This is a beautiful old and well maintained Art Deco style theater. Â During a recent show we noticed that the carpet had just been replaced and you could smell the new carpet smell. Â The paint on the walls and ceiling looked liked it had been freshened up as well and I think the fabric on the balcony seats was new. Â It's always heartwarming to see a historic building receiving proper care.
I think this is the perfect sized venue and the acoustics are great no matter if you're up in the balcony or down on the floor. Â Although there aren't any bathrooms upstairs, there is a second bar tucked away in a separate room but it won't be open if the show is not sold out. Â The bartenders are friendly and fun and the downstairs bar is large enough for a non-capacity crowd. Â All in all, it's a fantastic place to see your favorite band.
If you want to get in ahead of the line at the door, head over to George's Food & Drink for a cocktail and your wrist band. Â Also, you can park for free at the RTD garage at 14th and Walnut and it's a short walk to the theater from there. Â Enjoy the show!
This place is small and intimate, so its a pretty awesome place to see concerts! The only downside is the masses amounts of underagers for most shows, and sometimes the employees can be rude. Â I think my experiences have varied from show to show. Â That's why I'm giving it an A-OK, not an awesome.
Review Source:This is a great place to see a show! Â As opposed to the Fox theater, which is sort of my idea of hell. Â Anyway . . . back to the task at hand. Â I've now seen a handful of shows at the Boulder theater and am always happy with the experience. Â I saw Leftover Salmon on Saturday night after Thanksgiving, and we made a very smart decision. Â Rather than waiting until right before we know the band will come on, we decided to go in as soon as the doors opened. Â Smart smart smart decision! Â We were able to head up to the balcony and get seats front and center with an amazing view of the stage. Â Don't get me wrong, I like to be really up close and personal with the band, but my days of being crammed into the floor with a bunch of hippies are long gone. Â (Read: Â I'M OLD). Â So this is sort of the best of both worlds - we had amazing views of the stage, and when we felt like geting up to dance, we could do so without being crammed into a small space like sardines. Â Sure, we had some extra time to kill, but they have 2 bars and although the drinks a bit expensive, it's worth it to secure a good spot for a great show. Â All in all, every experience here has been great and it's one of my favorite places to see a show.
Review Source:This was such an intimate concert experience. Â My husband and I saw Matisyahu here in October and it was an excellent experience. Â It was not crowded at all. Â We had a good view in practically every spot of the theater. Â The sound quality was wonderful. The bar had reasonable drinks. Â We were able to get lost in the music and not have to worry about being stepped on/drinks spilled on us. Â I would recommend Boulder Theater.
Review Source:This is a great place to see your favorite band's name on the marquee. I like this venue because it's a good size and offers a lot of good options to view the concert from, whether you want to stand right in the front or you want to sit up top, it's good for anyone.
We got there when the doors were just opening and the line was wrapped around the block and even though it looked like a lot of people, once we were inside, everyone had plenty of room to move around. We got drinks at the bar, which are pretty decently priced and we grabbed some great standing room right in front of the stage.
This place has wonderful acoustics and it feels nice and intimate. The crowd wasn't too pushy or anything, but I guess that probably depends more the concert you're going to see than the venue itself.
The only complaint I have is that they have guard rails every couple of feet in the pit so moving around is a pain and getting out takes really long. But I'd definitely go back here.
This is a great place to watch a show! Â The sound is good, the place is clean, the wait staff will walk around taking orders so you don't have to lose your sweet spot on the floor, it's really great! Â Also, the bathroom was CLEAN! Â Which, lets face it ladies, almost never happens at a concert venue. Â So yes, I was very pleased. Â Of course it helped that I was there to see the Old 97's and Rhett Miller is amazing. Â But even if the band weren't so great, I think the venue is still up there as one of my favorites in CO. Â Nice work!!
Review Source:I have been here for two events now. Â This last time, I was able to see more of the inside. Â It is an old Theater, and it could use some sprucing up. Â I know there are lots of concerts here, but it is a landmark that needs to be appreciated a bit more. Â I would like to some renovations. The murals on the walls are beautiful if one can ever see them when the lights are on a bit.
