Magic Bag

One of the best venues in the general Detroit area without question. Awesome doormen and bar every time. This is where the older cult-following bands come back to grace us with their presence-- a lot of fantastic British acts! I've rarely seen younger bands here, it's always a very refined, years-in-the-making reunion between a grateful artist and our humble city. These happen to be my favorite gigs, it's nothing but love and admiration in this place. The mature Saint Andrew's if you will.

Great venue with plenty of space to get a good crowd vibe, but small enough that there are no bad views. The space is an old theater. The seats have been removed, so there are now a set of platforms going down to the stage. There are benches on the edges of the space and drink rails between platform levels. With the floor going down to the stage (like a movie theater) even if there is a tall dude in front, you can see over them.

We drove up from Cincinnati for a show and really loved the Magic Bag. The staff is friendly and it's just the right size of venue. There are several tiered areas that help you see over those in front of you. Staff walked through the crowd collecting empty bottles/cans during the show. The theming is great too (magic) and even the exit signs join in the fun. Super cool concert venue!

We went for Emo Nite and had a blast! Parking was a bit annoying, but that's standard for the area. The door guy was super friendly, drinks were reasonably priced and the music was loud and awesome! Can't wait for next time!

Cool little venue, perfect size for a small, intimate concert. Friendly staff, sound was excellent, clean bathrooms (iykyk), we would happily return. Only complaint was that the benches along the walls were uncomfortable!

Cool venue. Get there early, sit along the wall, & then stand on the bench seating for best views. No beer on tap, but they do have people walking around to take orders & empties.

Second time that I've attended a performance here. The acoustics here are good eventhough the venue is small. Besides that hopefully in the future they increase their craft beer selection.

Great music at a fantastic venue. Partners of all ages and everyone was pretty cool and friendly.

It you've never been to the Magic Bag, it's a strange set up. The crowd area is split up into tiers with built in seating around the edges of these tiers, and then open areas in between the seating for dancing or gathering. The audio for show we went to could have been better. The bass was blown out and all instruments were super low in the mix. In my opinion, the drink were a bit over priced too. The bathrooms were clean though.

Beer was $8. Which I can understand but nonalcoholic beer was $9! That's being some cheap ass mofo's and some people who don't care about people who don't drink. Nonalcoholic beer does not cost more than regular beer anywhere in the world, except apparently at the magic bag.

I hadn't been here before and I had a great time! My friends and I saw the mega 80's group last night & the sound system was great. This was a fun venue and I like that they keep it clean by taking your empty drink cups for you (I know that's a small thing but still). The staff were friendly and the drinks weren't watered down or anything. $8 for a mixed drink wasn't too bad. I'd definitely come here again!

Great prices, great service, great location. We had a WONDERFUL time here. They have rotating shows that always end up being a great time. No food that I'm aware of but plenty of options near by.

This is a great venue for live music because of its smaller more intimate surroundings. It has limited "festival" seating so if you want a seat you Have to get in line early before the doors open. The venue used to be a movie theater so if you're in the back you can still see the artists pretty well, and because it is a smaller space you can interact with them fairly easily. I found a spot to stand on a side ramped walkway which had a small ledge that one can lean on, put your drinks on and gals can put purses on. The staff is very attentive whether it's the gal taking drink orders or the guy walking around gathering empty bottles or glasses. You can get your drinks at the bar as well. The sound quality of the venue is great, loud enough for pure enjoyment without having to scream in your friend's ear to say anything. Depending on the crowd you're able to dance if you are moved to. The facilities are usually very clean when I've used them. Parking in the area is out back behind the building and there are public lots within walking distance that you have to pay a reasonable fee or if you're really lucky You can find a spot on the street. There was construction going on this time so not as much availability. Definitely recommend the Magic Bag for a great show/ evening.

Some friends and I went to see a Tom Petty tribute band, they were excellent! One friend actually said it was the best $20 she's spent! The bartenders were great and I was shocked when a waitress actually was working the floor. Hanna was excellent, she was very kind and efficient. Great job Magic Bag, we will be back for more fun times!

