Sons of Hermann Hall

I love this place. It’s old, it’s legendary, and it has one of the largest dance floors I have ever seen!
I got the opportunity to play a couple shows here. And both times the staff was so nice to us!
Mostly a legendary country music club, and dance hall that now has the occasional rock n roll show!
The down stairs looks like a stereotipical VFW type vibe, or maybe an old bowling alley! With regulars who have maybe been there since 72 sipping on bottles of Budwiser or cans Lone Star.
The music venue area is really huge and open and has a great old wood floor, perfect for dancing. The stage comes out of the wall in the corner and fits the room perfectly!
The only bummer playing here was the very very steep stairs on the outside of the venue you have to carry your amps and equipment up! I knew I shouldn’t have bought that heavy amp!
Anyway the staff is nice, the beers are cheap, and you feel like your walking into a legendary place once you hit the doors! I loved it here! Both Times!

This place is the best spot in Dallas for weekly swing dancing! Go on a Wednesday night and see for yourself. Swing is one of the few dances where an hour lesson really is enough to have fun for the night. Take a friend, grab a beer at the bar downstairs, and settle in for a cool experience.
Details
— Swing dancing happens nearly every Wedn night. The basic lesson is at 8pm with the dance at 9p-​12a. Everything is only $ 7. The bar only takes cash, but an ATM is available.
Ins and (swing)Outs
— Don’t apologize for being a beginner. Trust your Jedi training from that hour lesson, watch other people, ask questions, and dance often. You’ll pick it up quicker than you think. Maybe you’ll become an addict. It happens.
— Ask strangers to dance. You can meet a lot of people, and it will only improve your dancing.
— Try out the Blues dancing lesson downstairs (free) at 9:30p. Once you get some basics, it will be a nice skill to try out at bars around Dallas.

Loved taking the swing dancing class! So much fun! Hope to come back soon! Such a fun and time traveling experience!

This Deep Ellum institution has been around since 1910 when the Sons of Hermann, a German fraternal organization, built it as a meeting place. Today it serves as a dance hall and concert venue. The upstairs hall is just the right size — intimate but not too small, and there’s a nice (dive) bar downstairs for refreshment. We went for the swing dancing and live band on New Years and had a great time.

Charming older rambling building that would be packed in Austin. Although they sometimes fill it up usually it’s a small crowd underutilitizing the space. Bring your own instrument on Thursdays for friendly jam sessions around artificial but cool campfires.

I’ve been here a few times to swing dance! Every wednesday this place turns into a hip little swing joint! The building itself is kinda sketch… but it comes with a lot of history. The cover charge is $ 7 CASH ONLY. (but they do have an atm machine) The instructors are great and give the same informative lesson each wednesday at 8pm.
I don’t really attend the lessons anymore but I do enjoy dancing with the people there. One of the problems I run into at other dance locations is finding someone to dance with. Personally unless I bring a dance partner I have a hard time finding someone who doesn’t having an ulterior motive. At Sons of Hermann though most of the time I meet people who just really love to swing dance: D and it is soo much fun. I meet the nicest and most interesting people here. :) and I feel really safe most of the time.
My only warning is @.@ if you have motion sickness be warned… some of these guys are going to fling you around. I’ve been danced senseless before.

I’m gushing over this place. This will most likely be my permanent address on Wednesday nights. SOH hosts swing dancing every Wednesday with beginner lessons from 8−9PM and then open floor until midnight. Cover is $ 7 but includes beginner lessons upstairs, your entrance fee, and, if you wish, blues dancing (or whatever featured dance) downstairs in a smaller room. This venue has an old-​school feel with some cranky boards here and there, but nothing to deter you from a great night of dancing and merriment. This place, including their bar downstairs, only accepts cash, so come prepared!
The upstairs dance hall can get crowded during the summers, as more college students let out for the year. You might get your toes stepped on, depending on how many people come out, but simply be mindful of those around you, and you’ll be fine. I must have danced a load, since I was pretty thirsty, but thank goodness… they have water stations in one corner to keep you hydrated. As a novice, I was a bit conscientious, but the instructors and attendees make you feel right at home. Cheers and happy dancing!