Review Source:When I first joined Yelp, I made a promise to myself that I would never cheat the Yelping community, even, and ESPECIALLY if this meant no YWE (Yelping While Erected). So, it is with great regret and extreme disappointment that I sit here stiffened while typing this very sentence. Now, before rushing to an innacurate conclusion, and writing this off as some sort of inappropriate, sex-offender-inspired review, I must inform you that the behavior taking place below the belt is a direct result of my first, and only experience at Colorado's Boulder Theater. So, if you're going to point the finger at somebody, be sure that it is pointing towards 2032 14th street, Boulder, CO. 80302, and not at me, because I'm just the victim here. On to the review...
It was 8:45am on a Friday morning and I was on my way to a concert that didn't start for another thirteen hours. To prevent being TOO early, I made sure that a different time zone, a few states, an hour drive from my house in San Jose to the Oakland airport, a pit stop in Utah in order to switch planes, and finally, a 40 minute drive from Denver to Boulder, stood in my way. At this point, you're probably trying to think of a decent psychiatrist that you could recommend for me - save it, because the following six words should quickly justify any signs of insanity you may currently detect... AN INTIMATE NIGHT WITH TREVOR HALL.
When pulling up to the venue, we were greeted by the beautiful colors from a glowing marquee that lit up the entire street. On it, was "Trevor Hall," which to us, made it that much more beautiful to look at. After taking a few minutes to literally soak up the visually-stunning exterior (it was raining), we decided to march our asses inside. Like the outside, the theater's interior was also aesthetically pleasing. There's something about an old theater that gets me going. Once past the doors, you'll find yourself in a somewhat-small lobby area, which served as a perfect spot for the acts to set up their merch tables. Past that and you'll find the heart and soul of the Boulder Theater - the bar. Wasting no time, I ordered 4 of what I am contractually obligated to order - Vodka Redbulls. That's right, I am legally binded to drink nothing but Vodka Redbull. It doesn't matter if I just finished a God damned Marathon, BOOM Vodka Redbull. It was a stupid contract to sign, but hey I was young, what would you expect from an eleven year old? Anyways, I was ecstatic to learn that at only 7 bucks a pop, I wouldn't have to take to my normal tactics of sleeping with the bartender just so I could double-fist the entire evening. Which was of particular value in this case due to the fact that the bartender was a dude.
My ONLY gripe with this venue was the seating area. Don't get me wrong, regardless of where your seat is, you will have an INCREDIBLE view in this very intimate theater. But my bone to pick was with the lack of personal space. I'm 6'5" but I don't think it would make a difference if I was the size of Tyrion fucking Lannister (The little guy from Game of Thrones), I would STILL be uncomfortable. I felt as if I had the two little 13-year old bitches sitting next to us on my lap. And as much as I enjoy feeling like a pedophile, I prefer to attend concerts that don't leave me feeling like I should head home and register as a sex offender. Shitty seating setup aside, this was the most incredible show that I have ever been to and I will never forget the magic that took place under the roof of the Boulder Theater. I cannot wait to go back some day.
We went to see Henry Rollins... The show was AMAZING!!! The theater is not. The seats are too small and sat too closely together. We were uncomfortable the enitre time. I was practically crying because i was in so much back pain by the time the show was over. Also, the staff is all rude and super hipster-ee. Gross.
Review Source:I love this venue! Â I've seen 2 shows here and had a blast each time. Â I love the neon out front, it's just classic and so welcoming. Â That alone contributes to the feeling walking in that you are going to have a blast! Â I love that this venue has seating upstairs and standing room downstairs. Â The seats are so comfy and there's room to dance in the isles if you friends want to sit for a minute. Â The tiers on the lower floor level create visibility from where ever you are standing. Â It feels big and open and very comfortable. The sound was great and the lights were fun too. The bar is big and it doesn't take long to get a drink. Â Staff is friendly and accomadating. Â I wish this venue was closer and it wasn't such an undertaking to get to and from Boulder for shows. Â I went with a large group recently in an suv limo, and honestly, that seems to be the way to do it, of course!