I've been coming here for 3 decades. Started with the brew & view, with another 20 visits for concerts. I like many artists they book here, so kudos for getting some interesting talent. That said, it's my least favorite layout for a concert unless it's a seated show. It has a tiny pit up front that should be at least triple it's depth if you're going to have an upbeat show. I would go to a lot more shows if they fixed the layout.

I attended the JD McPherson show here tonight and witnessed very inappropriate and uncomfortable behavior from a male staff member towards the female musician who opened the show. I don't know exactly what the dispute started as but it had something to do with the venue charging her a fine for putting tape on the wall for her t-shirts or something. I saw her pay them cash so I know the issue wasn't down to her not paying their fine. She made a little sign on the merch table that said something like "buy our merch to help us pay our fine". Didn't seem like a big deal. Later she was taking a photo with the sign pinned to her dress. A male staff member got very aggressive with her over this. He raised his voice, physically postured and threatened her and even attempted to physically touch her to take the sign off her dress. This is extremely inappropriate behavior. I will not be attending any more concerts here and I will make sure to let my female friends and musicians know that this place isn't safe for women. Do better Magic Bag!

Love this place! Great sound, super friendly staff, and they've done a lot of upgrades in recent years that have really taken it to the next level. Love the vibe, I always look forward to seeing shows here.

Well this was a nice venue! The layout was interesting with tables around the sides and middle, and a pit area in the front. It was a fun environment to see a show for sure. The only reasons it doesn't get 5 stars from me is the limited parking, and the odd odor inside the venue. But that can all be put aside because this is a great venue. I wish more rock acts would come by.

Great location to see a band. SRO, but plenty of places to lean and set your drink. Staff take and deliver drink orders on the floor so the lines are shorter at the bar. Imagine the crowd varies by the band but it was very chill for the Squirrel Nut Zippers.

They changed the "virus" policy at the venue so we want a refund and ticketweb conveniently has no phone services!! They blame ticketweb for bad service....... Can't get a response from ticketweb. Nobody wants to take responsibility for REFUNDING my money because they changed their policies on trivial garbage!!! Very unprofessional DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM THESE CLOWNS or ticketweb!!!!

Horrible customer service at this place. I will never go back there again. Tickets for a show didn't clearly state that they required vaccinated people only to attend for Mudhoney. They refused to give me my money back or even send me my ticket. They were rude and unfriendly. I refuse to support a place that robs people and supports vaccine Nazi bands and won't even take a Covid negative test, which is much safer anyways. Many of the main people spreading this are vaccinated. Have fun hosting small and no name bands and sinking into the ground. Cancelling you guys and Mudhoney

This is a cool, fun event spot. Great intimate gathering spot. Not as big seating, seats about 300 or so peeps. Stage isn't huge but works well and gives everyone a great closeness to the band you wouldn't get at other venues. Have been to Mega 80s concerts here in the past. Have yet to see a comedy here, but would be such a good close up venue for sure. There's even another upcoming concert on February 22nd here. I definitely prefer smaller concerts locales likes this.

Love the venue, hate the management. They pull some shady stuff with artists, and then cancel 2 weeks before the show. I guess it's great if you wanna relive the 80's or go see an overpriced cover band. Will never step foot in the doors again

Lacks customer service or understanding. Was trying to get a refund due to new policy of showing vaccine card. I am vaccinated. None of my friends or family are. As much as I loved the Mega 80s, I didn't want to go alone as I am only in town for 5 days and wanted it to be a night out with friends and family. It was brought to my attention after I bought my ticket (brought to my attention by a friend because the new policy was not highlighted anywhere). I explained my situation and kindly asked for a refund and was denied multiple times. So sad because Mega 80s was my favorite band and was so excited to see them.

