Rockwood Music Hall

I came to Rockwood Stage 1 for a show this past Wednesday, specifically to see Sam Pace (who has a hard rock country sound and can play his guitar like nobody’s business) and Butch Phelps (a psych rock bluegrass group that sounds like a cross between Bob Dylan and Creedence Clearwater Revival).
Both shows were great, and the cover was only $ 5. Despite the small space the sound was good. There are a few tables around the stage and some seats at the bar, but most people stood and a few of us danced.
There’s a small dimly lit but clean bathroom in a corner. A beer will run you between $ 6-​$ 8 and they do have cocktails, as well as a water cooler you can help yourself to. UFO on tap. Nice venue, I’m sure I’ll be back!

Bounced back and forth between both venues on a Wednesday night. Tons of fun!

Great place to see some original music. I’ve only been there twice but the standards of the bands were pretty good. I’ll be going there a lot more.

I really like this place. There used to be a lot of live music venues with no cover in Manhattan, but now not so much. That said, 14 bucks for a glass of wine is a bit much… but I guess that is how they pay the rent. I will definitely be back.

Rockwood is a quaint bar and small venue for musicians. I’ve only been here once (so I may update this if I go again in the future for a more thorough review). I enjoyed my favorite band from the balcony and ordered a cocktail. The cocktail was a perfectly fine cocktail. The server was friendly. I had no complaints and my overall experience was overall a positive one.

I love Rockwood. Been here twice, both times to the smaller stages. First we saw Peter Case in the really small downstairs stage, which has the vibe of a small jazz club. There are numerous small tables with waitress service. Tickets were a very reasonable $ 20 but there was a 2 drink minimum and drinks weren’t cheap — where were those $ 5 cocktails everyone else is mentioning? Second time we saw American Nomads on Stage 2, the smaller of the upstairs venues. There is a balcony with a few tables, big bar, and dance floor. Again, no $ 5 cocktails but tickets were only $ 10. Sound is fantastic. My only complaint — and hence 4 stars — is that they seem to schedule the shows very tightly together and rush patrons out after each show ends. Very wisely however they rush you into the adjacent bar, which does not have $ 5 cocktails but it does have a screen projecting the act currently playing (although oddly they have music playing so you can only see but not hear them).

This place is so fun! I visited on a Saturday night to catch a friend’s show. There was a good crowd around 8:00 pm. Seemed like mostly people really into music/​open to hearing new sounds. Non-​pretentious folk. My friends and I stuck around for another set upstairs, an alternative/​pop/​rock-​type accordion/​keys group? Good times were had.
There are a few different stages in the venue, some where you pay a cover, others that are donation/​drink minimum based.
Great date spot or place to spend the night with a group of friends.

I haven’t been to the music hall, however I did pop into their bar next door and it’s a great little place. My husband and I came here for a few drinks to kill some time before dinner reservations and the bar tender was attentive, good, and the vibe was chill and low key. It’s a great place to come as a couple or with a friend.

I’ve been wanting to come here for about 10 years — finally made it last night.
The quality of musicians seems to always be great — and unless you are on the inside they probably someone you’ve never heard of. It’s just good music to listen to. There is no cover, and the door or the staff are not pretentious or annoying at all, all you should do is buy an overpriced drink (beers are $ 9, add $ 1 for tip) and put some cash in the bucket they pass around.
The crowd is mostly intelligent dudes — which, fortunately or unfortunately, makes it a great place for someone to find a guy to date.
I would definitely recommend to any local or tourist, or someone looking for a manchild. I would come back here anytime.

Very quaint intimate venue, it fits maybe 50 on a good day with standing room only. However, that’s what makes this place so awesome and the acoustics/​sound system. The bar staff does a great job of making sure you have a drink if you want one. If you haven’t been here, just make the trip and thank me later

This review is for Rockwood’s customer service (lack thereof).
I emailed Rockwood support several times inquiring if I could get a refund for a concert I couldn’t attend (due to unforeseen/​unavoidable circumstances).
They straight didn’t respond.
How hard is it to hit reply and type «No.»?
That’s not just rude, it’s lazy.
Cmon Rockwood. I expect more from a cool local venue.

