The Freight

I went for the Choir Choir Choir show, wow, what an outstanding adventure in song and music. The staff was so helpful, and very professional, especially the lady at the box office named Manisha, who was so kind to guide me and my date to the doors. I can't believe most of all these folks are volunteers, how incredible! The food and drinks were delicious, so much healthier than usual concession booths. This was such a fun experience, I hope to attend more events here in the future.

An amazing venue with good acoustics and views of the stage. We caught the Anda Union show last night which paired wonderfully with this space. The proximity of the stage and musicians made the event more intimate and enjoyable. The parking structure next door was very convenient.

A true cultural jewel of the SF Bay Area. Excellent acoustics and sight lines. Nearby multi story parking garage ensures easy parking for patrons.

It is an absolutely beautiful intimate venue. The staff was fantastic. The acoustics are excellent. $8 for a 12oz beer. If there's someone you enjoy that is booked to play here, don't hesitate.

Fun theater that books a lot of folk, acoustic, and "world music" performers. Sound system is very good, especially in the center sections. Theater is relatively small, so everyone gets a good seat. No reserved seating. Doors open an hour before show time and people often start lining up half an hour before that.

Great show tonight! Easy in and out, seats comfortable, good acoustics and even though I am short I could easily see the stage. Stanley Jordan was fantastic, uplifting spirits! Thank you Freight and Salvage. Oh, and the beer was good too.

first time there. The band was the best.. all female rock band skip the needle

Excellent venue to see music. Warmth, clarity of sound, friendly volunteers. Not a large venue and that's a plus. Food and beverages are nicely priced. Artists seem to enjoy playing here. This audience member enjoys listening! Keep on.

What a wonderful and cozy space!! Was there for Choir! Choir! Choir!! Singing along with 500 new friends in the main hall. Folks working there were all nice and warm. The space is immaculate and designed for attendees comfort. We spent most of the time standing and singing. But when I did sit down, noted that the seats were comfy and not too close. There was good visual to stage from almost every seat. The sound was great. The lighting was great. I would look forward to my next visit!!

Very cool place! It's a small theatre with a stage. There's also food and drinks in the lobby for purchase. We went to attend a program for the Oakland School of the Arts - great experience. Loved the venue! Parking was easy, we used a nearby parking structure.

One of the best places in Berkeley to hear live acoustic music. They have a great schedule of artists too.

Attended the Moth storytelling program. We parked at the garage next door for $3/hr. Fun event lasting 2.5 hours. You can purchase drinks and snacks inside. I do not recommend their coffee. There is also a taco truck outside where you can purchase coffee.

Last night Nina and I saw Cuban pianist/keyboardist Omar Sosa and Senegalese kora (harp) maestro Seickou Keita as part of 2/3 of the SUBA Trio. The third member of the trio was Gustavo Ovalles, a Venezuelan percussionist. The concert was my Chanukah gift to Nina. We parked in our usual spot, had dinner st Pho Tasty and then went to the Freight. Though I had reserved ADA seating, the woman who seated us didn't have my name. Fortunately she had two together all the way back in the center section. They were farther back than we like to sit, but they worked out fine. The house was full, pretty much. The musicians played w/ a joy that was infectious and contagious. Several times Omar Sosa was playing the piano w/ his right hand and the keyboard w/ his left, often w/ different rhythms, Nina observed. Their connection w/ each other and w/ the audience was wonderful. They had us singing, dancing, snapping our fingers at various times. Seickou Keita said their goals were 1) to ,make the audience smile, which they did. 2) make the audience dance, check. 3) make the audience cry...w/ joy, and speaking for myself, they did. They played one long set w/ no intermission and it felt generous. There was virtually no speaking between numbers, yet they communicated eloquently and w/ warmth. We were seated next to the light and sound board and it was fun watch the curtain and other stage settings change from red to purple and then to blue. Both Nina and I left feeling happy and full of music. It was a magical night and we were so happy to have been a part of it.

Attended a concert in the Freight's littlefield room, Mozart's Bday Celebration, SF Chamber Orchestra musicians on the violin, viola, and cello, and a special guest on the piano. The venue has a concessions stand serving snacks and drinks, and plenty of tables and seating in the lobby. There are also a few counter height tables and seating in the showroom which is a great option for viewing if you don't want to hold your drink during the performance, since it's open seating. The inside of the auditorium has a nice intimate feel, though it can still fit quite a bit of people. And the view of the stage seems pretty good from almost any seat due to the elevation. I sat at a high seat mid-level, next to a table, and it was perfect for experiencing the special Classicals at the Freight performance, the lovely melodies of Mozart and musical talents of SFCO all-stars. I parked less than 2 blocks away, on University Avenue, but if you can't find street parking, the Center Street Parking Garage is conveniently located right next to the Freight.

I recently went to the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse with my beloved to see Jai Uttal & friends. Freight & Salvage is a non-profit and a lot volunteers help run it. All in all great organization and a nice small intimate venue to see music. Me and my beloved really enjoyed the kirtan and performance. Great evening. We will return.

