Walk in early and looked around. Wanted to leave and stroll down the beach since band was just pulling up. Wish we knew there was no re-entry! So we go to the bar and order rum & cokes. I still not sure what the bartender gave us - but it wasn't rum and coke. But the drink was okay so we walked them upstairs and hanged out on the balcony till the band started playing.
Sold out Collie Buddz concert was great! Sound engineers have to be the best in town. Never been to a concert so good. Great venue! Only down side - there's only one bathroom downstairs. And of course the girls bathroom line went to the front door.
This is one of the few places around Jax where you can catch a moderately popular national band. Â I don't care for the layout, it is hard to get a good spot to watch the show. Â They need to put in a bathroom upstairs and add some additional bartenders. Â But all that aside, it is a fun place to spend an evening with a good band!!
Review Source:I've seen many concerts at Freebird. Â It's nice to have a venue in Jax Beach, but this place is lacking in so many ways. Â It's very hot inside and only gets worse as the crowd gets moving throughout the show. Â Everyone is always dripping in sweat. Â Secondly, it's blisteringly loud which makes it difficult to order drinks from the crowded bars. Â My ears are always ringing afterwards. Â I appreciate that Freebird books a variety of musical acts, but their sound system (or perhaps audio engineer) is terrible! Â In most cases I've been unable to hear any lead guitar or vocals. Â The bass and drums are overpowering, booming, and distorted. Â The audio quality is terrible. Â Freebird is also rather small, and due to crowds and architectural pillars on the floor, there are many blind spots that prevent you from seeing the stage. Â If you are able to catch your favorite act in another location, do so. Â I wouldn't see another concert at Freebird unless it was one of my favorite bands and there were no other tour dates scheduled in FL. Â If this venue can get their distorted audio under control, I'd gladly return.
Review Source:Man, have I seen some good shows at Freebird Live! From rap to bluegrass to dubstep, this venue has been all over everything and everything has been all over it. Sure, it's hot and slimy, and the bartenders might ignore you for five minutes too long, but it is a Jax Beach music institution! (Tip: It gets it name from the Lynyrd Skynyrd song because it's owned by the family of former band members.)
I went to the bird last night to see white rapper extraordinaire Yelawolf, and it was seriously so much fun! The bass was bumping and the place was packed out. Still the bartenders were doling out drinks with swiftness and professionalism. Walter at the upstairs bar was awesome and poured my beers super quickly all night! (The upstairs bar is usually a better bet than downstairs on crowded nights FYI) I have had nights where getting a drink was a big annoyance, but tonight was not one of them despite the sizeable showing of Yelawolf fans. Good work guys!
The open, two-story floor plan ensures that everyone gets a decent shot of the action on stage, and the bands love to ham it up for the fans on the top deck. The acoustics aren't perfect, but the atmosphere is without a doubt rock and roll: strong drinks, loud tunes, and a boogeying crowd. Take a smoke break on the wrap-around porch upstairs and heckle passerbys stumbling to beach bars. This is a great place to see and be seen if you're into live music, and I hope it continues to book the eclectic and impressive artists it's been known for.
I went to hear Hot Tuna here a while back. The $25 door tickets were a real bargain and the layout of the place is great for enjoying a laid back concert - perfect combination! The sound is in general quite decent and the atmosphere is intimate. Also, it's terrific that you can buy a fairly priced drink at the bar and walk around or stay in one place, listening to one of your all time favorite bands, live.
The ground floor gets you up close and personal, while wandering up the stairs to the veranda area on the second floor gives you a better view while also affording a less manic vibe and atmosphere from that of the downstairs.
Too bad about the dipshit redneck patrons who ruin the place though. The first half of the band's show was all acoustic. The effing yahoos in the audience couldn't shut up with their shouting and whooping and hollering enough for the poor performers to even be heard. If you want to shout and scream, take it outside already, or just stay home! We come here to have a drink and hear music, not to listen to you drunken retards (apologies to all my retarded friends) loudly bellow in order to impress your fellow drop-out friends from jr. high school!
The second half was all electric. Jorma even announced at the end of the first half that the crowd will just LOVE round two because it would be really loud and deafening. How embarrassing! I felt just awful for these rock legends who were attempting to present yet another great performance, but to a clueless and unappreciative "audience".
This would be an amazing concert venue if not for the drunken plow boys that they allow in. I pity any decent band who agrees to play here and for any music lover who will come here to hear a show.
Venue = 5, crowd = minus 1.
Average = a very generous three MINUS stars.
I've gone to half a dozen shows here over the years. Â I love the venue. Â It's intimate without being suffocating. Â I have to say though the drinks are overpriced and the bartenders do a horrible job. Â The last time I went the drinks sucks, from both the upstairs and downstairs bars
Review Source:Freebird Live is the most commercial venue for rock concerts in Jacksonville. The interior reminds me of the Hard Rock Live or something, which isn't necessarily good. I'm not saying that Freebird lacks personality--it's just not the sort of personality I like. Oh, it's also owned and operated by Judy Van Zant--the widow of Lynyrd Skynyrd's frontman Ronnie. Yeehaw.
