Velvet Sessions

Very impressed! Does not matter who the talent is, this hotel is awesome and the set up for velvet sessions makes it even better.

Want to get up close & personal with your favorite 80s & 90s artists? Velvet Sessions is your spot then! Held at the Hard Rock Hotel, Velvet Sessions hosts retro artists in a very intimate setting. For the price of admission (can range from $ 30 — $ 50 based on who is playing) you get to enjoy unlimited appetizers & drinks, it’s a pretty good deal. This is also a great date night event, both you & your partner will have an incredible time singing out line, enjoying drinks & socializing with a large crowd.
Though I love how close you get to the artists that play, there are some short falls. I’ve never been to a Velvet Sessions that isn’t crowded, this means you will have to wait at the bar to get drinks. Sometimes they have good drink choices, other times they’re not as good which means you have to spend cash to get decent drinks. As a vegetarian most of the appetizers are things I can’t enjoy, which is a shame. I also wish there were more food options in general, more servers walking around, just more bang for your buck.
Overall, a fun night out that’ll make you reminisce of the days of tapes & CDs. Remember those days? Cue the nostalgia!

Way cool event!
It is like a rock ‘n roll cocktail party!
My friend invited me and boy am I glad I went! It was pack but we were able to move around. We didn’t have the best view but that was ok. We saw Lou Gramm (Foreigner) and his band and they rocked the house! He even signed autographs after the show.
Tickets were $ 30 for this show and included appetizers and drinks. There was a cash bar if you didn’t like what they were pouring for free. I think it depends on the artist that is playing that determines the price. I looked to see who some of the past artists and they are impressive. I will definitely keep an eye out for future artists!
We had to valet because by the time we got there parking was a mad house. With that said, the valet was packed when we left too. So have patience when you are leaving… we went to the bar to have some drinks until the line died down but we still had to wait 20+ minutes for them to bring the car around… while waited we checked out the cool guitar fountain in front of the hotel. It was a really cool piece of artwork!

I’ve been to Velvet Sessions twice now in the last three months. The cost is about $ 50 for a general admission ticket and $ 75 for VIP. I’ve enjoyed the small scale venue because you can get really close to the band and surprisingly the acoustics were pretty decent.
The specialty drinks that are included with your ticket price have a variety of options. The lines can get really long as 8pm approaches.
When the crowds grow, it can be hard to move around, but all in all, it’s a great experience and fun time.

Velvet Sessions is a monthly event that takes place in the lobby/​bar area of the hardrock hotel on the last Thursday of every month.
The event isually 25 $ ahead of time and is touted as a rock and roll cocktail party. Each month they feature a live band, usually 80’s-90’s bands. They have had Twisted Sister, Men at Work, Bangles, Everclear, and the Fixx, etc.
The event starts at 6PM, and if you park on your own, parking is free. For 25 $ you get free unlimited signature drinks at the various drink stations they set up in the bar, patio, and lobby area. You also get unlimted heavy hors d’ oeuvres… which are soooo good! This lasts until 8 PM, when the band goes on stage, after 8 PM you have to pay for your drinks, and the hors d’ oeuvres stop being passed.
For the drinks and food alone I think this is an awesome deal, even you don’t end up liking the band! It feels like the classier version of places like Firestone and The Social. The crowd ranges in age (usually 40+) and levels of sophistication, but it really depends on the band playing that night! Also, be aware that certain bands may require a higher price for the ticket to the event (I remember that Twisted Sister was 40 $).
Overall, it is worth a shot, and is a fun Thursday night event! Check out the website to see what band is playing next, or sign up for their e-​news letter as they don’t release upcoming band dates until a few weeks before.