High Dive

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, and a concert venue would, similarly, rock just as hard. High Dive has changed names a few times, but with this most recent rebrand it seems things have come together nicely. As Gainesville’s core downtown spot for both local and traveling musicians/​bands, it’s perhaps a tad rough around the edges in some places. Overall, you can expect to have a great night that’s only consequence is the double-​down headache that comes from face-​melting and one too many brewskies.
The Venue
Grabbing a solid chunk of real estate west of downtown, High Dive can tackle large crowds with ease. After suffering through the hunt for a parking spot, you’ll walk up to a colorful outdoor patio/​deck-​style bar with ample seating. Slink inside to discover yet another full bar to your left, the stage to your right, and a stretch of dance floor in between. The sound system is noteworthy, and it seems the team handling the stage equipment knows what they’re doing. I’ve heard multiple types of acts here and all have had minimal impact on the artists’ performances.
Most nights you can expect there to be some sort of music event going down, but they sometimes fill the space with comedy/​variety acts. On the nights where bigger people perform the sizable space can still get pretty stuffed, and with that comes the heat. Thankfully it’s easy to retreat back outside for a little relief, including tossing back a beverage since the outdoor bar is fully stocked.
The Vibe
Coming to see a less popular act might be a bummer just because the dance floor won’t fill up. Add to that paying cover to see virtually every show they have and, at least for me, it equates to waiting for people I recognize. Most of the time they book rock/​punk/​local and with that pattern comes a certain flavor of «regular». May bother some, doesn’t trouble me though.
The two biggest perks that sell me on High Dive are that they consistently allow access to the outdoor bar without cover, so there’s an alternative to paying for shows you aren’t interested in, and their regular monthly food truck rally. With the latter you’ll often find 10+ options to chow on and they work to mix it up when they can. The past several rallies I’ve seen even highlight a charity/​non-​profit and offer some proceeds from the event to help ‘em out.
The Goods
With two full bars easily accessible both during and between shows, it’s hard to complain about much. They feature both of the local craft breweries distributing in town and prices are on par with what you would expect at a non-​event spot as well. Service has been decent most of the time, but obviously expect to work a bit harder when the show of the year is playing their most popular song and it’s sold out on a Saturday night. I don’t love the fact that my beers are served in plastic cups but I know they’ve probably cleaned enough broken glass off the ground to fill the place before deciding to change it up.
Final Thoughts
I’m a regular at a few nighttime spots but High Dive is more of a once in a while kind of time for me unless the rally is happening. The bigger the night, the bigger the crowd and the bigger the cover. For the right show and on the right night, though, it’s the best and most energetic concert experience you can expect to have in town.

Rad venue !
Outside patio area with a outside bar. Inside bar as well. Merch is elevated and fully lite. Multiple stalled bathroom .
Located by tons of restaurants and bars. Both fast and sit down places .
Stage is elevated and sound is legit !
Favorite part of this venue — food truck located rite in front of venue ! It has one food from every culture ! I got the loaded quesadilla and it was amazing. Everything else I saw come out smelled super flavorful as well .
For artist: there is a green room, located in back and above so you can get away from the show well .
Amazing staff and the owner is a super sweet guy. I believe it is their 4 year anniversary coming up.

Great bar in downtown Gainesville! I had previously been to High Dive when it was known as Common Grounds. I can tell you, it is still a really fun place.
High Dive has moderately priced beverages and hosts live music frequently. There is a large outdoor patio with bar and a larger inside. When crowded it can be a wait for a drink but the bartenders were friendly and were working hard the last time I was here. They have great acoustics inside, which makes this a really fun spot for live music. This is definitely a fun spot to catch a show in G-​ville.