I go swing dancing here every Wednesday night! There’s a basic lesson from 8pm to 9pm and a dance after 9pm till midnight. It’s $ 7 cash only (there’s an ATM at the venue which is incredibly convenient). You don’t need to bring a partner for the lesson. Definitely check this place out!

Really like this venue!
Where some may see an old, decrepit hall with no tables and chairs upstairs where the bands play and a fairly inefficient way of processing people’s admittance, I see a vintage, comfortable like an old shoe dance hall in the vein as Gruene Hall (New Bruenfels) and The Continental Club (Austin), its kindred spirits to the south.
I saw Son Volt there and the lines were amazingly long to get our drivers licenses scanned to get into the building. Once that was done, a walk upstairs and a double check of a magic book gained me entrance to saloon hall heaven. (It didn’t hurt that Son Volt, both as the «warm up band» sans Jay Farrar and then as Son Volt with Jay, were sounding really tight).
I will be back, although not with my car. A cab, rolling drive by drop off or someother transportation will be in play so that I don’t have to spend 20 minutes hunting for a parking spot, only to put it in a place that I was convinced meant certain dismantling for parts or major vandalism in its future. (maybe I’m over paranoid, as neither occured, thankfully)

I love the atmosphere in this place. I’ve been many times for their weekly Wednesday swing dances, which give you great beginner lessons and a really fun time for only $ 5 admission. If you’re not so much into dancing, the bar downstairs has very cheap and potent drinks, plus a pool table and shuffleboard.

Pretty unique, historic venue. Saw I Fight Dragons and other bands put on a great show in the upstairs room tonight and it was affordable fun. Since it’s such a small place, I got to meet the lead singer before their set.
They have a bar obviously, but the drinks are a tad pricey. The staff is also kinda rude, but we had a good time and would come back.

I wish I could go inside but I use a wheelchair. Elevator please?

Since my last review I have come to Son’s numerous times. I’ve seen some more bands; I’ve been to another kick ass wedding. One of my BFF’s is a bartender here so I have spent a few random nights sitting at the bar chatting him up and the few other random folks at the bar. I have really come to love the place even more than I did for whatever event I’m attending.
Bring cash!!! The ATM never works, and it’s a cash only bar.
Also, the Wednesday night swing lesson classes seem to be a big draw.

I go here every Wednesday for swing dance lessons, and it’s always a good time. I love the character of this historic building and the many rooms that allow several different events to occur simultaneously in one night. Just walking by the building and hearing the music seeping out makes you want to enter and partake in the fun. The shows are always packed. On a regular evening, people will bring in their guitars and have a jam session in the bowling alley in the back — always fun to sit in on. The drinks are strong but on the small side. A note of warning, regulars of this establishment can be a bit curt and unfriendly, but if you come with a fun group, you’ll have a ball.

Awesome venue and I wish they had more shows there or I wish I knew of more shows they had there. I have been there a few times for different events but it seems like years end up going by between visits which is a shame because it is a really cool historic venue.

This place is just super cool. We actually thought about having our wedding here but sadly they don’t have any kind of handicap access to the upstairs ballroom which will not work if you have any guests in wheelchairs. But if that isn’t a concern, I’d suggest it as a wedding venue for sure because it really is pretty affordable and so groovy looking with the old bowling memorabilia and the wooden staircase and everything. They are very hard to get a hold of to book an event (it’s an all volunteer staff) but if you want to personal email address of the woman who books events, I can give it to you!
We went to show here Firday night and were immediately reminded –cash only, duh. And their ATM is not very reliable, after three tries the fiancé was able to get out some cash out but they put a sign on it directing people to the ATM at the Double Wide. Most places would get deducted a star for this but for some reason it just adds to its quirky charm. There was an older lady walking around with a tiny dog. There is this little guy that seems to be a fixture there– he was dressed as a mariachi this time but I’ve also seen him just walking around hoisting a keyboard in the air. The crowd was gettin’ down to the crazy sounds of Man Man, the beer was pretty affordable, and at some point the guy selling beer in the ballroom gave us two Sons of Hermann Hall coozies, which was awesome. I only wish they would have more shows (that I want to see) here!