A really nice place to go listen to great (sometimes also not great) music by not (yet) known musicians. The idea is that if you make it here you can perform in the music hall next door — which is a bit bigger than this one.
The enterance is free and the atmosphere is super chilled and casual. The service is good too — if you sit at the table you get your drinks right there.
They have a very tasty beer — the brooklyn lager. If you are there you should try it!

This review is for Rockwood Stage 3, from which you enter on Orchard Street.
I have attended several shows in this basement venue over the past couple years. It’s a really nice, intimate, room with pretty good acoustics, and seating for, idk, 75 people? It has a classy feel. The space is renovated and clean. And, I love the convenience of having the bar upstairs. It let’s people have a little change of venue after the show, without everyone getting split by having to change geographical location. Two thumbs up for RS3.

I went to go see Jason Sager at Stage 2 here. I decided to check it out since there was no cover which is always a plus. The venue is small but it wasn’t too crowded. Drinks are a little pricey at $ 8 minimum for a draft but there isn’t any cover so it balances out. The show was great and the sound was awesome. After the show we walked over to Stage 0? which was a nice quiet where we could chat and have a drink and also watch what was going on at Stage 2 so we knew when the next band was on. Overall I had a great time and will definitely look into going to more shows here. It’s a great venue.

A drink minimum. variety of music to choose from, best place to unwind after a hard day at work. Only downside is the size of the place. Go early n grab a seat!

I saw J’Hai play Rockwood Music Hall a few weeks ago and I must say I was pretty impressed with the setup that they have. I came pretty early (6pm) and I guess I’m lucky to have not faced a cover.
Rockwood Music Hall (stage one) is a a small quaint room with a stage taking most of the space. Despite the small space, they had a nice full bar with a nice selection of craft beers. Brooklyn Brewery is always a solid choice. Despite the small space they definitely make the most of it, fitting a full band and some horns on the side. Not sure if the bands get paid or not, but I definitely made sure to contribute some money to the band. I absolutely love this place for giving burgeoning talent a chance to perform live.
I look forward to coming back to Rockwood to see some more upcoming NYC artists.

This place has a few stages. None of which are large in scale but all are great venues that offer an intimate setting for you and your friends to view artists. I’ve been there a few times now and every time I enjoy myself. Depending on the crowd the artist is anticipated to draw, you may have a variety of arrangements (seating or standing). I’ve been to both but never know what to expect. Not a place you get all dressed up to go to. Very relaxed and comfortable vibe here. Great for music lovers! They have a full bar and I was pleased that they offered porters (dark craft beers) for me ;)

Music is great. I absolutely enjoyed my time here. You can actually listen to the artists before coming and see if you like that kind of music. The place is very small so you might not get a seat and will have to stand. There is a minimum 1 drink per person which isn’t much.

Super cool set up if you love live music. I like that we didn’t have to pay cover for room 2! The only issue is the lack of space you have, it’s hard to stand the whole night in a cramped place like that.

What a great surprise! We jumped in last weekend and found great artists playing music like heaven…
Free entrance and drinks prices are good.
We will definitely go back

Went on a Thursday night and saw two acts. A folk rock group and then a gospel piano player. They could not have been more different in style and more similar in quality. A great place to see live music.

One of my favorite venues for live music. I’m hardly ever disappointed by the artists that play. I usually go to the smaller performance stage. I like the small cozy space and the acoustics are pretty good. They have 45 minute sets so you can pop in and out or stay as long as your schedule could take.

