Jefferson Theater

The Jefferson is a great place to catch live music if you are in or near the Charlottesville area. There are always national touring acts who stop by C-ville to play here such as the Drive By Truckers, Kurt Vile, Cold War Kids, Dr. Dog, Ra Ra Riot, Josh Ritter, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Old 97's, TV On The Radio, Snoop Dogg, Pete Yorn, St. Vincent, The Books, Dawes, Cracker and many more.... The beer prices are reasonable for a venue that gets such quality talent, and the Jefferson is also centrally located in the heart of the Downtown Mall which makes it easy to get to. I recommend supporting local talent as well so you should check out either Eli Cook or Sons of Bill if they are playing because you won't be disappointed.

Fantastic venue with friendly staff. I will be back for more :)

The Jefferson Theater is one of my absolute favorite music venues.

It's a small, convenient and comfortable venue that attracts big-name acts. Many of the artists play at the Jefferson shortly before or after gigs at well-known venues in nearby cities like the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C. But unlike many other venues, you get to experience an incredible show in an intimate venue at really ridiculously reasonable prices.

Most shows are between $15-25 depending on the act and whether you buy a ticket in advance or the day of the show.  There's usually a small fee for ordering tickets online. Although most of the artists lean towards rock or indie there's a great variety of shows.

As for the venue itself, there's one main floor that slopes, half an upper level and an upper balcony and unless you're stuck behind someone six feet or taller, there really isn't a bad view in the house. There's a bar upstairs and another one downstairs by the coat check for easier access.

The staff at the Jefferson are really great at what they do. Thanks to the security, despite being right next to UVA grounds, it's not a hotspot for obnoxious underage drinking, the stairs are always clear and the crowds never get out of control. They keep everything running smoothly while still managing to be relaxed and generally unobtrusive. They really help make the atmosphere so comfortable.

A few last tips: use the water street lot or garage for close parking, have your ID ready at the door for an over-21 wristband, keep your ticket stub for re-entry, check your coat downstairs so you don't have to carry it all night and if it's open, use the downstairs exit after the show to avoid the crowd on the way out.  For most shows the theater won't fill up at least until the opener starts, so there's plenty of time to grab a bite to eat ahead of time.