I'm from out of town - state - and country. I've been to Club Passim a few times but only for specific shows so I haven't been able to explore the venue to its full extent. However, I've been to it enough that I can understand its seeming legendary status.
It has a great community vibe. Of the few times I've been, there are people I recognize from previous visits. Something like that is important for a place like this and also likely hard to attain so that's definitely a plus. It's also a great performing venue - at least from a spectator perspective. There have been shows there that I've wanted to go to but couldn't (due to my being from so far away) but the shows I have seen have always been excellent.
The downsides? It's cramped and tight. Good when it comes to watching performers but it's easy to get interrupted when drinks are being ordered and delivered. It's a tight squeeze. Other than that, I do look forward to coming here any time I'm in town.
This place get some really great performers, but it's quite "cozy". Might be better if they had family style rows of tables with chairs on one side of the table, instead of the currently skewed floor plan. Regardless, the community vibe is part of the charm. Even with the ever-so-small tables for the ever-so-large food portions, I've always had a great time here.
Review Source:Club Passim has an open mic about once every 3 or 4 months on the first Tuesday of the month. You would have to call them or look at their calendar for info. You no longer sign up at 6PM. You sign up at 6:30PM. However, it doesn't matter what time you sign up because they now throw you into a lottery system.This "gong show" approach is disrespectful of performers. Good luck if you wish to perform  here- once in a blue moon.
The food's not bad.
Great imitate setting for concert watching. Waiter service before and during the show which is very convenient - both drinks and food from Veggie Planet Restaurant. A few poles block views to the stage and tables/chairs are crammed in to allow as many concert views as possible so it's pretty crowded. They bring in up and coming artists and some come back multiple times if you want to see them again!
Review Source:Passim is the most sincere music venue I've ever been in.
The speakers are ruggedly hung from the ceiling with metal chains, loud enough to give you the best possible sound but janky enough to be charming.
The backdrop is sagging in center stage, some of its clips unevenly hung forcing the letters to be askew.
The chairs are close together and drinks are served in old plastic tumblers that were probably purchased at a Dollar General in 1986.
The room is small, making everyone constantly aware of anyone leaving to go to the restroom.
It's not a venue. It's a music community. The clientele skews young to old, hipster to former disco scenester. At the end of the day, people who come here dig good music.
And the music? Priceless. From Girlman to Dan Bern, you'll find some of the most talented, genuine musicians touring.
Passim gives me hope for the future of the music industry.
I've gone to Passim a number of times now, and it's a great spot. The performances can be a bit hit or miss, some just blow you away and others seem a little ... unprepared. But I think this is part of the charm, it's a small intimate place and everyone feels like your friend, including the artists.
The food is good, not great, although good Lord the portions are enormous. And I love that you can get a glass of wine - prosecco, even better! It can be awkward to try and eat a humongous pizza like thing - in the dark - on a tiny table - while listening, so my advice is go early and chat and eat, and then you are good to just drink while listening.
As others mentioned, the space is tight when shows are full, so be ready to be friendly. And expect to be seated at a shared table those nights. But I've been on a Monday or Tuesday night when it's not full at all, and seen some fabulous artists. Earlier in the week especially, it's really a gem.
I came here to see Bobby Long on 9/2/09. Great show!! I honestly had no expectations for this place. I've seen the sign a few times in the square, but never really paid attention. It's a tiny place. It's wicked cute.
I'm not really a fan of the food from Veggie Planet. But it's nice to see a place like Veggie Planet exists. The guy at the door was super friendly. I liked the close & intimate atmosphere of the venue. We had 2 seats at Table 1 closer to the back & I still had a great view of the show. The show was nearly 2 hours. The chairs got uncomfortable after a while. That's my only complaint.
Passim is more than a music venue; it's a listening room. Â I've been a regular at this legendary music club for 15 years--and it just keeps getting better! Â Not only can you experience some of the folk music and independent artist legends in a room that seats about 150 (I have had the distinct pleasure of seeing Arlo Guthrie, Dar Williams, John Gorka, and Sean Colvin play here), but its the perfect atmosphere to try out some new talent. Â Passim is known as an organization that is dedicated to nurturing new artists.
