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Greek Theatre (Berkeley, CA) Concert Venue / Theater

Greek Theatre (Berkeley, CA) Looking for concerts at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, CA? Check out Party Earth for schedules, photos, videos, and more for this one-of-a-kind concert venue! San Francisco United States 37.873613 -122.254357

4.8 7

Greek Theatre (Berkeley, CA) - Concert Venue | Theater in San Francisco.

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7 User Reviews

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INFO Known locally as the Greek Theatre, the William Randolph Hearst Greek Theatre is a sprawling amphitheater owned and operated by the University of California, Berkeley. Boasting 8,500 seats, the Greek Theatre was built... ... read more

Neighborhood:

Berkeley, CA
Address:

Hearst Avenue & Gayley Road
Berkeley, CA 94720

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Phone:

510-548-3010
Links:
Official Website

First to review Dana G.

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Greek Theatre (Berkeley, CA) Schedule of Events

May 2013

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May29Wed May 29, 18:00PM	Mumford & Sons Concert / Folk Rock 6:00 pm Mumford & Sons	Add to Calendar
May30Thu May 30, 18:00PM	Mumford & Sons Concert / Folk Rock 6:00 pm Mumford & Sons	Add to Calendar
May31Fri May 31, 19:00PM	Mumford & Sons Concert / Folk Rock 7:00 pm Mumford & Sons	Add to Calendar

June 2013

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Jun01Sat Jun 1, 19:00PM	The xx Concert / Indie / Pop 7:00 pm The xx , Hundred Waters	Add to Calendar
Jun15Sat Jun 15, 19:00PM	Dispatch Concert / Pop / Rock / Rock 7:00 pm Dispatch, Guster	Add to Calendar
Jun22Sat Jun 22, 19:00PM	She & Him Concert / Country / Folk / Folk Rock / Indie / Pop / Pop / Rock 7:00 pm She & Him, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Tilly and the Wall	Add to Calendar
Jun29Sat Jun 29, 19:30PM	Robert Plant Concert / Bands / Classic Rock / Pop / Rock / Rock 7:30 pm Robert Plant, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals	Add to Calendar

July 2013

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Jul19Fri Jul 19, 18:00PM	Slightly Stoopid Concert / Alternative Rock / Hip-Hop / Rap / Reggae / Rock 6:00 pm Slightly Stoopid, Atmosphere	Add to Calendar
Jul26Fri Jul 26,	The Postal Service Concert / Electronic / Indie Rock The Postal Service	Add to Calendar
Jul27Sat Jul 27,	The Postal Service Concert / Electronic / Indie Rock The Postal Service	Add to Calendar

September 2013

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Sep06Fri

Sep 6, 20:00PM

fun.

Concert / Rock

8:00 pm

fun.

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Greek Theatre (Berkeley, CA) Videos

PHISH - "SIMPLE" - THE GREEK THEATER, BERKELEY CA, 08-06-2010

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PHISH - "SIMPLE" - THE GREEK THEATER, BERKELEY CA, 08-06-2010

8,579 views

Phish - "Tweezer Reprise" @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley 8/5/10

2,177 views

R.E.M. - Driver 8 @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA 2008.

3,634 views

R.E.M. - Mr. Richards @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA 2008.

1,906 views

Wallflower: Peter Gabriel - Greek Theater, Berkeley (June 10, 2011)

614 views

PHISH - "FLUFFHEAD" - LIVE AT THE GREEK THEATER, BERKELEY, CA 8/5/10

1,989 views

Dispatch - Elias Live Encore @ Greek Theater, Berkeley 06/11/11

457 views

Grateful Dead 8-19-89 Greek Theater Berkeley CA

603 views

R.E.M. - Hollow Man @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA 2008.

710 views

R.E.M. - Ignoreland @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA 2008.

987 views

Dispatch - Silent Steeples Acoustic Live @ Greek Theater, Berkeley 06/11/11

385 views

Greek Theatre (Berkeley, CA) Information

Known locally as the Greek Theatre, the William Randolph Hearst Greek Theatre is a sprawling amphitheater owned and operated by the University of California, Berkeley.

Boasting 8,500 seats, the Greek Theatre was built in 1903 on the previous site of a more rugged outdoor bowl built in 1894 and known as Ben Weed’s Amphitheater. The aesthetics of the Greek Theater directly echo that of the ancient Greek theater of Epidaurus.

Then-president Benjamin Ide Wheeler served as the catalyst for the project, but the construction of the theatre was financed by newspaper millionaire William Randolph Hearst. While the Greek Theatre officially opened its doors in 1903 with a production of The Birds by Aristophanes, it also hosted a graduation address ceremony by President Theodore Roosevelt while still under construction in 1903.

There have been hundreds of musicals and theater performances at the Greek Theatre, as well as many college events including Commencement Convocation for graduating seniors and the Big Game Bonfire Rally prior to the Big Game every year against Stanford.

The Greek Theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Greek Theatre (Berkeley, CA) User Reviews

lilyhulk Mar 30, 2013 4.0 stars You have to go here at least once... Or twice, or three times. Heck, go here as much as you can! The Greek Theatre is seriously amazing—the architecture, the acoustics, the ambiance, it has everything you need for a perfect concert experience. Except for the lack of seat cushions on the concrete benches, but who wants to sit when general admission lets you push your way to the front of the stage to dance the night away? However, if you’re getting sore or want to eat some of the Theatre’s pricey food without getting jostled too much, many people bring cushions and blankets which is also useful for chilly nights, and spreading out on the lawn in the back of the Theatre. There are no bad seats in this house so you can get as comfy as you want pretty much anywhere. The Greek is also completely open which provides heaps of fresh air compared to other stuffy venues. You can lie back with the dramatic night sky serving as a backdrop, and enjoy the music all thanks to the genius behind the beauty of the Greek Theatre.

