a period in the 90's but saved, renovated and re-christened. My only issue last night was the lack of beer selections. Take an Uber- parking is always dicey. read more

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I like that there really isn't a bad seat in the house at The Uptown. All the seats give a clear view of the performer. The seats are snug (think Spirit Airlines haha) but the legroom is better than many places. All the staff we encountered were nice and helpful. The drinks at the bar aren't big on alcohol- go next door to Hamburger Mary's if you want a stiffer drink. The Uptown is showing its age with its decor, but it's clean. Except the women's bathroom downstairs. Don't go in there. You've been warned. read more

Uptown Theater - Comedian Nikki Glaser. Lovelovelove her - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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I appreciate older venues like this one being maintained/restored as much as the next guy. In fact, I normally find their intimate size and historic decor to be ideal for performances by artists I enjoy. At the end of the day however, it comes down to acoustics and sound. Last night we went to the long awaited performance of young virtuoso guitar player Marcus King here and it was without question the worst sound I have ever experienced. The sound engineers blew the place out with decibels that threatened to bring down this aging theatre. I made an effort to tell the "engineers" they were muddying up the entire band and that the audience couldn't even make out the lyrics from this bright young star with an outstanding voice, but they just shrugged me off and kept it throttled. Needless to say, I won't be looking to return to this venue anytime soon. read more

Beautiful midsized venue with vintage charm and cozy seating. I've been going to the Uptown for over 20 years and have enjoyed each show. Nice variety of entertainment. The artist merchandise is normally at the front when you first walk-in and security is always quick for bag checks. read more

This place look the same as it did over ten years ago when I went here for my first concert (Tiesto). Went here again for Jo Koy recently and times have changes especially for the prices. The venue still feels nostalgic. Staff and police were there for our safety and everything was organized from scanning the tickets to showing us our seats. This place is good for concert and shows, which make it feels very intimate and always bring a good group of friends to enjoy. One thing is there's always been construction and parking is hard to come by. Lucky we were early enough to find parking behind some building close the the Uptown Theater. read more

Uptown Theater - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Went to Howard Jones, ABC, Haircut 100 last night. The staff was great! They brought me in out of the heat while they looked for the tickets that were waiting for me. Three staff members at different times said to me "we hope you enjoy your show tonight". Everything felt organized and I did have a great time! This is a special venue and the staff is special too! I will definitely be back. read more

Uptown Theater - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Crazy cool place to catch a concert. Best show by far was Primus however the AC went out in Aug... not pleasant. Still the black light and "clay" looking features are so cool and unique. read more

Uptown Theater - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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I came here to see LOONA and the staff were very professional and handled everything super well and organized. the one thing that could be improved on is that there was only one stand for shirts and what-not. same with drinks. i will say however they were able to be very efficient and make sure it was fast as possible . read more

Uptown Theater - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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My wife and I were very impressed and happy with having our wedding at Uptown Theater. From our initial tour in February '21 to our wedding in July '21, Alia and the team at Uptown were very accommodating and focused on details. Alia was instrumental in ensuring my wife and I, along with our families and guests, had an optimal experience. She handled all communication with vendors before and during the wedding, allowing for us to focus on having a great time. Her experience with wedding coordination was evident and proved valuable for us. She was very accessible! Response time was A1. A few notes: - The Broadway Room was perfect for our guests (75 guests + DJ and photographer). We were a little concerned about the natural lighting from the arched windows creating a back-lit issue for pictures and it was not a problem. - Included in our package with Broadway Room was access to the dressing room that had a small theater attached to it. Maybe 20 seats? It was cool to have that space to use before the wedding. I had a few drinks and watched a movie until it was time to get ready and go on with the wedding. - It was cool to have our names on the marquee! No additional cost there! - We were able to have an ice cream truck come through for our guests. The truck was able to park outside in front. Alia was able to coordinate that for us, too. - We didn't use the in-house catering option but Uptown provided utensils, plates, and bussing for our meals. read more

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The bartenders were fast, efficient, AND CLEAN!! All of them were so nice. Flogging Molly was amazing! read more

What a great concert experience. I would love to know the history of this place. The walls have brightly decorated statutes, carvings, decorations and so much more. We arrived for our concert and the general admission line was down the block. The line started moving forward with a decent speed. The security was checking everyone. Three lines and doing a great job. We made our way inside where the merchandise was being sold. The floor slight sloped as we made our way to the general admission area. Here is where we congregated for the concert. Decently close to the stage. I could see fairly well as the crowd filtered in. When the 8 o'clock concert finally started at almost 9 we packed in a little more. The venue for the concert was perfect. The sound was perfect and it felt close and personal for a live concert. I would definitely recommend this location for a concert. And unless I was first row balcony I won't suggest getting seating down below cause you won't see as well as general admission. read more