This is my first time at Rockwood Music Hall to see a live show. I was at the Orchard St venue. It is a tiny intimate spot with great acoustics. The show was $ 12 and a $ 10 minimum for drinks. No food served or allowed but tons of options around.
My friend Michael Whitaker was part of the performance of mostly songs written by the two of the singers and 2 mainstream songs one by Radiohead and one by Floetry… it was so organic and reaffirmed my faith in good music… I can’t wait to go again!

In NYC we are spoiled. Let’s just get that out of the way.
I mean where else can you go and see very talented up-​and-​coming artists for free, every night of the week? Nowhere you say? How about on *four* different stages?
Rockwood is incredible that way. It’s a bit of roulette what you’ll get unless you follow the schedule. And yes some of the acts have a cover, which is perfectly fine too.
My favorite is the back bar, which also opens up onto Orchard street. The beer selection includes some IPA’s, Hogarden and even a White Ale.
If you hang out for a little while, you’re also libel to bump into some musicians who just finished playing, or are about to go on next. That’s kinda cool too. Good vibes all around here. Love this place.

A great venue to hear music and just off the F train at 2^nd Avenue. The name is misleading: there is nothing hall-​like about it. And most have to stand in Stage 2. Few seats. Friendly service.
I saw Shawn Colvin through the WFUV series that often runs at City Winery.
Will be back for sure.

A pleasant surprise. I like bluegrass but my husband LOVES bluegrass, freshgrass and all Americana music. He’s from KY and it’s like religion for him. We probably go to about 7 or 8 folk concerts and festivals each year.
I’ve never heard of Rockwood Hall but took a chance and purchased tickets for Willie Watson as a birthday present. All the reviews seemed pretty positive so I felt really comfortable and knew Willie wouldn’t steer us wrong.
Our car service driver dropped us off @ the wrong but correct address. There are 3 separate Rockwood Halls with different addresses. We were totally stressing but one of the door guys calmed us down and said it happens all the time. He walked us through the inside of another show in a big room and a long hallway right to our show. Will Call was a breeze and then we walked down this mysterious flight of stairs to a… secret room. We were lucky to get the last seats in the back and then Wille came on and TOTALLY KILLED IT!!! Most fun we’ve had in a long time at any show. If we had our choice of seats, that’s exactly where I would always want to sit.
My husband is still on cloud 9 because he was able to meet WW after the show. He totally got his groupie on!
10 out of 10 for a great night! Bonus action… found out Michael Daves plays here all the time.

5 stars, all the way!
Discovered Rockwood from a Communion Music event. So, Communion is run by Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons and they play here.
The layout was a little confusing but the doorman did a terrific job explaining to my friends and I how the (3) different stages work and he actually knew the general style of music which was being performed on each stage. Bravo! Very knowledgeable guy and super professional. He even gave us tips for where to go to eat after the show and it was perfect (a place called Marshall Stack, right down the block — always ask a big guy where to eat!)
The downstairs room is Stage 3 and it’s very intimate and cozy. Our waitress was very nice and helpful (not pushy). I recall the least expensive beer was 5 but I chose what turned out to be a delicious Pinot Noir served in a proper wine glass.
The sound in the room is warm and perfect. Maybe the best way to describe it would be like listening to live music with those pro type headphones?
This is my new favourite place. It has a diverse crowd, serious live music all night long and a terrific staff.
Oh, yeah — the bathroom I used was SPOTLESS… I didn’t think this was possible for a rock club. What else could I want?
Rockwood Music Hall get ready because I’m coming back!

Awesome venue with quality sound. Many shows are also free and they pay their artists fairly. Sometimes they hit you with a 1 drink minimum but I guess that’s better than a 2 – 3 drink minimum. Overall, great venue.