Common Grounds was an excellent venue for quite a few years. I first went here in 2005 to see Melt-​Banana, Daughters and Vaz. 2006 I got to see Daughters again with Russian Circles and Religious As Fuck. 2007 was Hella and later again the year for Melt-​Banana with Yip-​Yip. 2009 was These Arms Are Snakes, Young Widows and the Coathangers. Which that experience brought me to never want to return.
Video recording was always welcomed here. The first four shows I came to were all recorded by me. Tripod and all. So then for These Ams Are Snakes, I brought in all of my equipment and decided to set-​up middle of the venue where a the tables were. I stood my tripod on one of them, got my camera ready to go, then sat back to wait for the Coathangers to start. That took about a half hour.
The sound guy came up to me and told me he didn’t want me set-​up there. I thought it was a bit odd for him to wait until I finished putting everything together since he wasn’t but fifteen feet behind me the entire time. So I took everything down and moved a little closer to the stage, but off to a corner and not on a table. Not long after, he came back and told me he didn’t want me using a tripod at all due to safety issues.
Why didn’t he tell me that in the first place?! He said «just get your few shots in and put away your camera.» After I told him I was going to recording full sets for each band, he gave me an angry look like I just took a swing at him. «Did you ask the bands? I don’t think they would be alright with that.» I did ask each of them and none of them cared. He still didn’t want me filming entire sets.
That’s when I got These Arms’ tour manager involved. I told him the debacle I was having. He offered to go talk to the sound guy for me. He talked with him for quite awhile, but came back with the same safety issues story he gave to me. I couldn’t have thanked him enough for even trying. The sound guy ended up staring at me the entire night making sure I wasn’t recording anything. That was enough for me to not want to return.
Three years later, I did end up making my return. But only because the venue was bought and had its name changed to Double Down. I got to see the Melvins with Unsane in 2012. My recording days were long over, but I didn’t see the jerk sound guy, so I was happy enough with that to want to return again in the future.
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to return again before the venue was sold and the name was changed once again. This time to High Dive. It was on January 31, 2013 when I came back to see Young Widows. They had to play on the floor, instead of the really nice stage. I’m guessing to save money some how since they didn’t pre-​sale enough tickets. Kind of a dick move, but it was alright. Sound was really good, which surprised me.
There’s an elevated section in the back that all the bands merch gets displayed on. It would be much better used for the audience. Especially for the shorter folks and ladies that don’t want to get beat up by a rowdy crowd. The stage is wide enough to where you can see it from anywhere you stand. Plus it’s a good height too, so maybe short people don’t have that hard of a time seeing as I would think.
Parking is sort of a problem. Theirs is just big enough for the employees and vehicles of the bands touring. So patrons have to either park on the street, which is never possible to find. Or in the parking garage that’s right around the corner. It’s not that expensive and shows are always cheap, so that helps. But I’m use to every business having their own parking lot in Daytona. It’s more of the same for bigger city residents.
In retrospect; Common Grounds was recording friendly until 2009. Double Down put the venue back on track, employee wise anyway. High Dive needs to keep bands off the floor. Other than that, the set-​up hasn’t changed any. Same stage, sound equipment, lighting, bar, bathrooms, outdoor lounge. All in all it’s a good venue to see a band you love.

I was here last night for their well-​known Food Truck Rally, something I wanted to cross off my bucket list while in Gainesville. I like the patio area, great for watching sports games, eating, and socializing. There is plenty of seating available for groups too. Inside, the venue is spacious for a small concert. I have yet to go to one by the way, but as some familiar artists will be here in the next couple of weeks, I will check it out.

This was the first stop for us during Fest weekend. The sound system is amazing and all the bands sounded great. They also have a cute little outdoor patio and outside bar area that we hung out at most of the night. The bar maid was very cute and very friendly, but there is a $ 10 minimum on cards, so drink up!
All in all, a very fun time and I definitely see myself returning should I ever be in Gainesville again.

This place is so insanely trendy that no one actually thinks to evaluate it.
The service is horrible. I’m not sure if there are even servers here, as it just seems like sometimes a host or a bartender looks your way.
The food is unsanitary and not good at all.
The crowds are abrasive, even when it isn’t busy.
This will be just another downtown faddish venue that will shut down within 5 years when hipsters grow up and get jobs, and the next thing comes along.
Waste of space.

I go to a lot of concerts and generally I prefer outside shows but in the past year and a half I’ve gone to roughly 5 shows at High Dive. It’s a friendly, fun and intimate setting for concerts. It get’s warm in there which I hear people complain about but hey its an inside concert with a bunch of people, it’s to be expected. I love the place. They get a lot of good artist, have a ton of variety of entertainment and I have never left disappointed.

The High Dive is my favorite live music venue, period. I knew it as the Covered Dish when I lived in Gainesville (attending UF) in the 90’s, and I recently made my way back there for 3 nights of Less Than Jake for Wake and Bake 2013 (highly recommended when the 2014 go on sale, btw). The folks that run the High Dive successfully maintained the history and nostalgia of the club I went to almost weekly during my college days (That stage has some HISTORY!!!) while certainly upgrading it’s layout and acoustics. There are plenty of places to sit down between acts, a fantastic outdoor porch area, and a super friendly staff!!! The bar prices are crazy inexpensive, too. To be able to get a beer under $ 5 at a concert is unheard of these days… I think the most expensive beer at the bar was $ 4…for a guinness! Drink $ 2 PBR’s all night and have plenty of room for some late night food from the food truck parked in the lot. (There was a food truck there every night I was there… not sure if it is an every day thing, but it was certainly perfect!)
I highly recommend the High Dive for great tunes, cheap drinks, and an all around great night out in Gainesville Rock City! It is everything a music venue should be.

I have performed at bars and comedy clubs all over the world including the Edinburgh fringe festival in scotland and this is by far the best venue. The bar staff is great and the promoter is really easy to deal with. Couldn’t ask for a better venue for live entertainment.

We’ve toured the country many times performing comedy. Never before has a venue cancelled a show (for no real reason) with such short notice as High Dive. Even after the artists spent money on promoting and travel.
Maybe this place is awesome to hang out but they don’t treat artists well. I say consider that when choosing where to watch music or comedy.

This used to be the legendary Common Grounds, a long-​running live music venue in Gville. It is now under new ownership. Aside from that, it’s basically the same place. Most of the same offerings, prices, etc. Worse live music being booked, though. I did notice the addition of Genessee Cream Ale. That’s a welcome change.
Also totally stole it’s name from a much more legendary and revered club in Las Vegas. Get your own name, noobs!

Saw Eisley there last night. Large area, bar inside and outside, 3 stalls in the girls restroom, chairs, and an AC that screams it presence. Good place to see a band and not feel too crowded and to just sit and chill.