A friend introduced me to the regularly occurring Moth story slam, which is delightful. Since then, I've attended other events, including a concert. The venue is small enough that you can see the stage well from anywhere, but not so large that it feels overwhelming. It's so nice to have this local spot in Berkeley. I've heard that Bobby McFerrin is a regular performer here, though I haven't had a chance to see him yet. If you're in Berkeley, definitely check out a show here--it's worth it!

Came here for a moth taping and this venue was great! The acoustics were excellent - we could clearly hear everyone. It fit a lot of people but didn't feel overwhelming. Everyone staffing the event were very nice and everything was labeled clearly so it made navigating the venue extremely easy. During intermission, everyone crowded to restrooms, fortunately, the venue has gender neutral bathrooms (and not single stalls either!) on the upstairs area that were clearly labeled and easy to get to.

Fantastic venue. Not a bad seat in the house, great sound, staff was very nice, bathrooms were spotless and parking at the garage right next door was easy and affordable.

What a lovely evening with Eilen Jewell (Mess Around off the Boundary Country album) Freight and Salvage continue to offer amazing live music in an intimate setting at a reasonable price. Freight and Salvage are current with local and CDC COVID-19 protocols and offer a streamlined process to enter the facility.. Matt says check out the calendar and go see your favorite music live!

I love coming to this place for concerts. There isn't a bad seat in the house. I don't really have any bad things to say about freight in Salvage other than I wish it was closer to my house.

What a great organization/venue/cause/mission in downtown Berkeley. This non-profit venue is all about world music, folk and music education. They have some sort of programming every day/night: folk nights, Sundays with Bobby McFerrin (the 'Don't Worry Be Happy' singer) to a renowned singer from Mali. I also spied banjo classes and so much more. My experience with F&S has only been for The Moth nights. Approximately once a month they host these storytelling evening where attendees can share their 5 min prepared story on a certain theme. Stories are voted on by selected judges in the audience and one special storyteller walks away a winner. (def look it up if you want to know more). A few things: they still have strict mask policies and they don't allow food or drink in the theater portion (you can consume in the lobby). They do have a parking garage next door although it's a bit pricey. As I have yet to see music, I can't share critique on acoustics, but for The Moth nights, the place can handle a small-medium sized crowd and serves as a great community center!

First time here. It's easy to find and has top talent like Pat Metheny. Fine acoustics. Easy to navigate inside. Decor: ok and clean. A mini deli has very good prices and wine/beer. Sandwiches are just $6.00 I did not partake. Customer service: excellent and helpful.

I've been curious about seeing a performance here after seeing this venue from my visits to the Berkeley Rep across the street. After missing Taimane's visit in 2019, I finally came to The Freight for Taimane's Hawaiki concert tour. I came to find out that the venue is a nonprofit community arts organization that is dedicated to promoting music rooted in and expressed through regional, ethnic, and social cultures around the world and is supported through the shows, grants, benefit performances, volunteers, and donations. For the concert, the tickets were general admission which is open seating in the venue. Getting there shortly after the doors opened, we selected fourth row center aisle seats. But with its size, it appears that most seating on the lower section allows for a good view of the stage. The sound system was superb as the system was designed and installed by Berkeley's Meyer Sound Labs. The Freight requires all attendees to show their vaccination cards and to be masked in the venue. The workers at the check-in and in the venue were friendly. I'll be checking out The Freight's calendar for performances and will be back for Taimane's next visit.

Love the music, but always hate the chairs. They just don't match my body and I am always uncomfortable. I typically will stand for a good portion of a show.

Recently trekked up to F&S from the central coast to see Karla Bonoff and Nina Gerber perform here. In spite of initially questioning my judgement re: driving up to Berkeley in the middle of a historic "atmospheric river" rainstorm, I was so gratified to have made that decision. What a wonderful show to have witnessed from these two artists! They complimented each other with such grace, harmony, and mutual respect. This was a "10" rated performance on any scale and it was well supported by the amazing sound system in place at the Freight. Karla Bonoff has not lost a degree of range in her stellar career. The richness and range and warmth of her voice shined through the entire performance. Nina Gerber is a musician's musician in support of every headliner she plays with. Whenever she takes the stage with her gentle presence, she instantly impacts the performance like a velvet musical hammer. What a privilege it was to see these two musicians play so beautifully at this venue!!

I love the vibe the people and especially the performance that was there that night. Anytime I go there it's always a good time.

Great venue! Interesting performances. My only regret was lack of concessions for 12 pm performance.

it's the place to go for the kinda music i wanna hear. an auditorium though, not a club. You can buy limited food and drink.

I love the homy atmosphere and the cute concession stand. East talk to others too and great talent!

We saw a fun kids show and the environment was relaxed and friendly and everyone had a great time. The staff was so nice. It was great that the kids could snack while watching the show.