Cozy and intimate live music venue in LES. If you’re into seeing a lot of great artists perform live and FOR FREE, this is the place for you. It’s also a pretty laidback venue so feel free to come in a tank or jeans. This is a minute detail but I loved the exposed brick walls which gave it a more homely feel (at least to me).
The drinks here are decently priced with draft at $ 7 and wine and $ 10 – 12. And there is a one drink minimum for free performances.
Seating — there are 3 small circular wooden tables right up in the front of the stage and 2 to the side. There’s bar seating for approx 10 people and then seats along the window (maybe about 5). So all in all not very much space for seating down. Come prepared to stand and sway to the music.

This place is amazing and I have had nothing but good times here. The cocktails are well under $ 10 each, the waitresses are extremely attentive and in addition to never feeling packed despite the relatively small sizes of several of the stages, there are seating areas both on a top level and on the floor. This place also does not have a cover to see any of the live acts but I made sure to give generously when a bucket is passed around to support whichever band is on stage.
A friend took me to see Hundred Hounds perform here this past June (they were insanely talented and the acoustics were on point) while I saw The Shackles perform this past Saturday (they had technical difficulties but were amazing nonetheless). I will likely go back here next Saturday since even the opening acts have been astonishingly talented and the laid back environment makes the musical experience that much better.

Not a great venue because there is not that much seating and it can get plenty hot inside especially if it gets crowded. Drinks are reasonably priced especially considering there is no music charge. They do pass the bucket around.
The waitress was a joy. Somehow she managed to work her way around the room and get everyone’s orders. And did so with a great smile.
Despite the uncomfortable setting, they do have some really good shows here. On this particular night Janel and Alex performed and they were great. I would say I look forward to seeing them again but it was announced as their final concert for now as one of them is moving to the state of Washington.

Mi lugar preferido del Lower East Side. 4 stages, 3 de ellos con música en vivo durante toda la tarde/​noche los 7 días de la semana. Ahí he visto de todo; Jazz de alto nivel; cantantes folk, cumpleaños con banda-​karaōke, bandas pop reconocidas como Oh Land y todo lo que haya en medio. No sirven comida, pero tienen un full bar, aunque el fuerte es la variedad de cervezas y los tragos directos. Es el lugar ideal para una noche de música en uno de los barrios más vibrantes y divertidos de Manhattan. Recomendado 110%.

A really cool swanky place in a really cool neighborhood
I came to the Rockwood Music Hall (stage three) on a snowy cold Thursday evening. A friend of a friend was performing there, and I was excited to see her in action.
Immediately upon arriving, I went to the bathroom to straighten myself up and to powder my nose (a girl has gotta look cute, after all). The thing I instantly noticed was that the bathroom light was sooooo dim so the room appeared really gothy and dark. I could barely see myself in the mirror, and I really had to look down on the floor so as to make sure I did not step on anything unfamiliar. That was really uncomfortable. Might want to use a flashlight when you’re in there.
After the bathroom, I went to a downstairs room for the performance. There was a $ 10.00 drink minimum for each person, which was kind of annoying because I wasn’t really thirsty and I did not feel like drinking.
All in all, I had a good time, mainly because my friend performed. The vibe of the room was cool but really cramped and small. There were several people blocking my view for minutes at a time because there were not enough seats in the establishment (apparently they sold more tickets to the show than there were seats). I will probably not be back at the place for a while unless they have a happy hour special.

Rockwood Music Hall. I would have to say that Rockwood is the epitome of a New York music scene. It’s dark, small, cozy, intimate, trendy and very hip. Hip as in hipster without the fanny pants. It totally reminds me of the bar scene in the Digable Planets’ Rebirth Of Slick music video. «We like the breeze flow straight out of our lids, Them they got moved by these hard-​rock Brooklyn kids… But I’m cool like dat.»
There are tables in front of the stage, seating on the 2^nd floor and a bar. The crowd is very diverse from hipsters to old professionals in suits. It’s a total trip. No cover and live music from up and coming bands. The drinks are fairly price unlike the rest of the city.
I’m from California and you don’t see this type of scene. I’m definitely a fan and loving the New York feel of Rockwood.