Review Source:One star for one very good reason, they treat under 21's like crap for no good reason. As others have mentioned even for all ages shows they do not allow people with under 21 tickets to go anywhere on the first floor. The upper deck is at the very back and turns the venue into a subpar pepsi center. This is so absurd I would never buy tickets here if I knew. But they do not warn purchasers of tickets at anytime and even have the gall to charge extra for under 21 tickets. Plenty of great venues get by with wristbands and x's but the theater is apparently too inept to handle such a system. They have lost a customer for life. I hope Boulder gets a sensible venue at some point (other than The Fox of course who does pretty much the same thing)
Review Source:I went to see Brandi Carlile here last night and she was amazing. The venue is really unique but there are a little downfalls for this free flowing venue. First, they create a line outside, because they want to check IDs, so they can give you a wristband to drink. But since it was an all ages show, I think there should be another line for under 21 and people who don't have to drink. Also, the labeling of rows and seats is nearly impossible to find when it's dark. There are very few ushers and are very hard to track down.
Also, plan extra time to find parking!
The Boulder Theater is a beautiful room to see a concert in, with reasonably priced drinks (for a venue) and an attentive bar staff.
The sound is generally good, though any show with college girls in attendance may be disturbed by the fact that this particular demographic seems to like to talk loudly throughout the act's performance.
It'd been a few months since I'd seen a show here, and had opportunity to catch one last night, and really just wanted to use this space to compliment the lovely decor. It truly is a wonderful theater.
I also needed to unload about that bit referring to childish girls talking loudly through a concert.
Thanks Yelp, for always being there for me.
I saw Steve Aoki here in 2010, it was completely packed but if you stepped back 20ft from the stage there is a ton of room and banisters to hold your drink while you grind at a relatively close distance to the stage.
What makes this venue different from the Fox is that with how wide the stage is and all the extra space doesn't feel as claustrophobic when you want to get away from the action. Others might say it's not as intimate but I appreciate getting the best of both worlds. It's much better than most venues I've been to in Denver and would really recommend anyone to check this place out.
Also, when you know it's going to be a packed show the will call line sucks, it's a total free for all! Boulder likes to party so get ready to shove!
Another great venue with the bar at the back where you still get good views of the band playing. They had Guinness in a can for $5 and they actually gave you a real pint glass. I was standing up front for most of the concert and to be honest I am so used to just throwing down a plastic cup, it was a bit of a hassle to find a safe place to put my empty glass! Many people were putting their empties up on stage and while this was fine for a Saw Doctors show, I could imagine an issue with anything more hardcore. The railings separating the tiers are not like the ones at say the Bluebird or Ogden where you can set down your drink. No biggie tho :o)
One girl close by dropped her glass while dancing and the staff were quick to come out and sweep it up. The bar staff were very attentive. The decor looked to be recently renovated and the toilets were ample and clean.
Oh and theres plenty of free parking at night within a few blocks walking distance!
This is an exquisite venue in Boulder for everything from ski films to fantabulous concerts! The floor plan affords great views from everywhere, including an upper balcony for a perfect people-watching platform, with comfortable seats, and the bar is right in the venue, so you don't have to miss a minute of the show. Here's the key: go to George's Bar once you have your ticket. It's a great small bar with some fabulous photography on the wall, a rich atmosphere, and is often frequented by some of the band members before a show. After you have some drinks in George's, which are a bit cheaper than the other bar, go into the Boulder Theatre through George's entrance. Sometimes you can even bypass a line in front this way! Enjoy my friends, enjoy!
Review Source:Great live music venue in downtown Boulder. I've seen a bunch of shows here (hip-hop, rock, electro) and it's always a fun crowd. People in CO like to dance!
Everyone, even the short kids, can see the stage thanks to the tiered floor. The inside of the Theater is pretty epic. Huge murals cover the walls and ceiling. Think: Old Western Theater.
Funny side note, I saw a girl get thrown up ON, like covered in vomit, during a sold out SAVOY concert. So, keep your eyes out for Pukey McPukerson, it is a college town after all.
Thank you, Boulder Theater for renovating your bathrooms. Â
Thank you, Boulder Theater for not charging for cups of water.
Thank you, Boulder Theater for finally including your "service charges" in the price of the ticket so that what you see is what you get. Â
Thank you, Boulder Theater for pouring cocktails in a glass and giving me a beer in a pint glass and not a plastic cup. Â
Thank you, Boulder Theater for opening George's restaurant next door so that patrons have an option of getting some real food between the opener and headliner without going outside.