Veggie Planet serves healthy and tasty options (try the Caesar Salad on a Big Cheesy Crouton and I SWEAR you'll be addicted), and in the last few years they've even started serving beer and wine!  The tables are quaint and--whether you are seated with a small group of friends, or making new friends by sharing a table with other ticket holders--it will feel like your  in a good friend's home.
If the music inspires you to move beyond those cowboy chords or private concerts in your shower--you can also sign up for classes in the music school. Â They offer anything from multiple levels of guitar, songwriting, ensemble and even fiddle!
I cannot say enough good things about this place!
One of the biggest reasons that I love this city is the music scene. There are a ton of live music venues that support local indie, rock and pop music; but when it comes to local folk and singer-songwriter there is nothing that even compares to Passim.
Passim has daily live performances from up and coming artists and local legends alike. This place has a BIG reputation on the folk scene; but as a venue it is intimate; seating is at tables, and you will be seated at a table with other people if you come in a pair or small group. Food is brought in from Veggie Planet, making it healthy, vegetarian/vegan friendly and delicious. Unlike too many music venues that will offer you watered down mixed drinks at outrageous prices; Passim keeps it simple with a small, but nice, selection of beer and wine. Or coffee and chocolate, if you prefer to go that route.
Wait, there's more! Passim is not only a truly legendary live music venue; as a non-profit organization they also offer classes and workshops for adults and kids. In summary; Club Passim not only provides an incredible experience for music fans; but they also passionately promote and nurture local music and musicians. Â At Club Passim, musical history meets the future music scene and they make sweet, sweet noise that keeps me coming back for more.
One of my favorite places in the world, truly!
Live acoustic music and some of the most talented artists I have ever seen coupled with the BEST food I have ever eaten and awesome coffee.
Food is really healthy (I get the vegan peanut curry every single time) and the coffee/chocolate is fair trade! Â Always a plus. Â Super laid back, a great place to draw up inspiration and relax to some great tunes.
Make it a point to go to a show here!
Keep up the work, Passim!
Last night, I went to the Peter Bradley Adams show (opened by Danielle Ate a Sandwich). Tickets were $15 each for table seats, which came to $18.50 or so after taxes. I ordered online and there was no processing or delivery fees, which was nice. When you purchase tickets, you can pick where you want to be seated (which tables, or chairs, etc).
The show started at 8pm, and the ticket said they do not hold tables after the starting time. The doors opened at 630pm and tables have a $5 min food/drink per person. We arrived around 7-715, and there were already people seated, enjoying food from Veggie Planet. The tables were crammed in pretty close together, and if you have less than 4 people in your group, expect to sit with strangers. When we arrived, the place was really really warm but it cooled off later in the show. It was also about 90 degrees in Veggie Planet, where you have to stand while waiting in line for the bathroom.
I like Veggie Planet (it's great for vegetarians or vegans) so I was excited to eat dinner there before/during the show. For drinks, they offer 2 beers and a decent number of wines for $5-6. I had prosecco, which was tasty. We ordered garlic knots (I love, my friend was neutral) and pizzas, which are really more like flatbreads- my friend ordered the Portobello Redhead and I ordered the Vegan Oddlot. Both were really good. We ordered the smalls and took half of our pizza home. The waitress and waiter working last night were surprisingly nice and attentive.
The show pretty much started on time (8pm) and ended around 10:30. The room was quite intimate and the acoustics were amazing. The room is so small that pretty much every seat has a great view. It's the perfect venue for quiet, intimate, acoustic shows.
When one thinks of live acoustic music in Boston this is where one pictures it. Â Forget the historical reasoning (by which I mean Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, Susan Vega, etc. have all played here), instead, focus on what it is. Â What this place is is a cozy little venue where people go to listen to talented people make music and they get to do so for less than $20 bucks almost every night!
I've been coming here since I was 8 and it is the model I use to compare other venues to.