Had such a great time at The Magic Bag this weekend! I frequent Ferndale but have never stopped in for a show before. I came for a 90s cover band concert, Class of 98 - a 90s partypalooza. Tickets were cheap, only $5 online with a $3 service fee charge, so $8 total. I'm not sure how much they were charging at the door. The concert was a blast! They band literally jammed out to every cd I owned in high school...Cake, Beck, Lit, Smashmouth, Bloodhound Gang, Limp Bizkit, Beastie Boys, Spice Girls, Lisa Loeb, Alanis, BSB, and N'Sync and the list goes on. They played songs from high school dances and skating parties like La Bouche, Groove is in the heart, What is love, Cotton Eye Joe, Quad City DJs, Tootsie Roll, Ice Ice Baby, and Markie Mark. They had the crowd dancing and singing all night. Fun background music videos and images of Doug, Daria, and Blockbuster behind them. Lead singer was decked out in a Chucky and Tommy Rugrats shirt and Reptar hat and the keyboardist was dressed like a spice girl in a British flag dress and platform boots. High energy and engagement, awesome band and put on a great show! Such a fun night! The venue itself also really impressed me. Dim lit, cool metal spherical lights hanging from the ceiling with star cutouts. Lit up encased guitars above the bar with a neon Magic Bag cat logo. When you first enter there is a bar. No beers on tap but they offered several bottled beers like Blue Moon, and Oberon and they could make most cocktails like dirty martinis garnished with an olive and Moscow mules. I had a Moscow mule with orange vodka and it was good. Prices were pretty standard $5-$8. The actual setup of the venue is great. There's not a bad seat in the house. The floor has 3 levels, just slightly elevated from the next, so you can see the stage from pretty much any standpoint, kind of like auditorium style movie theaters. There was plenty of seating on the perimeter of each level. We stood right at the front of the second level at the front of the stage. There's a small area right in front of the stage where people were dancing too. There was a nice table like ledge right in front of us which was nice to set our drinks. Overall, great show, nice venue with great acoustics and lighting and cool fun atmosphere with plenty of standing and sitting options with a great viewpoint of the band anywhere in the venue. Can't wait to come back for another show. I've heard Mega 80s is a blast so I'd love to come back for that. I've heard The Cure cover band is also great.

If I could give zero stars I would. They mandated a vaccine passport for their business after my 16 tickets were purchased. They did not offer me a refund or credit. There was an "updated policy" that was on a shutter picture that was only viewable on the website for about 8 seconds. Terrible customer service. We attended Mega 80s for the last 8 years at this venue and unfortunately won't be back.

I went here last night for the Ryn Weaver concert, and it was my first time at the Magic Bag. I had of course seen its marquee before, as I go to Ferndale fairly often, but had never actually seen a show there. THE GOOD: -Lots of seating, which was nice! Venues like the Blind Pig (Ann Arbor, which I also frequent) don't have a lot of seating so I was expecting something similar. There are teeny tables/pew-type seating to the left and right of the stage, behind the "mosh pit" area (where you stand, right by the stage) and there are also some "proper" tables near the back of the place. -If you're sitting down anywhere, waitresses will come to you, you can either pay cash or start a tab ($15 min for tabs). -I'm not a beer fan but they had a FEW hard cider options, which surprised me, and one of them was Blake's! (I've never actually been to Blake's but I first tried it at Ale Mary's in RO, and it's very good). -There are some snack options also like popcorn ($3), etc. THE MEH: -We bought our tickets online prior to the event - actually a few weeks beforehand - and tix were $18 plus $5.75 in fees = $23.75 total. At the door, there was a sign that said "cover charge: $20" ... so that means you could have walked in that day and paid less than we did. Not really a fan of that. It was also kind of confusing because I was wondering if we would have to pay an ADDITIONAL $20 cover charge to get in. Overall this was a nice, intimate venue and I'd like to return at some point to see another show here. You can't beat the location either, we had dinner at Imperial beforehand and then pretty much walked down the street to get to the theater. For parking, I'd recommend the $2 lot right behind the theater, also, otherwise you're going to be paying an hourly rate at any of the meters or other lots. (the ParkMobile app is good for this, but I was parked for about 6 hours total so the $2 rate was a good deal this time - normally parking is 50 cents/hour in Ferndale, I believe).