Natalia Barcy Mar 28, 2013 4.0 stars The Perfect Concert Experience The Greek Theatre is by far my favorite venue for shows. It's round infrastructure packs a punch with sound while the seating allows you to view the vast sea of people surrounding the stage. The concrete bench seating isn't the coziest, but once the band starts playing you'll most likely be on your feet anyway. The Greek is always general admission so you can move around to the ground floor, the other side, the lawn, go get a beer, whatever. Definitely check out the lawn view, especially during a sunset if possible. The view of the Bay Bridge and city is breathtaking. This is the type of venue that can give a serene feeling of oneness with people and nature.

ptbaur Feb 20, 2013 4.0 stars The Best of Everything, All in One Place The Greek Theatre is a great university-run multi-purpose venue. It has the best of everything you could want when going to see a show: it’s large yet intimate, neither unbearably hot nor uncomfortably cold regardless of the season, and always hosts great performers. I’ve attended concerts there and this is one of my favorite venues. Its structure allows for an experience you typically don’t get, even at great places like UC Davis’s multimillion dollar Mondavi Center. Most large venues for more popular bands allow only standing room where the enclosed space becomes hot very quickly and concert-goers can be quite aggressive to get closer to the stage for a better view. Outdoor shows are great fun because they allow you to enjoy some fresh air and minimize the stuffy feeling you’ll get in a crowd; some of my favorite outdoor concerts have been at Golden Gate Park and the Monterey Fairgrounds, but none of them have the Greek-style amphitheater seating. Essentially, the Greek Theatre allows for three different ways to enjoy a show: near to the stage, where there is standing room, and although it gets you a bit closer, it has a tendency to turn into a mosh pit—only for those who are ok pushing and treading on some shoes for a better spot. Then there are the stone tiers arranged in a half-circle, and then the grassy areas above the Theatre. A lot of people peg this as the place you end up sitting if you didn’t get in on time, but I’ve seen people have a great time on their blankets, dancing and swaying on the grass. Even from the grassy areas which are a bit far from the stage, concert-goers can still see the videotron that is usually set up in the center of the stage. The stone seats are great, because almost any of those seats in the amphitheater provide a good view of the stage, although it’s advisable to bring a blanket for sitting as the stone can get pretty cold, especially as the sun sets. If you come early enough, (about in time to see the opening band), finding a seat shouldn’t be a problem. Another plus-side regarding the stone seats is that there is a much more relaxed atmosphere and enough room to comfortably enjoy a drink or eat a snack (which are also sold in the park, although the prices can be a bit exorbitant). For those who are driving to the Theatre, the best places to park are in the residential areas up the hill about two to three blocks away. It’s a little bit of the walk, but groups of people disperse very quickly and it is easy to get out of the crowd once heading back to your car. One tip: as most concert-goers know, marijuana is commonly used by other attendees. With the Greek Theatre I noticed that the most smoking goes on down below in the standing room crowd; something to keep in mind for those who might be offended or are trying to avoid it. Another great thing about the Theatre in general is that it books a large variety of performers. No matter what your tastes, in any given month, you can expect an event that will pique your interest.

Britta Gudmunson Dec 8, 2012 4.0 stars Yes to The Greek The Greek Theater is probably the best place in the Bay Area for a summer concert, hands down. On a warm evening, with the sun setting in the distance, lively humans young and old surrounding you on the vast sloping lawn or steps leading to the stage, an epic band playing their heart out in front of your eyes... it really doesn't get much better. Get there early to claim your ideal spot. If you like to dance, I recommend the grassy area up top, where you can kick off your sneakers or boots and feel the earth under your toes as you rock out to live music. Perfection.

Jackie DeJesse Dec 4, 2012 4.0 stars LOVE The Greek is one of my absolute favorite venues of all time. It's size provides for an intimate show that you can't find anywhere else and it also brings in some of the best artists around. I've seen both Florence and the Machine there as well as Kimbra and Foster the People and was able to stand in the front row and dance the night away. Shows are usually general admission and you can sit wherever you like. Standing area is the best because that's where everyone is really into the show and dancing. You can't really go wrong with sitting down either though because all of the seats provide great views and the acoustics here are incredible! Tickets are always super affordable for these shows. My big word of advice is to get here a few hours before doors if you want to stand in the front row, you never know who you may see before hand :)!

Kkahn Nov 26, 2012 4.0 stars Everyone in my family has been to the Greek My parents saw the Grateful Dead there in the 70s, and I went to my first real concert there 2006 (Bloc Party). I've been to three others since at the Greek, and each enforces it as one of my favorite locations. The beautiful architecture, great sound quality, and expansive lower level are hard to beat. I definitely recommend a blanket for sitting on the grass or steps between sets, and it gets pretty cold at night. Bring cash for food and merch, especially the veggie burger! The Greek is a Berkeley classic that cannot be missed.

Dana Greene Sep 28, 2012 4.0 stars Gorgeous! A must see if you're in the Berkeley area. I drove by it for 9 months before I actually went to a show there and figured out I'd been driving by it for 9 months. It's all General Admission seating which is an amazing concept, and what's even better, there isn't a bad seat in the house. The sound is incredible no matter where you are, you can see the stage from anywhere (except if you're lying down too far on the lawn, as I discovered) and you can take mass transit to get there. A serious win-win for a bad driver like myself. Only downside, expensive beer. But hey, it's a concert venue and it's Berkeley, so what do you expect?