Jefferson Theater

Beautiful room and Blackberry Smoke sounded great. We really liked the area outside also. Looked like downtown mall blocked from car traffic with bars, shops and street musicians. Will definitely return for the right show.

I don’t know how these Brooklyn/​NYC venues will ever compare after seeing a show here last week for New Years. This theatre is gorgeous. There are nooks and crannies to explore, at least 5 levels and history at every corner. 2 full bars and kind staff from check in, to coats, to bar and booth. What inclined me to write this though is their water policy. I can’t remember a venue that didn’t try to commodify water. They gave away red plastic cups and had signs to their water fountains… this gives the concert goer a sense of. I don’t know, hydration?! Encouragement to have another drink, but responsibly so?! That detail on top of every other stellar aspect made me fall in love and respect how these lovers do bizness’.

This is a great venue located on the downtown mall to see a show or attend an event. I’ve been here a few times, once to see the Chainsmokers, another time to see the Antlers. I often look forward to coming to the Jefferson because of it’s neat historic details in the building; whether it’s the stage, floor, or walls, there are endless things to look at in regards to the architecture.
The stage with slopped floor allows for you to see the performance no matter where you choose to stand. This is a huge plus, because the old lady in me likes to stand in the back and appreciates the sight line to the stage. Also the sound system is clear, loud, and quite impressive. I will say that after standing for a few hours the slope in the floor can make your knees ache, but hey, it’s a price I don’t mind paying when you can see the band quite well!
Lastly, or more like firstly, the bartenders here are solid. They are friendly, remember you, and are efficient in taking and serving drinks. All in all, I would recommend checking this out for yourself. It’s a great place!

Nice venue for a concert. It’s an old theater (not the movie kind) in the middle of Charlottesville’s downtown mall. It’s very convenient to lots and lots of food choices for before or after the show. The space is not large and lines of sight are good from just about anywhere. The acoustics are decent, but not spectacular. They have a small bar with a nice selection of beer and it’s reasonably priced. There is a small balcony by the bar with a few tables but the floor is open. One huge point of awesome was the bathrooms were never crowded even though the show was sold out and everyone had beers in their hands. The whole night took me back to my college days and that was a fine thing.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS VENUE!!! Wow First off bands I’ve seen here are as follows The Head & the Heart, Phosphorescent, & The Lone Below! Incredible Shows made more incredible by this VENUE! They have made serious effort to preserve the old theater and give it new life! So beautiful! The biggest Plus in my opinion WOOD FLOORS as opposed to most venues having concrete feet aching floors The Jefferson has floors that you can stand comfortably for the length of the opening band & main act!!!

What a great place for any kind of concert! Historic and beautiful but super functional, acoustics are great, attracts great acts at great prices… what else can you ask for?
Both acoustic and rock acts sound great at the Jefferson. I’ve been to a concert for as low as $ 16 for a ticket (plus a $ 3 fee for the online purchase, but still), and it’s always been super fun. The bigger artists like Ingrid Michaelson and Ben Folds can have ticket prices up to $ 45.
The bartenders are great, efficient, and fair – the longest I’ve had to wait to get a drink was maybe 10 minutes when the bar was crowded in a sold-​out concert. Have your ID ready at the door so you can get an over-​21 wristband! Coat check is $ 2. No matter where you’re standing in the audience the view (and the sound) is great since the hardwood floors slope gently down to the stage.

My boyfriend and I went to see of Montréal last night at the Jefferson. It is a very cool, intimate venue. I can’t wait to see other bands play here.

This is a great restored venue! I happened in here one night because Trombone Shorty was playing. He’s great and really showed off the acoustics and the great vibe of this place. It is, hands down, one of the coolest neighborhoods in America. Shopping shops and foodie spots up and down the blocked brick street with several spots for bands and shows, it’s like a street festival every weekend in the summer.

My friend and I were kicked out of the Lord Huron concert last night without any explanation nor warning. Also the bouncer grabbed my friend first and luckily I saw him aggressively escorting her out because I quickly followed.

This is by far my favorite venue for live music. I’ll gladly take the drive (nearly 200 miles each way) to see a band vs dealing with people in DC.
The sound is great and there really isn’t a bad spot in the place.
Two bars, gigantic coat rack (free), and a kitchen. Oh yeah the drinks are pretty reasonable to.

The Jefferson is a great place to catch live music if you are in or near the Charlottesville area. There are always national touring acts who stop by C-​ville to play here such as the Drive By Truckers, Kurt Vile, Cold War Kids, Dr. Dog, Ra Ra Riot, Josh Ritter, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Old 97’s, TV On The Radio, Snoop Dogg, Pete Yorn, St. Vincent, The Books, Dawes, Cracker and many more… The beer prices are reasonable for a venue that gets such quality talent, and the Jefferson is also centrally located in the heart of the Downtown Mall which makes it easy to get to. I recommend supporting local talent as well so you should check out either Eli Cook or Sons of Bill if they are playing because you won’t be disappointed.