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I hate uptown theater. Their audience party puts up tents in front of our apartment, they take up all of our parking that is used for residents of the houses and apartments behind them. They always leave trash behind and never clean up and the theater refuses to do anything about it. They are very loud late into the night (sometimes 4 am) into the middle of the week. They have truly made the Valentine neighborhood hard to live in. I would give negative stars if I could. read more

Uptown Theater - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Not a bad venue for a concert. It looks nostalgic. I went for Walé's Wow... That's Crazy Tour. General AdmissionTickets were $25 and they added $3 service charge (for what?) I went to the theater's box office to get my ticket AND I paid cash! (I guess that beats the $34 GA ticket via Ticketmaster or $30 CASH ONLY at the door. No outside food or drink, but I see they let gardeners enjoy themselves. I didn't check out the bar area,, but I knew they had one from all of the cans and cups. It was a fairly clean. The sound gradually got louder throughout the night. By the end of the show, it was so loud that the bass shook my clothes. A guy from Vegas named Yowda opened up. He was ok. I think he's MMG too. A dude sang with Walé, not sure of his name though. read more

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This is a really nice concert venue. I realize you have to make money but must the little folding chairs be packed quite so sardine-like? I have visited twice in the past year for two really excellent shows. People are kind and helpful. The entry process is great. I just don't like to be quite so well acquainted with my seat mates. read more

It is a great little theater. We sat in the balcony row O for Cruel Intentions on the 9th of June. It was a great view and the sound was great! Cheaper tickets price as well. read more

The theater is very nice and the staff are friendly. I had an issue getting a partial refund from Ticketmaster after the theater's Covid policy was announced and some of my friends decided not to go. I emailed the theater and they responded immediately and helped me out every step of the way (which was a long difficult process with Ticketmaster). The theater itself is a nice cozy old-school venue. The show we saw was wonderful and everything went smoothly. The only complaint I have is that the seats are way too small and smashed in together so there's no wiggle room at all and it's almost impossible to stand during a show. read more

The ruins of the palace await you at the Uptown Theatre. Whereas the Midland is pristine and has top notch current acts like Devotchka and She Wants Revenge, the Uptown is a bit rundown and I keep thinking the Marquee should permanently read: Bob Stinson... LIVE! If you get what I'm talking about, that kind of says it all. The practical info: sound is decent, room has good acoustics, seating and stage are typical of most old theaters, and the staff, for the most part, are nice. But.. I'll put it to you this way, the colored plaster molding isn't fooling anyone. This place is really about being punk rock. And yes, that's a good thing. Then there's the bar. The other night when I approached the bar, one of the bartendresses was loudly calling out to no one in particular, "I can take you down here... NEXT." You would have thought the bar was three-deep, but uh, no. So, I go over to her and innocently ask for my usual in a place like this, where it's clear that simple mixers and beer are the only acceptable orders, a Ketel and soda. "Our call is SKYY!" she announced, again, as if she were shouting to me over a sea of customers. "Ok," I shouted back, to which she shouted, "I NEED SEVEN DOLLARS!" as if I were going to take the drink and make a mad dash for it. Please. Utterly ridiculous and unnecessary. You would have thought she was working the Palladium circa 1987. Only in her head... only in her head. Oh and the prices are ridiculous here. $7 for a Skyy vodka? I don't think so. You can keep it. Well, after I finish this one... read more

I always look for small venues to see shows around the country and this is a diamond in the rough. Small old school venue not a bad seat in the house. Buy a GA ticket and sit stand on the floor if you want or you can have any balcony seat on the second floor. There is seriously NO bad seat or place to stand. The charm this place has was awesome. The staff was great the place was clean and the show was outstanding. Glad I flew out to check this place out. Check out the pictures they tell the story. If you live in KC you know how great it is. If your want to visit to see a show, Uptown will not disappoint. read more

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I dig the historic vibe of Uptown! The variety of genres on their calendar will appeal to any and all music & entertainment lovers. Parking was as expected in this part of KCMO (not ideal but it exists). Plenty of bars on different levels to keep you properly hydrated. Prepare yourself for stairs but it's worth the climb to enjoy the gargoyle /street lamp / cavelike ambiance. It gets pretty warm in there so leave your jackets behind. The lobby area was a bit congested; people wanting their swag and autographs. I'll always keep my eye on their events! read more

I wish there was more seating options rather than mainly standing room. I did enjoy the venue since the crowd wasn't crazy and the artists made it enjoyable. The architecture for the venue was interesting with a disco ball near the stage but the sitting for the upper section reminded of an attempt of classical theater. read more

I hope I never attend a concert here again. Entitled Karen made 6 people move to the right (worse seats) so she could sit behind her significant others because she didn't want to sit in the seat she was paid for--C1. She ruined Shooting Star for everyone sitting near her temper tantrum. Why ushers/security let her get away with it is beyond me. I know we were sitting in the correct place because usher took us to seats and they corresponded with our tickets. read more