This year, The Sons celebrates its 100^th anniversary. It’s pretty easy to see why it has been around as long as it has been. It’s a beautiful testament to the way things were back then. The old bowling alley in the back and the ballroom upstairs have the most perfect old wooden floors, and the place itself creaks and squeaks, but in the «oh-​wow-​this-​place-​is-​magical type of way.
The bar downstairs occasionally serves food, and there is plenty there to wet your whistle whether you drink or not, although drinks are quite cheap here (and strong!). The staff who work there are volunteers working off tips only, so please tip generously!
The ballroom upstairs is beyond perfect for concerts. The sound is fantastic for being such an old place, and what better way to enjoy it than by dancing? The Sons is a perfect place to do this! They do have swing dancing lessons on Wednesday, folks! I have seen Mates of State, Asobi Seksu, Boys Named Sue, the King Bucks, and the great Bobby Patterson here. All of them were fantastic shows!
If you want to get away from the noisy bar atmosphere and visit a place with some SERIOUS charm, visit the Sons. And be sure to drop a donation into their roof-​repair fund box. Dallas NEEDS places like this!

How long has it been since you’ve seen a show at Sons of Hermann Hall? Well, brother, that’s too long. I started going to shows when I moved here in 89 and I still love the place. Part of the charm is that not much has changed in those 20 plus years.
It is a great venue-​small enough that you always get to meet the artists and big enough to allow for dancing if that’s your thing. If the show is doing it for you go downstairs to the bar-​the people watching here is always awesome. This place has been around forever-​and I think some of the people who are at the bar have been patrons since day 1.
The beer is cheap and served cold. Nothing like watching Robert Earl Keen sing about Texas with a cold Shiner in your hand (It’s even better when you get to get on stage and help with the chorus). Take the time to catch a show here and you’ll wonder why you haven’t visited sooner.

This is a pretty cool venue. I knew I would love it the first time I heard about it. All kinds of event take place here including Lollipop Shoppe parties, swing dancing, live music shows, jam sessions, and more. (Check the web site for schedules.)
You will pass the small bar and grill on the right as you walk down the hall towards a show or party. The grill is pretty casual serving burgers, sandwiches, etc. The beer is cold and cheap, and the clientele is super casual and laid back. Make sure you bring cash because they don’t take credit. There is an ATM, but who wants to pay a fee.
I highly suggest checking this spot out!

Not only is this one of the best places in town to see a band, or learn to swing dance… but it’s also HAUNTED. (I couldn’t find the font with the blood dripping letters.) Sons of Hermann are a German Fraternal Lodge which met at this location beginning in 1911. They were orginally founded in New York in 1840, but you can get all the history from their webpage.
The haunted areas are upstairs in the ballroom and in the converted bowling alley. They had a public ghost hunt there recently. Several floating orbs were captured on film. I’m a little on the skeptical side of the whole orb thing. My digital camera fills in those exact same spots when there is poor light or distance in the photo.
However, other things have been noted there over the years. Check it out first hand by either catching the likes of guitar wiz Charlie Sexton there; or by showing up for the $ 5 swing dance lessons on Wednesday nights. They teach from 8 – 9 p.m. and then let you dance till midnight. The way the lessons are taught you WILL dance with and meet half the room at least. I have always had a great time there!
Here’s the link to the ghost hunt results.
If there when the bar is open, tip heavy. The folks working there are volunteers.