The Boulder Theater holds a special place in my heart, as it is the site of many special moments in my life.... but beyond that, it is a fantastic unique venue with an eclectic calendar of movies, events and music. Â
I've been here for e-town shows (which will soon be moving to their own venue - boo), the best NYE show ever with Sam Bush and Bela Fleck (where Sammy got unceremoniously unplugged at curfew and swears to never come back - boo), many Little Feat shows (including sound check), Todd Rundgren (which was filmed in HD for later dvd release, I hope?), and last night, my boyfriend's band. Â
The theater itself was lovingly restored with art deco murals on the walls and ceiling, and the sound is fantastic. Â Most shows are general admission with some tables/chairs on the various levels (cabaret style seating) which are removed for bigger crowds. Â There are theater type seats in the balcony, which is sometimes closed for smaller shows. Â For the e-town shows, and for a ticketed seating event with Ira Glass a few years ago, they jam packed rows and rows of chairs all the way to the stage. Â It can have that help-I'm-in-a-can-of-sardines feeling. Â
There is a full bar with a good beer selection, both on the main level  plopped right into the center of the rear of the room and on the mezzanine (that bar is not always open) and the bartenders have a relatively heavy pour on the cocktails.  One complaint is that the bartenders do appear to neglect one side or another of the bar at times.  Last night, at a half-full show, all three bartenders were on the stage right side of the bar for an extended period of time, resulting in patrons either waiting for a long time on stage left side, or even walking around the bar to get some service.
Staff works hard at keeping the empty glasses cleared and maintaining some order in the room, but never seem overbearing to me. Â The folks in the box office next door have always seemed very friendly and helpful, whether its purchasing tickets for a future show or trying to confirm guest list status. Â Parking is pretty plentiful in the area, despite the proximity to the hubbub of the Pearl Street Mall. Â Street and paid garage options abound.
Meh. If our experience with the show hadn't been so good I probably would give zero stars. When we got in line to get into the show, we were eating our yogurt from Cefiore, and were standing directly in front of one of the bouncers who was putting wrist bands on people. He was looking right at us, saw us in line, and continued occasionally shouting that we should have ID's out if we wanted to drink. When we got up to him to go in, he turned to us and rudely said "uh, yeah, we're not gonna let you in with that ice cream" in the same way you might say "god, you idiot, I really think you're the scum of the earth." That put a bad taste in my mouth right away- you were staring at us for the last 5 minutes, and you really couldn't take it upon yourself to break away from your sullen attitude and your intermittent shouting to say "hey folks could you finish your icecream before you enter the theater?". Also, seeing as how George's restaurant is CONNECTED to the theater and serves food IN the theater itself, this isn't even a sanitation issue as it is a weird no outside-already-paid-for-and-half-eaten-food issue. I understand if this is their policy, but I didn't need a holier-than-thou to tell me so in such a bad way.
Next, as we walked in the theater smelled AWFUL. Like, sour milk meets frat house meets house of incontinent animals. Yuck. Went to the bathroom and it was even worse. I don't know what makes that smell, but it purveyed the whole theater. I could still smell it two hours into our three hour show.
Next, the seating arrangements were pretty miserable. Nearly all GA, which isn't a big deal, but! the way they arrange the chairs is in pretty much the least comfortable way possible. If you've ever been to the Comedy Works downtown and think their seating arrangement is tight, well, this is like that, but with nowhere to put your drink or food, no armrests, oh, and the aisles are done at such an angle that you have literally three inches separating your knees from the chair in front of you. Three inches, that is, if you are like me and are 5'5". When I tried to enter my aisle, everyone just stared at me like "how do you intend to get through?" and even when everyone moved as best they could, I had six inches to sneak through. I'm not paying you to make me miserable for three hours, thanks, I could find many other ways of making that happen. To make matters worse, my chair was so hold that all of the support and padding was completely gone and I sat for three hours with a metal bar running the length of my spine. Thanks, Boulder Theater- the years of physical therapy I went to to make my back a little more functional were all reversed in one short evening.