As a warning, this is a listening room. Â Do not come here to take a load off and chat with your friends, you will be scowled at most fiercely at best and told off by the performer at worse. Â This doesn't sit well with some of the crowd that loves gum flapping, but its because of this that for everyone that's come to listen, there is an intimate availability between yourself and the performer available on a nightly basis.
We heard about Club Passim having their "Labor Day weekend Campfire 2010" shows, and decide to check it out late Saturday night. Â All different folk artists and bands show up and play about 20 minute sets. Â It was really awesome to relax and listen to.
The listening area is small and dank,literally in a basement, but the staff is courteous and the musicians are awesome. Â This is NOT a place to get wasted and chat a lot with your friends, they really don't like that. Â
I'm sure on any night it's a great place to check out, and was relatively inexpensive as well.
If you love folk music, this review isn't for you, since you already know all I am about to say. Passims is a landmark. It's one of the most famous folk music clubs in the United States. Everybody has played here and it still remains a place for new artists to get their start.
It's size really doesn't match it's reputation, and I think the unsuspecting out-of-town preformer is shocked by how intimate a venue it is.
As far as the food goes. . .I am not a vegetarian. I am a meat eater. I love meat. BUT the food is actually really very tasty. So don't worry about eating before a show, it's safe to grab dinner here during it.
I found out about this place because I'd just started listening to The Unthanks (lovely little folk band from Northumberland, England) and they happened to be putting on a show right here. Honestly, I don't think I'd ever have gone otherwise, which would've been quite a shame.
Sitting in that basement area (along with Veggie Planet), the room is small, but perfect for the shows they have going. We were offered slightly more expensive tables if we wanted to eat, and those really had the best view of the show; everything else was around the edge of the room.
I really liked the close, cozy atmosphere, and the acoustics of the room, while not stellar, were perfect for the small show going. The Veggie Planet/Club Passim staff were all pretty friendly and made themselves available if we needed anything. Great vibe, great people.
The only thing that keeps me from giving it a full five stars is the fact that we couldn't see the actual stage floor (I'm not sure that even the people in the middle could), which is kind of a problem when a good portion of the performance is clog-dancing...
A great venue for trying out new songs! Â I finally got around to checking out Club Passim after hearing many good things about their open mic sessions and shows. Â I was so impressed with the stage setup and the house stage equipment. Â Everything was very professionally done and the sound quality was great. Â I will definitely be back to play more open mic sessions here. Â The crowd was a bit folky-earthy-crunchy for me but it was a good time and good vibe nonetheless. Â
Club Passim is an excellent small venue with great setup and sound but unfortunately I don't think I'll ever check out a show here. Â I'm aware that Club Passim has a lot of history and is very important in the folk music scene but the ticket prices are just too high. Â Yes, I would love to go see Stephen Kellogg later this month but at $32 a ticket I'm simply priced out of the show. Â The really confusing thing here is that Club Passim is a non-profit.
Probably my favorite little local venue. Live entertainment 7 days a week, often of a funky, folksy variety (the last show I went to was a sea-shanty sing-along...awesome!). I've seen some great up-and-coming folk musicians here, and the atmosphere is always friendly and warm in this intimate little space.
If you get a seat at a table, you can get table service from Veggie Planet, an awesome veggie/vegan-friendly restaurant that shares the same space. Their pizzas are huge and crispy, if a bit on the eclectic side. And they now serve beer and wine! A great thing just got better!
Another great advantage they hold for locals - the Passim school of music! You can learn to play bluegrass mandolin, take a singer-songwriter workshop, or get some insider advice on the music industry. Pizza, beer, music, and lessons - can we say heaven?
I took a look at the seating chart before heading over to my first concert at Club Passim - it is a lot tighter in person! Â The square tables were lined with metal folding chairs placed in close proximity to one another. Â If all the seats were filled, it would be very crowded. Â But fortunately for us (if not for the entertainers) the seats behind us were empty. Â To sit at these tables, each person is supposed to order at least $5 worth of food.
The stage is also a lot smaller than I had presumed.  But  it made for a much cozier experience.  And I had a great time cause both the opening act (Seth Glier) and the main show (Kevin So) were fun and funny.