Fantastic venue with friendly staff. I will be back for more :)

The Jefferson Theater is one of my absolute favorite music venues.
It’s a small, convenient and comfortable venue that attracts big-​name acts. Many of the artists play at the Jefferson shortly before or after gigs at well-​known venues in nearby cities like the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C. But unlike many other venues, you get to experience an incredible show in an intimate venue at really ridiculously reasonable prices.
Most shows are between $ 15 – 25 depending on the act and whether you buy a ticket in advance or the day of the show. There’s usually a small fee for ordering tickets online. Although most of the artists lean towards rock or indie there’s a great variety of shows.
As for the venue itself, there’s one main floor that slopes, half an upper level and an upper balcony and unless you’re stuck behind someone six feet or taller, there really isn’t a bad view in the house. There’s a bar upstairs and another one downstairs by the coat check for easier access.
The staff at the Jefferson are really great at what they do. Thanks to the security, despite being right next to UVA grounds, it’s not a hotspot for obnoxious underage drinking, the stairs are always clear and the crowds never get out of control. They keep everything running smoothly while still managing to be relaxed and generally unobtrusive. They really help make the atmosphere so comfortable.
A few last tips: use the water street lot or garage for close parking, have your ID ready at the door for an over-​21 wristband, keep your ticket stub for re-​entry, check your coat downstairs so you don’t have to carry it all night and if it’s open, use the downstairs exit after the show to avoid the crowd on the way out. For most shows the theater won’t fill up at least until the opener starts, so there’s plenty of time to grab a bite to eat ahead of time.

I finally got to attend a show at this intimate theater more than a year after renovation s were completed. The sound wasnt bad, and I love how they kept the original archetecture and design with the building. OVerall what you would expect for asmaller venue and a nice change of offering for Charlottesville.

I saw Beats Antique here last week. It was a great little theater! Building design and architecture is really cool. There are two balconies, so the view is great no matter where you are. The lighting and sound were excellent. Ticket prices were reasonable. The only minor issue was the bar. There was one girl on so drink service was a little slow. But I’ve been in the service industry for 15 years and an off night of under staffing is understandable!

I have been to several shows here in the past and it is such a beautiful venue and intimate place to see a show. The multiple levels of bars and places to hang out are awesome. The acoustics rock and rock shows are bumpin!

I’ve only been here once and it was for the Jimi Hendrix tribute show on the 15^th. What a great place! The sound was awesome, there’s a cool little food shop right as you walk in where you can get your snacks and beer, and the bathrooms were clean and well kept. I was on floor level for the show and never got the chance to go to the upper levels, but it seemed like everybody had great views. There’s a big bar right as you walk into the stage area that had good bartenders keeping the brew going. It was a great show and a great place for it!

As a rabid fan of live music, I was thrilled when what seemed like several years of renovations to the historic Jefferson Theater were completed last year, providing Charlottesville with an essential, music-​dedicated venue in the 750-​person capacity range. Sure, there’s the Paramount across the downtown mall, which holds closer to 1000. But that venue is designed for seated-​only shows and generally does not cater to rock bands. In fact, with the closure of Starr Hill Music Hall in 2007 and the Satellite Ballroom in 2008, there was a huge gap in the market for mid-​level acts. That niche that was immediately filled by Jeff, as the new theater is affectionately referred to by Central VA music fans.
And let me tell you, not only has Corin Capshaw and his team filled the void, they’ve done it with both style and class. The renovations to the Jefferson are top notch, with careful attention to both historic preservation and user functionality. While the lobby is a bit small, the main room is spacious and has a gorgeous hardwood floor that slopes down the stage. There are also multiple bars providing beverage service on both the main floor and at the balcony level. Restrooms are large, well-​lit, and are kept quite clean, a rare find in the mid-​range rock venue.
Sightlines in the theater are excellent throughout, thanks in no small part to a great lighting setup that makes the stage a focal point. And the sound system is top notch for a facility of this size, especially acoustic acts but also solid for raucous rock & roll. Security and service personnel have proven to be both professional and courteous.
The booking over the course of the first year has shown a strong variety of touring rock acts … jambands mixed in with some indie acts and some folk-​rock and singer-​songwriters … a perfect mix for a college town that also boasts a progressive community of hip urban professionals.
One more thing worth mentioning is that they’ve opened a small Latin-​themed restaurant in a space adjoining the theater lobby, which allows you to grab a bite and a beer quickly and easily either before, during, or after a show. That place is called Cinema Taco, which I will review separately.
Overall, I’m pleased to say that the Jefferson Theater is a very welcome addition to the Charlottesville and Central Virginia music scene and appears to be here to stay. Professionally operated and well-​designed for music lovers, it’s a wonderful venue that is definitely worth seeking out in the region.

The Jefferson Theater, located on the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville, VA, reopened as a music venue in 2009, ending an era of cheap movies. I didn’t get a chance to see how the Jefferson performed as a movie theatre, but it’s a decent (if a little small) venue.
Two stylish bars, several clean bathrooms, decent sound, and most importantly a very effective air conditioning system, the Jefferson is a nice venue that’s too large for a truly intimate show and too small for a popular act.
The most important feature of a venue is the quality of bands it attracts — that’s really all that counts.