I hate this venue. I have been here a handful of times to see touring acts that I could not see anywhere else locally, such as the Spike and Mike Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation, but after my last experience, it is doubtful I will ever return. I am HoH/Deaf, and I have never been treated as poorly by professionals in the service industry as I was at the Magic Bag. From the bartenders to security, my last visit there was a nightmare. Staff treated me rudely and with zero civility or consideration. When I approached another staff member to express my concerns, I was treated brusquely; they even went so far as to mock my signing and "accent." I was shocked. I didn't bother trying to speak to anyone else after that. Unlikely that I will frequent this establishment in the future.

Haven't been here for a Brew and View but this is a great venue for an intimate concert. Most recently I was here for the Mike Nesmith show and I found it a most pleasurable experience. The sound was fantastic, it's small enough that anywhere you stand or sit is a great view, the venue is clean and the lighting in the venue is lovely. I really enjoy the big lanterns up in the ceiling in particular. The floor was set up with LOADS of tables and chairs. In fact, the only standing areas were at the front of the stage and around the sides in the aisles. As a now 30 something lazy person I love this. Too bad I got there after all the seats were taken so we perched at the foot of the stage instead. Which was also awesome. You're a winner anywhere you are here! Before the show they did have some servers walking through the audience taking orders. This was awesome because it means you're not fighting with people leaving and reclaiming their spots. It was also not awesome because we were a little tight up in the front and the servers walking through had to push a bit to make it through. I definitely got squeezed more than a few times. But once the show started it was over so it wasn't really a big deal. Love the programming that they offer here as well. From music to movies, comedians and more. It's a multipurpose venue and I dig it.

Smaller intimate venue located right off of Woodward in Ferndale. What I like about this place is it's in close proximity to plenty of dining options in either Royal Oak or Ferndale. Either a quick Uber or walk depending on where you go. It's also fairly small so the shows are a good time. The sound and view of the bands is going to be top notch no matter where you are inside because of the layout. Parking will be a challenge if you're driving though so heads up! They have a full bar also which is nice, and servers who come around throughout checking to see if you need drinks. What I didn't like was the overall service level and attitude of some of the employees. Similar to other reviews on here, the bouncers were extremely rude which began at check in. Also, immediately following the final act they turned on all of the lights and RUSHED us out the door giving neither us nor the bands the opportunity to chat and buy their merchandise. Overall I like the intimacy of the venue and the location but the service and general demeanor of some of the employees could certainly improve.

I don't get out to the Magic Bag too often. I give it 4 stars as a movie venue, and 2 for concerts, averaging out to a 3. Maybe it's because I've never got right up front, but it just seems like an awkward place to see a band. The sound isn't the best, and somehow it just isn't as intimate as it seems like it should be for a room of its size. I've never had a problem with the service here. I forget how much Red Bull costs, but it's definitely cheaper than the Majestic complex.

Went with my daughter and friends to see Mega 80's perform. Of course for Christmas we all had to wear ugly Christmas Sweaters. Quaint venue with full bar so you can enjoy a cocktail while listening to awesome music. Who doesn't love the 80's?

This place is such a s**thole. The "theatre" is barely holding it together. Parts of the interior are literally 2 by 4s nailed together. Smells a bit like something bad happened. Worst part. The bouncer dude at the end of the show. Literally yelling get out at us. This is a 40+ age group and his training has led him to yell "get out!" at people.

I grew up in Ferndale! I love the Magic Bag and the Mega 80's.. The staff is always great, even the owner is also super friendly. Last night however when I took some out of town guests and we were all having a great time, until some oddly aggressive bouncer came up to get some bottles from behind us and didn't say excuse me or anything just pushed his way through knocking into us almost violently and when my husband reacted like "wow dude" he immediately lost his temper and was very aggressive. Had my husband not been a mature adult this could have turned into a big problem fast. I hope someone with some authority sees this because Magic Bag's staff is always great, don't let this bad apple ruin for everyone !