Bartenders are so rude, said i was trying to SA my best friend i was buying a drink for, repeatedly pressed my friend over his "fake" ID and just being snobby and rude, do a different job since you hate this one so much. You're ruining experiences for people and people are talking about it. Not a good look. Hope this helps! read more

Best acoustics in Kansas City. Came here for a Mars Volta rock show and was pristine sound quality on the floor. Staff was neighborhood vibes. Boulevard cans are a plus. Buy tix with confidence to your favorite band here read more

I've been to several concerts here. Never a bad experience. I always had to go through security and that was a pretty quick process. Once inside the staff is pretty friendly in helping me find my seats. I have had seats both on the floor and in the balcony and I thought either option was great to see the stage. Once the show is over it's pretty easy to get out of the venue. read more

Uptown Theater - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Older concert venue, sound was good. Cheaper than larger venues. Would go back again if we see a artist preforming that we liked. Had a great time in KC. Nothing bad to say about the event space. read more

Neat theater! I really appreciated the free parking that was so near the theater. We loved our seats in the balcony.

Their HVAC system is terrible. I've never been in a hotter venue, including outside venues. They pack people in like sardines and there is zero air flow. Lady in front of me passed out. If you are going to attend wear as little clothes as possible. read more

Beautifully restored Italian garden architectural style. Small theater with good visibility of the stage. Good location. Cramped seating. Ushers were simply terrible. They continuously seated people during the performance, instead of waiting in between songs. They shined their lights in the faces of seated patrons. The stood in front of audience members and blocked their view while trying to seat late comers. People were talking and using cell phones during the performance, and no usher asked them to refrain from doing so. The uptown theater needs to send its ushers to Ushers School. These problems greatly detracted from my ability to enjoy the show. read more

I've been going to shows at The Uptown for decades. It's such a beautiful place and amazing to see shows there. The sound is terrific and not a bad seat to be had. That said, BATHROOM ATTENDANTS ARE NOT NECESSARY. Maybe at a gala event, or a classical concert, not NOT a rock show. You're seeing a rock show, you've probably had a few drinks, you're going to have to use the restroom several times. I DO NOT need a person in the bathroom who EXPECTS a tip every time I pee. I would rather hold it than have some weirdo who hangs out in the bathroom hit me up for $5 per visit. I was there last night and there were scented rocks in the sink, religious symbols all over, (crosses and little nick-nacks that said "blessed", and whatnot), and STUFFED ANIMALS ON THE URINALS. People, pee splatters. Your adorable stuffed animals are a health hazard. They were guilting people into paying to pee. "All of your tips go to 'the school'". What school? I don't want to read about a charity while I'm hurrying to use the restroom while my favorite band plays "something from our new album". I have no problem helping a charity, but go about it a different way. They were also selling those toothbrush/sample toothpaste combos that you get free at the dentist. IN THE BATHROOM. Why would I brush my teeth in a bathroom at a rock show where people are leaking out all of the $15 beers they've been drinking all night. And what? Spit toothpaste out of my mouth onto their scented rocks in the sink? This isn't Los Angeles, get rid of the bathroom attendants. Also, there is NO room in ANY place that sells beverages for the rude, put out, snippy bartender. You are selling me a Dixie cup of coke with the smallest splash of Jack Daniels for $10. Get over yourself. The only option to tip THEM was at least 25% or NOTHING. 25% tip, for pouring a half of a shot into a plastic cup and overdoing it with the soda gun? NO interaction. No courtesy. Just "here's you drink, scumbag, now pay me one quarter of the price of it and get out of my face". One dollar per drink is a good tip for what they are doing. MUCH busier bartenders are MUCH more courteous at WAY busier places. I go out for a good time at a local historic venue. I love the place, the band was amazing, but these periferal things are making it hard to have a good time. read more

I love seeing shows at the Uptown. The sound is good (for the most part), floor slanted just enough that you can stand behind the mayhem and still see the main act and there's even a balcony if you're feeling a little laid back. The bars are a little off to the side, especially the one upstairs, but you usually can get a drink. There's a hidden bar once you enter the venue. Instead of heading right and into the theater, if you head left and up the stairs you usually can get a drink without having to wait. This is an old (kind of) renovated theater, so the bathrooms could be a little larger. They're not so you might want to keep that in mind when you're chugging beers. Parking? Well there isn't much. Please arrive early so you can get a spot in the lot across the street or in the lot above the shopping center. If not then you'll have to park in one of the surrounding neighborhoods. That's not a bad thing in the summer, but it can be kind of rough in the winter. So there you have it. If you're favorite band is coming to town, it's not a bad thing if they're playing the Uptown. read more