Our dishes arrived just after the lights went off as the show was about to start, so we couldn't really see what we ate and the pictures turned out fuzzy. Â There were large florets of broccoli in the mac & cheese which was of a decent portion. Â The large half and half pizza ($11.75) of Safe'n Sound with spinach and Dinner for Henry arrived sliced in four quarters and was pretty good, but slightly too crispily burned in spots. Â I preferred Henry's side, especially the part covered with the fresh mozzarella.
The waitress was friendly and checked up on us often enough, while still allowing us to enjoy the concert. Â She also offered to split our check or consolidate based on our preference when we placed our orders.
Bathrooms, there are two, and they are for either gender! Â That I like! Â The men can wait along with us women. ;)
They validate for parking at University Parking ($6), but make sure you get your white ticket back along with the yellow validation ticket. Â Sometimes they have volunteers helping out who may or may not know how this validation thing is handled.
The musicians are so close they practically spit on you as they sing. That's how close I like to be to my favorite bands. The sound is so perfectly clear and you're just drawn into the musicians world.
How small is this place? Be prepared to literally squish into a table or chair to see your favorite band or singer. After hearing the glorious sounds of AM and The Rescues last week I'm hooked on this venue.
The staff is great, except for the one server who was telling me where to stand while I waited for the bathroom. I guess she's the veteran of this tiny place so she knows best.
Awesome small little club, tucked away downstairs just off of Harvard Square. Â The seating is a bit cramped (see SMALL LITTLE club), but every spot seems to have a good view of the stage and good acoustics. Â To get a table seat instead of a "GA" seat around the edge, one needs to order food, but while I didn't taste it I can say that the food looked and smelled tasty, if a bit expensive.
Still, saw the House Jacks here and it pretty much blew me away - it was a great venue for them. Â Looking forward to seeing Crooked Still in a couple weeks! Â Yeah, I'm a fan.
Passim has some great acoustic and folk acts. Â I was just there this weekend to see Girlyman--a personal favorite. Â
If you want a good view of the band, you have to buy a table seat. Â First of all, the tables seat four, so if you only buy two tickets you'll end up seated with two strangers, who may or may not be enjoyable conversationalists or savory dinner companions. Â Keep in mind the tables are very very small and you will be playing footsy and bumping knees with these people for a couple of hours. Â After experiencing several stilted conversations with awkward people, I now buy 4 tickets for a show and force my friends to come with me.
Second, if you spring for the close-to-the-stage tables, that also means you have to spend $$ on the food. Â I can't remember the minimum, I think it is $5 a person. Â I guess now with the new alcohol license that isn't so bad, but before it pretty much meant you were required to order dinner from the Veggie Planet menu.
So there you are, as close to people as you are on an airplane but with less aisle room, sitting in a folding chair, and forced to order the gag-worthy food from Veggie Planet.
Let me elaborate on the VP food because there seem to be a lot of crazy people out there that love it. Â I eat vegetarian often, I cook vegetarian often. Â This is not good vegetarian food. Â Here are the things I have tried:
The peanut curry over rice. Â The curry was grainy and dry, the flavor was strange. Â The broccoli appeared to have been raw broccoli put on top of the sauce and then microwaved--not steamed or sauteed. Â So the broccoli was both tough, dry, stringy and had that microwaved-burned flavor. Â Sure enough, if you walk past the kitchen to get to the bathrooms, you see they have a long row of microwaves in action, each one going strong. Â In my opinion, good cooking does not happen in a microwave.
I've tried to mac and cheese. Â It is really, really, really greasy and oily. Â When the lights come on at Passim, and you can really look at your meal, it is gross...like an oil slick on a plate. Â It's tasty with a beer though.