This review is for Brew & View only. So it's important not to think "movie theatre with drinks," but instead "bar with movies." Which is much better, if you ask me. Highlights for me: Waitress service. Which meant that a new beer was placed in front of me everytime I thought "new beer," but without even moving my little lazy legs. Pizza. Which you can order on your telephone and they will bring to you with their worker bee legs. $2 cover. Which means two beers and a movie for a tenner. Yup, an old school tenner. (plus a couple more for tip, but who counts that when thinking about the awesome deal you got.) Coupons. They gave us one to go to the Bosco. Even if you're not in the mood to lounge next door, the coupon still says that they care. Becuase coupons are love.

I've lived in Chicago for a while so finding a good improv place has been something I've been meaning to do. I picked this place up because ferndale has the annual improv fest. The show was at 10pm but the shoe didnt actually got started until more than a half an hour after the start which I thought was pretty bad. I also found that two drinks and popcorn was about 20 dollars which seemed like a bit much. The interior is quite nice and spacious there are Overall the first three opening acts weren't great but the headliner was fantastic they had a ton of good jokes and dis a great job of having the audience interact with the actors which is so key for good improv. There were a few tv actors in the group I believe. Good place but I wasnt a fan of starting a half hour late.

This place is literally the best theres no better place. Drinks are killer, staff is incredible. If I could rate this place 6 stars I would. The negative reviews about this place are probably from depressed assholes.

The best parts: Intimate concert setting, nice staff, moderately priced (but always a cover), good talent, close to a lot of other places to bar hop. I AM VERY EXCITED TO HEAR THE MB IS GOING SMOKE FREE AS OF JULY 4, 2009! Can't wait to start seeing shows there again!

This is probably an atypical review for the Magic Bag, but one that I am eager to write...so much so that I'm writing it on the first day of my honeymoon. My (now) wife and I were looking for places to have our wedding. We didn't want to do the traditional church route. We didn't want to go country club, golf course, or anything like that. Originally the barn idea is what we wanted, but barns today are charging an arm and a leg. Not knowing whether or not they would entertain the idea, I reached out to the Magic Bag. Robert responded to me quickly and said that holding a wedding ceremony was something that they had done very few times in the past, but that they would be open to it. After checking out the space, we both thought it would be the perfectly unique spot for us to tie the knot. There are a few things that we had to work around - it's a concert venue. When you're not packing the place and spending thousands at the bar, they're losing money...so you need to be out of the place in the event that a show will be happening. Robert let us know from the beginning and we were glad to oblige. Anyway...the real reason I'm writing this review is because I cannot say enough good things about Robert. He is 100% on top of things. He's a super cool, chill guy. He cares immensely about the space and the service he provides. If you ever find yourself dealing with the Magic Bag for anything other than purchasing a ticket to a show, you will certainly deal with Robert. He bent over backwards for us and met with us multiple times to make sure that things were perfect for our special day. He found space on the marquee for our names. He even busted out a suit for our wedding day. Anyway...just know that the Magic Bag is owned/operated by good people who deserve your support. See some shows here. Buy some booze. Enjoy yourself and know that you're supporting people who are well-deserving of that support.

I have been to two concerts at the Magic Bag in the past twelve years. Both times, it has allowed people to experience a great group at a very reasonable price. Both bands were very approachable. However, as many other reviewers on here have stated, security is grossly unprofessional here. Keep in mind that these visits happened twelve years apart, you would think that something would change at that point in time. What kind of bar books a band that has been around for forty years, then sets a TIME LIMIT after the show for the artist to sign their merchandise? Frankly, I hope the band chooses not to play this venue again. Thank heavens the guitar player saw through their unprofessionalism.

A great spot to catch national and local acts. It's a no frills, intimate (smallish), venue that has a full bar (again nothing fancy). For the groupies and fans out there, set up camp right in front of the stage, or grab a table in the back and enjoy waitress service while watching the show.