Henry Rollins was of course, awesome, and the theater is well-kept with nice wood floors. But everyone talks about the decor which I personally find pretty awful- the type of decor they put up in DIA to make people from the midwest feel like Colorado must be some place of buffalo and Native Americans and strange Mayan ruins. I don't need pastel colors and a southwest motif when I'm trying to enjoy my spoken word, thank you. In fact, decor really should have nothing to do with anyone's review of a place that is not in business to display decor, which is why this review will stay at two stars instead of one.
Boulder Theater has a problem organizing drinking vs. non-drinking sections. Both concerts I've attended at the theater split up the 21+ and the 20 & under sections. During the Avett Brothers concert, which was advertised as an all ages, general admission show they only aloud 21+ in the lower section of the venue (forcing the youth upstairs in the very back of the venue). Not knowing this I tried to walk into the main lower part of the venue and ended up getting pinched by one of the staff members (he was trying to grab my jacket to stop me and ended up pinching my arm!) Though we paid the same amount as every other person in the venue, we were forced to watch from afar. It was horrible and extremely frustrating. There were plenty of 21+ people who wanted to sit upstairs, so seating in the balcony was packed. While I totally understand the theater owners needing to follow the law on not allowing alcohol to get into the hands of minors, alienating customers is not the way to go about it. Other venues, such as the Ogden, Gothic, etc. give wrist bands to 21+ and big black sharpie marks across the hands of the youth. I don't understand why Boulder Theater doesn't do this.
On the plus side, it is a beautiful venue. The walls and wooden floors are kept nice and clean. The balcony (oh, yes, the evil balcony again) is not as well up-kept as the downstairs portion of the theater. Quite a few seats are broken, and every seat had dirty stained fabric.
I've been to several events at this venue (speaker, concert, bridal show) and it's a pretty good place. It's a typical small theater (i.e. Bluebird, Ogden, Gothic) and has been very well taken care of. It's always very clean, and though it's small you can still make your way through the crowds pretty easily.
Bathrooms are okay, the stalls are a little small, but nothing you can't deal with.
We went here for the Todd Snider concert Friday night, and loved it.
Since I work in the theater field, I'm a sucker for an old, vintagey theater... This place definitely fits the bill. Lots of old details, which I love. It does feel a little dive- ish, but not in a bad way. More of a well- loved way.
I feel sorry for the lighting situation here... Lots of colored par cans with a few ellipsoidals... Which is something that probably only bothers me and whoever is running the lights for the show : )
The sound here is okay... The speakers seem to be a little blown out, but the space is so small it's not like the bands need a lot of amplification.
Can't wait to go back at the end of the month for Jay Farrar and Ben Gibbard!
I would have rated this venue the full and usual 5 stars, however, there were some definite issues.
Lived in CO all my life, this was the first time I had gotten the chance to go to the Boulder Theater. It is a beautiful place, well maintained, very clean, the floors are pristine (I say this because most "theaters" are only nicely painted and everything else is a pit). The Boulder Theater is the epitome of what all theaters should look like.
My beef is with the staff to which why I gave such a low rating. I had a scary person come up to me and attempt to provoke me into a fight to which I went to the security person on staff and explained the situation. He walks all security/guard dog like down to where I was then I pointed out the individual and he flaked like a little girl.
It was a pretty bad situation involving my daughter nearly being pulled into the bathroom by this crazy person and this guy tells me, "Yeah, we have had complaints about her all night. I can't do anything about it but I suggest you try to avoid her." Â
WTF?!?!?!?!? This reaction by their so-called security guy left me feeling helpless, frustrated and ruined my evening since I had to feel like I had to watch my back for the rest of the evening. Seriously, I will not go the Boulder Theater again knowing that if there is an issue between customers, they won't do anything about it.
I went to see the Steve Earle show last night. Hayes Carl, a Texas native, seemed to have an off singing night,  was but his songwriting and patter  was great, have to look him up.   Steve's act was heavily oriented toward the fortuitous Grammy material which was great for the Towne Van Zandt fans (plenty of them there) but a bit disappointing for the genuine Steve Earle fans.  Nevertheless he mixed it up, the whole show was acoustic and he pulled out the mandolins for a few numbers. Â
Before the show we had a whiskey and a scotch, they had good booze and poured a great drink. Â Gotta think of a reason to go again soon. Â They should bring Steve and Hayes Carl back again, definitely.