The pizzas--I've tried the Safe N' Sound and the portabella/pepper. Â The bread is good, especially the crust part. Â But again, the toppings are over-oiled, and they sink quickly into the thin crust leaving the entire "pizza" part of the pizza a soggy, oily, slipper mess. Â I do appreciate that they use plenty of garlic and fresh basil on the Safe N' Sound but other than that, this is not great pizza. Â Better pizza, made in a similar thin-crust brick-oven style, can be had across the street at Cambridge 1. Â (Try their portabella pizza...now that is heaven.) Â I can say the portions are huge, although if you can eat a whole one of these oil-laden bombs, you might be spending some time in the bathroom later.
The brownie is good but the service is so slow, that several times I have tried to order a brownie sundae and when I FINALLY get the waiter's attention (two waiters serving approx 100 people?!?!) they are out. Â The ice cream is from Christina's so that is always good. Â And the raspberry lime rickey is quite good and made with real raspberries.
The music: excellent. Â
The service/ambience: well, at least you are sitting down. Â
The food: would never ever eat it if I wasn't there for the music. Â
That's how much I love Girlyman!
Dear Club Passim,
I have a huge crush on you. I talk about you all the time; to the point of which is making my boyfriend crazy jealous. But when he starts to fume I just point out the fact that he is crushing on you just as much. Why you ask... Why, do we harbor these feelings for you?
Well... First off you have an alter ego name Veggie Planet, a restaurant devoted to delectable vegetarian goodies so yumtastic that my before mentioned sweetie (who is a 100% meatatrian) will gladly eat there.
Secondly, your lodging is just what it should be; a little ram-shackled and cluttered but full of love and brick walls.
Thirdly, you sound awesome, and you are totally into improving your sound and sharing it with others. If I didn't know any better I would think that you are a hippie commune trying to get people to enroll and "feel the love"; which, considering the fact that I have a total crush on you, has worked completely so good job on that one.
Fourthly, you love you some local artists, and this fact makes my folkie loving heart swell with happiness.
You are the only destination if you are craving some Chris O'Brien and Band with a side of black bean pizza; or some Antje Duvekot and Dinner for Henry (a most delicious pizza). I was craving the former on Saturday and you delivered it with a freakin' awesome PEACH lime rickey! Shut up so good! Raspberry lime rickey is love... Peach lime rickey is lust! And Chris & Band, you blew the roof off with greatness (banjo player and stand-up bass, I also have a crush on each of you now, respectively of course). Though I am crushing on you I want to let you know that your seating arrangement is a bit tight, you might want to think about offering your followers just a few more inches of room than the 3" of personal space come with the table seating, and you might want to think about accepting credit cards too.
There is so much more I could say about you, but I fear this review is already bordering on lengthy. So you keep on with your folkie, green, earthy crunchy, veggie lovin' ways and I will keep on crushing on you.
Love,
Cloie
Okay, let me just say I loved my first experience here. I'll definitely go back in a heartbeat.
It's just so laid back and mellow, you have to love it. It's tucked away down a side street in Harvard Square, and is very intimate. I liked the layout, with the tables. Having a spot at a table was well worth it. There was a stipulation that if you sat at a table, you'd have to spend $5 on food, but that didn't bother me at all. I would definitely recommend the hot cocoa. The brownie wasn't so good. If you're a carnivore who's frightened of vegan food, you can always find something for dessert. ;-)
I was happy that they didn't mind cameras.
Pretty much the only bad part is the parking situation. I ended up parking in a lot a few blocks away, which cost me more than the ticket ($15 for parking, $14 for the ticket). If you're willing to walk a ways, you can usually find street parking. But I was running late, so I didn't want to risk it.
Side note: after 50 years in business, Club Passim has finally secured a liquor license. They don't have the bar set up yet, but hopefully that gives them a nice boost in revenue.
I'm a native Masshole, so I should know better. Club Passim is the folkie version of CBGBs-- it was very important for a very short time a very long time ago. Like CBGBs, Passim has traded on its name and on its connections to survive.
I know this, but occasionally they sucker some great songwriter into performing at their lame-ass dinner theater (face it, Passim, you're a dinner theater with guitars instead of costumes). And I fall for it every time. God damn it.
I'll just say it... I'm a boozehound. Â I like my concerts with a side of PBR and my ass on a barstool.