Management is rude, uneducated and discriminatory. I called to see if proof of Covid-19 vaccination is required. I was told yes, and I asked if Proof of antibodies or a negative test could be used. Andy said "NOPE " and hung up on me!! So unprofessional. I am a nurse and have taken care of many people with Covid-19 since the beginning. Unvaccinated does not equate to infected. Right now the majority of people getting Covid-19 are the vaccinated AND they are spreading it! There are many evidence based studies proving natural immunity is far superior to the vaccine, especially with the current variant. IF the Magic Bag was truly concerned about their customers and bands they would be requiring all people show proof of a negative test, not proof of a vaccine that is NOT preventing infection or preventing transmission. I won't support a business that discriminates in this way and has illogical policies.

We went with friends to see Rockstars! So much fun!! Advice: get there early to grab "your spot"! So a nice spot was standing in the aisle going down towards the stage - nobody is behind you and there's a ledge for your drink. It didn't feel crowded in a packed house. The server was great and drinks were prompt. Bathrooms were easy to get to and not crowded and clean which is always important to us ladies! The show itself was great!! We hadn't seen this group before and they were great!! 80's music and the lead singer changes costumes and becomes the person! Just SO MUCH FUN! Tickets were only $15 for a 90" show or was it 2 hours.. anyway.. lotsa bang for your buck!! If you're familiar with Ferndale at all then you know parking is tricky. Advice: download the Park Ferndale app so you're ready to go. We parked on the street and I renewed the app as it expired during the show. So parking was cheap for us. The Magic Bag is fun, loud and a great time. Oh the band members come out and interact with crowd afterwards... my friend got her picture with her fave! What a riot! She had fun - he made her day!!

One of the best places to hang in Metro Detroit is the Magic Bag. Formerly a strip club, it is now a venue for $10 - $20 concerts, inexpensive "Brew and View" ($2.00 per movie ticket) nights, and child-free boozing. With comfy tables and semi-booths, this place not only condones smoking, but empties your ashtray before it needs it. One of the best aspects of the tavern is the annual "Spike & Mike's Sick & Twisted Animation Festival." If you are a fan of Mike Judge ("Beavis and Butthead,") Craig McCracken ("No Neck Joe" and creator of "The Powerpuff Girls,") and/or Matt Stone and Trey Parker ("South Park" and "Team America,") you don't want to miss this in December. Old comedies and classic commercials are shown as you wait for the main event and waitpersons make sure your glass is always at least half-full. Don't be surprised if you are asked to share a table or find yourself a bit short of elbow room. Still, it's all good. There are occasional comedy appearances and a room where you can create your own party. Sign up and they will put you on their e-mailing list and treat you to a free movie viewing.

I have heard about the Magic Bag being a fun venue for events for years, but I finally went to one this week. It's a great little concert spot in downtown Ferndale that is good for specialty acts and bands that are past their prime, but keep on plugging for the fans. I caught the retro cover band Mega 80s and the sound and video system was on par. There was a good mix of standing room and seating. Their servers for the bar were very attentive with drinks and refills (as this was an open bar event), and other employees were kind and friendly. My only complaint was the temperature...for a 30 degree night, they had the heat up too high and it was really stuffy. When people are up and dancing, there needs to be more ventilation, and at the very least, keep the temperature at a more moderate level. There's a decent amount of metered parking within a block of the Magic Bag. Ticket prices for upcoming shows are reasonable. Give this spot a try.

I have never been so offended in my entire life. Until I was about to leave I had the best night since I moved to Detroit.Mega 80s night was amazing! I went to cash out my credit card, and the bartender told me their machine was down. They said they couldn't run my card despite having taken it, AND MY ID, when I opened my tab. Immediately the bouncer/manager walker up to me and attempted to intimidate me. He said I would have to come up with the money or I would not receive my ID back. His demeanor was in my face and attempting to intimidate. I have never felt so rudely treated in my entire life. I was as polite as I could be explaining that I needed to work in the ER of Detroit tomorrow. I would leave my card and give them the only cash I had $10, and return for my card tomorrow and the bartender just said "talk to him." Him was the bouncer/manager who said thats too bad "come up with the money." I've never been so offended in my life. I will never return to this bar and I would warn people to be careful when dealing with this shady establishment.