 I am old enough to have seen U2 in C. Sprgs and worse, David Bromberg at Ebbets Field.  Now that I am childfree again, I have gone to more music here than in Denver.  Small clubs rule!  This place has just the right atmosphere of nice and funky.  I have seen a wide variety of acts and they all sound good, the sound manager does a great job.  Plus, it's nice to have a live scene within walking distance either before or after--the mall is a crawl in Downtown Denver, sadly.
I have lived in Colorado my whole life (along with being an avid concert goer) and for some reason have never seen a show here. A few years back I intended to go to the E-Town taping of Bright Eyes here but then missed it, unfortunately. Nonetheless, I got to finally experience the Boulder Theater a few weekends ago when Patton Oswalt was in town. A great show, but what a great venue!
I loved the set up, upstairs, downstairs, and a full bar with nice bartenders. Though, a bit steep on the drink prices (obviously, since its a venue not a bar & this is always the case). There were chairs, which I appreciate, since sitting takes a nicer toll on my knees and back than standing for hours (wow, I sound like I am 80). But, the chairs were probably the case that evening since it was a comedy show instead of a band so I will understand if they are not there on my next visit.
I have also heard that the theater hosts events, like wedding receptions. That might be interesting, especially if you want a vintage-style themed wedding. Also, bonus points for the show being on a Saturday and Boulder having free parking garages on the weekends.
My first time at the Boulder Theater and really enjoyed it. Â The sound was good and the layout comfortable. Loved the art deco. Â It's larger than Denver's Bluebird but has the same coziness.
Barstaff is quick and 12oz. bottles or drafts were $4.00. Â Actually our PBRs were in larger cups and then they ran out of those cups. Â And then they ran out of PBR before we ordered a second round.
Parked in a garage next door and it cost a little over $6.00. Â Definitely worth it. Â All in all, it was a good experience and great music venue .
Definitely the premiere music venue in Boulder. Much bigger than Fox Theatre with an upscale ambiance. I love seeing shows here. The archictecture and paintings really make it a special place. A lot of venues like the Fox and the Ogden in Denver have a similar layout but are tacky and rundown, making it feel like a dungeon. The Boulder Theatre is a pleasurable place to enjoy a show with it's spacious and open feeling. The sound system is good too.
Review Source:The Boulder Theater is an amazing and majestic venue, from the gorgeous paintings on the walls and ceiling to the historic old water fountain and the spooky ghost story about the spirit that haunts the hallowed hall. This is an awesome place to see a show or a movie.
Oddly enough, the Boulder Theater and Fox Theatre--the city's two major venues--seem to complement each other more than compete with each other. BT can fit more people, but the Fox focuses on music. BT is a bit more upscale, which has its own type of appeal. Fox is a little more gritty, which is an environment more conducive to rock and roll.
The BT is also the greatest place to see movies, surprisingly enough. Nothing beats grabbing a seat near the bar and making as many trips as necessary throughout the feature. I'm used to having to pre-drink or sneak in a flask. But not at the BT.
Greatest show at the BT: Blink-182 in 1998, when they were still kind of a punk band, before they broke it big, and kind of on the cusp. Prior to that I thought I was the only person who'd ever heard of them or had seen them on Warped or opening for Less Than Jake. But the way they filled, and rocked, the BT that night, we pretty much knew they were headed for the big time.
Also, GWAR was a great show... but I think that goes without saying.
The Boulder Theater is a must-see for any visitor or Boulder resident.  Host to everything from Exotica Erotica Ball to e-Town to the Boulder film festival, you can find amazingly talented acts here on a regular basis.  They have a great website to check the schedule at <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bouldertheater.com&s=eb8ba3f66b91df00402fb8f6c54e2b6d897b2dba0bfe8cdc7a60e6ba92f0a02a" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.bouldertheate…</a>.
The venue itself has a marvelously historical feel with old stuff everywhere, and the place is rumored to be host to ghosts. Â With all the souls and energy that have visited here, it's no surprise. Â I've been in every nook and cranny and have unforgettable memories of every corner. Â I love this place.