I would be indifferent about this club, but I've had a number of iffy experiences there. For one, depending on who's at the door, you can have a pleasant entry to the club or a bad one. I've been hassled about the size of my purse, I've been patted down, and just generally given the evil eye by the security personnel and the older woman who may or may not be Ms. Skynyrd herself. Â However, I've also had no problem with entry whatsoever.
One thing that's cool about Freebird is the balcony level. I usually don't bother going up there because the banister area is full of vultures just waiting to take your spot when you pee or get a drink. Â
The venue itself is not huge, but definitely not small. Medium-sized. There are two bars--upstairs and downstairs. They're usually crowded and the bartenders are usually less than attentive. I don't know what I have to do to get the staff at Freebird to appreciate my business and treat me like a paying customer, because spending my money there doesn't seem to do the trick.
Anyway, gripes aside. I don't go there much because they don't tend to book things that I care about. The most frequently booked act at Freebird is a Sublime tribute band. However, it's definitely the most polished rock venue in town (aside from the Florida Theatre!). If you're a girl, just remember to take your necessities out of your purse and put them in your pocket or the mean guy at the door might send you to the back of the line.
Freebird Live, in my mind, is the best music venue in Jacksonville. Â Just big enough to entice some really great national acts, but small enough that you are up close to the action. The result is very intimate, but also exciting and "big" at the same time. Â
I took my husband to see Joe Perry of Aerosmith [one of his childhood heroes] Â for our anniversary and it was amazing to see someone who normally plays arenas in such a small setting. We literally stood a few feet away from one of America's most celebrated guitarists, like it was no big deal.
The sound here is also really good even when its a little loud [then again its a concert, it should be loud]. Â You can always hear really well from almost anywhere in the venue, and even when its loud its not all ear-piercingly loud.
As others have said, the best spot in the house [even better than right against the stage] is the balcony on the second story. Â You usually have a little more elbow room, and the view of the stage cannot be beat.
The only thing I don't like about Freebird is that [judging from the way they act] the bartenders are the most put-upon, overworked and tortured people on the planet. Â I'll give them the benefit of the doubt on nights when the venue is packed, but the service is exactly the same when the place is almost empty, which can be extremely annoying.
Regardless, if you see a band you like is going to play at Freebird, you owe it to yourself to go see them there.
pretty decent venue for bands. I used to go a lot in my hayday of attending happy fun punk rock shows. ;) it gets packed quickly. if you dont feel like being elbowed on the eye, there's an unstairs balcony which is pretty cool. a lot of good bands have played at this venue. & it's always a good time.
Review Source:I enjoy this venue. It's not too big, but you can still see some really good groups here. I just saw Sevendust there for the second time the other night. If a band that I like is going to be playing here, I won't hesitate to be there.
It's not too difficult to find parking either, and it's within walking distance of the beach. Â If you do have to walk a little ways to get to your car, you don't mind because it's usually nice out.
My sister had been going to Freebird for years and I have to admit I never understood what the draw was, but I get it now. This is one of the best local places to see live music. They've had some pretty big names - like Gavin DeGraw. But they get the hometown heroes - like MoFro - in there too.
I saw Marc Broussard there in December and had a blast. Now I'm kicking myself that I didn't catch his first show a few years back. Carpeted floors which make it easy on the feet. Yes, it's a standing/general admission type venue, but the carpet makes a big difference. Great acoustics. Friendly staff and bouncers.
If one of your favorites, or even a friend's favorite, comes to town and they play at Freebird, I would encourage you to go.
I was very impressed with this venue. Â I first of all like the area, Jax Beach, but just thought that it was just a fantastic venue because of two key components: NOT packed, and the size allows for an intimate relationship with the band that's playing. Â The bar has very reasonable prices and they are friendly. Â I loved rocking out at the Freebird.
Review Source:I agree with Dan B. I come here to watch bands, and the experience is so much cooler than spending a fortune to see the same bands and you're not even as close up to them. My favorite spot is watching from the second story. You see everything clearly on the stage without getting battered in the mosh pit. Hehehe.. Although that can be fun as well.
Make sure you grab some munchies before stopping by. Last I remember, they don't sell food here.
My first time in Jacksonville, I happened to find out about this place fro the concierge at the Omni. Â It was a Tuesday night so there was nothing to do in downtown. Â I heard that Billy Bob Thorton was staying at the hotel and doing a show at the Freebird that evening. Â I went to the show. Â It was pretty good. Â The venue was pretty small. Â I think the had two bars. Â One upstairs and one down. Â It was crowded for a Tuesday night. Â BBT put on a good show. Â I didn't even know he had a band? Â The sound system was good and the drinks were good and not too expensive. Â If in town I recommend the venue.
Review Source:Aah, sweet memories I have in this place.  Of course named after the best song Lynyrd Skynyrd has ever written and owned by Ronnie Van Zandt's former wife, this "cafe" is more like a pretty good concert venue for all the best blues, funk, Southern soul, and Rockabilly music that we live up to.  Bands like Mofro, Blues Traveler, Reverend Horton Heat, and  George Clinton have played here and each time the shows get better and better.  Almost every night is packed with pretty much fellow Naval officers, beach folks, and down home good ol Southern boys and gals getting down while stumbling home to sleep 2 hours for work the next day.  Yeah, its my kind of place  :)
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