Business allows employees to post comments with little to no empathy for past customers who did not have pleasant experiences. Many of the comments were actually sarcastic and condescending and blatantly disregarded the fact that some posts were made (including my original) 2 years ago. Many things can change in 2 years (including improving beer prices) but it seems as if the jerk-y approach of the employees has not. In addition, after reading through responses to other Yelpers, employees fail to thank patrons who actually took the time to rant about their positive experience. Nice work.

Oh Magic Bag, how much do i love you? well, i can smoke in you.....that's a good sign you have cocktail waitresses that bring me gin and tonics while watching tropic thunder. some people don't like going to see movies in you because they say its too loud. i say bring it on i love the crowds! you have good concerts and i got to see rufus wainwright under your beautiful ceiling. its only a couple bucks to see a movie and sit in a more civilized style than at the normal movies. your popcorn is good i can smoke while i drink and that's really the only time i need one. Ooops, after looking around apparently i can't smoke in you anymore.....you lost a star love, juston

Terrible venue. Went to see a comedy show which was supposed to have two times that evening, they did not sell enough tickets so they consolidated them into one show. It was overcrowded with standing room only after waiting in line for an hour. They did not have a separate line for will call, just checked a printed list after enduring a very long wait to search slowly for your name. Once Inside, The bouncers were rude and said people could not along railing, because they were over capacity and they had recent complaints from the fire marshall. As previous reviewers mentioned, if stepping outside the bouncers would make you wait in line to re-enter. I'm surprised this place actually remains in business.

I haven't gone to this venue for anything other than concerts, but I'm a big fan of it no less. I used to do a lot of street teaming in the past, which required managers of bands to put me on the guest list. This only sometimes happened. Half the time, I wasn't on the guest list and I'd spend a good hour or so trying to get in contact with someone who could go along a grape vine to get me on the list so I could do what I was supposed to. The Secret Machines had a show here on Mother's Day awhile back. I wasn't a huge fan of them, but I was a fan of going to concerts regardless, haha. So, my friend and I say au revoir to our dear mothers and head over to Ferndale. I had lots of promotional materials for the band, and I handed my license to the ticket guy and he tells me I'm not on the list. I almost cried. I was not wanting to go to a concert on Mother's Day, my mom especially wasn't a fan of that. I had arms full of posters, stickers and the like about the band, and luckily, for me... he took pity upon us. He let us in regardless, even though the show was sold out. A few nights ago, I saw Frandy from Travis there and it was amazing. The sound was great, the atmosphere was great.

The concert was great, and the venue and service were adequate, until the concert ended. As soon as the band played their last song, the bright lights and unbearably loud music were turned on, and the bouncers started yelling at people to move toward the bar. Suddenly the guests were reduced to cattle, which might have made sense if we were a bunch of unruly drunken teenagers. However the majority of the guests were decent middle-aged human beings. The owners and managers of this establishment need to be reminded that we paid good money for tickets and drinks, and if they want our return business, they may want to fire or train their rude staff and find a more gentle and respectful way of transitioning guests to the door.

I love the Brew & View nights here, but a small tip, bring a pillow to sit on! The bar has great drink prices, and someone will come by your table to grab empties or offer to bring you another. They also make fresh popcorn to munch on. Before the movie they play a loop of old food & toy commercials for every generation to remember! Besides that, I had the GREAT pleasure of seeing The English Beat perform here a few weeks ago and that was one of the best shows I've been to. I love the two levels of standing room, the higher section gives you a straight on view of the band.