With that in mind, Club Passim holds some awesome concerts on the humblest of stages... a lot of lesbian folky stuff... and I, being an honorary card carrying lesbian myself, don't mind the music one bit.
The space is rather small and awkward, and it fills me with domesticity when I'm at a show with mothers and fathers and children... but not a bad place to catch a show if you love the band... and from what I hear, it's a good place to dine vegetarian style as well.
Passim is, perhaps, my favorite music venue in Harvard Square. Â The intimate space brings out special performances from the artists who appear on the stage. Â I have had many memorable evenings there seeing great reckonings in the small, basement area.
Oftentimes, you have the opportunity to mix with the artists, too. Â They will hang out at the doorway or on the street after the show. Â It is like having your very own house concert.
Find out for yourself. Â Go visit Club Passim!
Club Passim is a wonderful, intimate venue tucked away in Harvard Square. It shares space with Veggie Planet, a quirky little pizza-n-salads place that I recommend to all. If you go for a show, buy "dinner" tickets - they're the same price as regular seats, but they get you a lot closer to the action. The only catch is you then commit to spending $5 on food from Veggie Planet (there's table service during the shows) - but who on earth wouldn't want to spend $5 at Veggie Planet?!?
Tip: when buying tickets online, you can request to be seated in a certain part of the venue (close to the stage, on the right, next to my friend Bob who bought his ticket separately, etc) and they will try to accomodate you. :)
I hate to rain on the hippie parade here, but you've got to be kidding me. Â I have all the respect in the world for the folks who came up through this institution, but every time I've gone there in the past three years, the experience has grown considerably worse. Â
I usually end up going solo, because the performer is some weirdo that none of my friends are into (like Issa - formerly Jane Siberry), I'm happy to attend these things alone, but it inevitably means getting seated with somebody else's party and making small talk. Â I can live with that. Â I'm then held hostage by Veggie Planet's outrageously poor service and bumbling waitstaff delivering food more than halfway into the set. Â Take a page from Johnny D's or the Regatta Bar, and have some respect not only for the people on stage, but those of us who pay good money to see them, and don't care who had the "butternut squash and groat casserole." Â Â I like the intimacy of the place, but again, between getting my chair bumped, my feet stepped on, and some liquid getting poured on or near me with frightening regularity, let's just say it breaks the connection.
Yes, yes, venerable history and all that. Â That's why there are two stars here and not one.
How can a vegetarian restaurant not make a decent salad? Â Sheesh!
A nice place to go see a smaller group, Passim is a mecca for many folk fans. The table seating area is a bit crowded and you have to order a minimum amount of food to sit here (I believe it is $5 per person).
The food is all vegetarian and a lot is vegan, which made it a bit hard for us non-veggies to find something to eat. However, I'm sure that the veggie/vegans were really happy.
Servers are polite and the staff at the front door are very nice and accommodating.
I am really surprised that Passim's has so few reviews! Where is your culture people!
I have seen many good acts in the past here. Pamela Means, among many others that I can't remember right now... I have performed on the Passim stage numerous times, as has my mum with her storytelling. It's a great little spot to hear things you might otherwise miss.
They have classes with local singer/songwriters too, amazing. Tickets are not that expensive and you can get there by T, get an amazing dinner there while you watch/listen. It's a good time.
I give everything 4 stars but these people deserve it.
So I used to attend this hippy liberal arts college out in the country where co-ops were king (or fairly elected speaker of the people thereof) and vegetarian and vegan food were the norm. Everyone played the guitar and no one wore body products that had been tested on animals. A night at Club Passim to see an up-and-coming folk artist perform brought me right back to those days, complete with a few straggling alumni.
Great music. Cute and easy-to-find location. Delicious home-made lemonade. Delightfully air-conditioned atmosphere.
Fine, so I say "delicious" a lot, too.
Best Sunday night, ever.
This is a terrific place to get some yummy vegetarian snacks and see live music. Â
Tickets are available for food service at a table or just a seat along the wall. Â The space is small and tables are tight. Â They seat 4 to a table and if your party doesn't equal 4, you'll be dining with strangers. Â Everyone there is quite friendly, so that's not such a big deal. Â But if you want your chair(s) to face the stage, get there EARLY to claim your seats! Â
The food I've had there is always very good. Â I usually get one of the flatbread pizzas and a cup of organic chai with a splash of honey to wash it down. Â I've often been tempted to try their mac-n-cheese made with Vermont cheddar, but am just so in love with the pizzas that I settle for the familiar. Â
There are only one or two servers, even during the busiest events, but they move as quickly as they can and are always kind and patient, so you should be too!
Tickets are cheaper when you buy them in advance. Â Many wonderful folk singers perform here on a regular basis. Â Definitely check out Jess Klein whenever she's in town.
I cannot think of anything better to have spent the last few hours of my stay in Boston with. Â Incredible venue with great musicians lineup. Â I almost missed my flight b/c I stayed here longer than I probably should've.
Totally worth the adrenalin rush though - totally.
I'd go back to Boston in a heartbeat just for this.
I love intimate spaces like this.
I've only been here once, when the Weepies were in town last year. Â Based on this experience, I'd love to make plans to return.
It was very crowded (thank goodness we reserved a table) and the setting was great. Â We ate dinner from Veggie Planet which was pretty good and their lemonade was to die for.
I give it 4 stars for the poor souls that have to eat on their laps if they don't have a table reservation. Â But I guess that shouldn't count, because they still got seats and get to see the shows right? Â
I also love that it's sort of hidden. Â If I hadn't bought these tickets, I'd be clueless about it because despite the fact that I've walked down Church Street, waited outside Border Cafe more times than I care to admit and shopped at the bookstore (that's no longer there), I had no idea this place even existed! Â Though, I AM known to be a tad oblivious when it comes to noticing little details about my surroundings when I'm out and about. Â So maybe it's not hidden afterall. Â But to me, that just adds to its charm :)
I can't think of a better listening room in the greater Boston area, if anywhere! Â Night in and night out, if you need a fix of some of the best real *music* around, Passim is the place to be. Â Period. Â
I've seen probably 30-40 shows at Passim, and there's no venue more intimate, no sound system more finely-tuned for its purpose. Â One evening of Passim talent beats a month of anything on radio. Â Yes, this place gets packed, but that's really part of the charm ... you're never more than a few feet from the action ... and there's usually a darn good reason that all of those people are there to hear the same person or group you are!
I'm actually sorry & surprised that anyone has  had a negative experience here, or found the sound to be lacking (or overpowering).  I'm constantly impressed by Matt's abilities at the board, and I don't think I've ever felt overpowered.
Perhaps it's just me, but I'd rather spend $10-$30 to hear a truly talented musician at Passim than $50-$100 to hear a washed-up has-been in an arena any day of the week!!
This is for folkies what the Rat and Parasite were/are for rock bands; you can one day tell folks that I saw so-and-so before they got famous. It's a bit too popular but it's a must go-to place for any folk act passing through the area so you never know when someone 'famous' will show up for a suprise show.
Now I can say I saw Shawn Colvin  when she was still a backup singer on commercial jingos. If you want smoke and leather head on up to Charlies  for a double cheeseburger. Oops, sorry no more smoking inside in Cambridge. How about tats and metal?
Get here early and I mean early, for a table. I love this place because it is what folk music is about for me (not that I could be considered a folkie but I dabble); intimate setting for acoustic music whilst sipping organic herbal  tea.  Just ignore all the gray ponytails.
This is a great venue to see live folk/acoustic music. I was fortunate to be here for one of their campfire weekends - basically a non-stop festival of folk and acoustic performers sharing the stage. Its a pretty neat setup as groups of 3 or 4 musicians take turns playing their songs. Often, they'll even play backup for each other. If you can't make it to one of the live shows, you can also catch a live streaming feed from their website. Club Passim is a non-profit music venue that has been serving the community for over 4 decades.
They don't serve alcohol here, but they do share space with Veggie Planet, so you can order some great vegetarian food and non-alcoholic drinks.
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