The Magic Bag fits the ambiance of fabulous Ferndale in a way a conventional theatre or cinema can't. Drive past on any given day, and the marquee announces a choice film showing for their weekly Brew 'n Views, an eclectic mix of up and coming or well-established musicians, and usually a band with a wonderfully cocky name (Lez Zeppelin springs immediately to mind). That pretty much sums up all you need to know about the city and its vibrant entertainment and cultural district. My experience with live performances at the Magic Bag has been limited to the Detroit Improv Festival, but the Magic Bag and its staff did not disappoint. The box office handled will calls efficiently and sorted out an eager, excited crowd ready to get into the next show on a tight schedule. The Friday night line-up of The Mighty They (a Go! Comedy troupe), Planet Ant's house team from the Hamtramck improv venue, and Detroit's own brilliant 313 had a full house that was hopping, laughing, and fully engaged from the back of the house to the front row. Not often that gets to happen without some very good acoustics or planning! Sound and production value were excellent. The beau and I had no trouble hearing and seeing anything from our seats on the second rail. Seating for the DIF was tight and the show was a near sell-out, but the separate tables, seats at the rails, and bench seats kept claustrophobia to a minimum. Avoid the bench seating separated by tiny arm-tables unless you have the proportions of a 15-year-old girl or the ultra hipster, otherwise it's a bit like those awkward nightmares where Adult You ends up back in middle school, jammed in a desk and yelled at by your teacher for not handing in your homework or finishing a presentation on War and Peace. Refreshments at the bar include beer and wine, liquors, and pop at fairly reasonable prices. They also sell popcorn in pint, litre, and giant-sized varieties, and it turned out fairly good. Servers offer helpful suggestions if you're stuck and bring orders promptly. Settling up the bill was no trouble afterwards. For a relaxed vibe and a friendly atmosphere, the Magic Bag beats out a sleazy multiplex cinema, a dive bar where you don't want to know what your feet are bathing in, or a loud club/theatre with no room to move. FYI: Streetside parking can be at a premium but avoid the back lot and choose one owned by the City of Ferndale a short walk over from Nine Mile by the library or across Cambourne. Why pay $3 for the night (or $5 on Friday and Saturday nights) when you can use a cheaper meter? The Parkmobile app lets you renew your spot and automatically expires when parking restrictions shut off.

Came here for Magic 80's night. Fun but some cons sort of ruined it for me. Pros: Drink prices were good ($3.50 for a beer, not too bad) Music and performance was good. Service was quick and friendly. Cons: $10 for cover with no card reader. That's a little steep for any bar in Michigan, in my opinion, plus having to run to the ATM and pay a service fee while my wife waited in the cold, started the night on the wrong foot. Hot and crowded. I don't know if the AC is inadequate or they shut it off to sell more drinks but the temp probably reached about 100, and I was constantly asked to move to let the bar staff by. This is probably one of those things that could be a pro if you like the energy of the crowd, but I found it uncomfortable. No coat check/place for coats. In said 100 degree bar, you might want to drop your coat somewhere safe. Instead we left ours on a dirty rail and hoped they wouldn't get drinks spilled on them. All in all it was a fun night, but we probably won't return.

Great "smaller" venue to see a show. Over the years, I've attended up-close and personal performances from The Church, The Verve Pipe, VAST, Rob Dickinson, as well as a great number of local acts. I really like the tiered seating set-up, because anywhere you sit has a great view. The security has always been A-OK to me. Not overly-friendly, but not blatantly rude either. They always seem to diffuse situations (which seem to be pretty few and far between, btw) pretty quickly. The bar staff? Eh, again... sometimes I think I'm overly critical because I am a bartender. For the most part, they're pretty friendly and quick. Sometimes, they even remember what you're drinking (Huge plus!) One night, the blonde female bartenders attitude was absolutely atrocious. Honestly, I just won't have her wait on me again. Problem solved! The drink prices? Maybe a little high, but come on, it's "entertainment" pricing, right? Really, no higher than most other concert venues. The cleanliness of the place is also pretty deserving of the 4-star rating. Bathrooms aren't disgusting and scary- unlike some other venues, spills are cleaned up quickly and efficiently by the staff, and the waitresses are great about picking up empty bottles and glasses. All in all, not a bad choice to see a show.

Singin I LOVE ROCK 'N ROLL....put another dime in the Jukebox BABY!! I like this venue. It hasn't changed much over the years.... It's cool and dirty....just like I like it! Saw the Mega 80's here last night, they were fun....I'd like to check out a Brew & View in the near future....that would be a fun salute to my yester year. Keep rockin Magic Bag!

If only every music venue could be as great as the Magic Bag! Detroit- you get to have the Magic Bag! Lucky lucky you.