If you you are in need of proof of life after 80, go see Graham Nash at your first opporutnity. His voice was so close to the octaves he hit with CSNY, that i could scarcely belive my own ears. I've seen the band many times since 1968, and Graham is the real thing that makes up the heart and soul of musical genius. Last night he filled the hall with storys, acoustic music, electric music and harmonies that are almost as good as the oldend days with Crosby, but reallly, that is impossible to recreate, ever again. Loved the guy as he left us in Berkeley and flew off to Geneva, etc. I only wish he played Chicago, my pesonal anthemn.

Performed at the most welcoming open mic. Beautiful space. Lovely people. You can feel the room is alive with music and discovery.

I am reposting my review based on the comments that I made after attending a concert there. I saw Bobi Cespedes with her ensemble. I saw a couple of friends their. The go regularly and are not of color. I also received a comment from them asking what black musicians I'd like to see there . I didn't answer because the Bay Area is dripping with local African American talent. Insulting, like the comments of the woman from the Jazz school. The place is a nice venue for a concert, small and intimate, however, they have some issues as you can read in the reposted view below. It was hard to fully enjoy the experience, in light of the following... This is a space that I usually make fun of because the events they have aren't accessible "interesting" to me. But they had a concert with Bobi Cespedes, so I had to go support her. I miss the old Conjunto Cespedes and it was wonderful seeing here there with Lichi Fuentes and Marcos Diaz! I thought they were of the same ilk of the Jazz School. And I think that it may be. But my husband and I ran into Tito Gonzalez at the Berkeley Farmer's Market and he was passing out flyers for his show. We said, "I didn't know that they allowed black people on stage there, and he proudly said that he would be on. We couldn't make the show, but a Cuban friend went with her boyfriend (Italian) and they had a fantastic time. And while, I still find most of their events, not of my taste, meaning that I don't understand why there isn't more of an African American blues presence, considering that some of the blues clubs (Eli's Mile High, Biscuit and Blues, etc.) are gone - one temporarily (hopefully in the case of B&B). They like their bluegrass, blue-eyed sould, etc. But I digress. The only black people they seem to like speak Spanish and the only problem is that black people speak many languages, mostly English in this area. But there's also French, Arabic, Portuguese - you get my drift. That's great for Tito and Bobi, but for the rest of us, there's no there there. For more stars, I need to see more diversity.

I can't believe that I never reviewed Freight and Salvage as we've been here probably 5 times by now. The great part is the Freight is nonprofit supported by generous charitable contributions, grants, and tireless volunteers who are passionate about their mission. A small enough venue to have a great view and sounds anywhere, you don't have to go far for beverages and snacks as it is served to the right when you enter enabling you to stretch you legs during intermission and enough space to mingle without worrying you need to keep your eye on the time when you should return. They have a great variety of talent including roots, folk, jazz, celtic, latin, afro-fusion, country, although we have only been here for Hawaiian music. We were here mostly for Uncle George Kahumoku and other slack key greats he is touring with like Nathan Aweau, Kawika Kahiapo, Jeff Petersen, and Led Kaapana. Recently we were treated to the sounds of our own Berkeley native Patrick Landeza opening up for Grammy award winner Kalani Pe`a just about 10 days before he went on to win his second Grammy. Amy Hanaiali`i, I have my eyes on you next.

Had to update my review to RAVE about acts I've heard in the past month or so- Graham Nash, Andy Falco & Travis Book (of Incredible String Dusters), PAT METHENY (last night!)- so incredible!!! Absolutely stunning performances in equally stunning (and friendly welcoming) Berkeley venue. Intimate yet world class. That sums up Berkeley to me. We get to have this!!

I loved this place for so many years. Great sound , they book many great acts, excellent line of sight. Been a loyal customer from the days when they were still at their old location by San Pablo Ave But what they're doing with the entry requirements is baffling. The result is a really strange , stale & cold concert going experience. Nowhere else in town is requiring medical records & masks to be worn at all times. No drinks & no food. I feel like I'm visiting a nursing home. This is summer of 2022. I look forward to updating this review when they regain some sense of sanity ...hopefully before they turn all their customers away. Most people under the age of 70 have stopped going because of these restrictions. Better to go hang elsewhere where you can see your friends faces, have some fun, & not be subjected into these invasive requirements

Ticket fees are up there. Staff was bossy but no one really took responsibility for anything. The venue's acoustics are worthy of bumping it up to two stars but not much more.

This venue is terrific. I've been here a couple of times for The Moth, which I highly recommend. This week was the first time I've attended a musical performance. Croce Plays Croce was astonishingly good, and it's such an intimate venue. We really felt like the musicians and the audience were just having a great time together. Their COVID policies are very good. Proof of vaccine and masks are both required. One can enjoy drinks and snack in the lobby, which is amply roomy for social distancing. They have a nice little beer and wine selection. Inside the theater, food and drinks were not allowed. This may be the first time I've seen 100% mask compliance recently, and it did not detract at all from the enjoyment. I'm going to be checking their calendar for other musical events, and will be seeing if any friends want to go again to The Moth with me.

Freight and Salvage is small enough that there are no bad seats and large enough to attract some great performers. I have seen several shows, for some I needed earplugs and others were perfect for me. I suspect that the artist has control over the volume. Being a nonprofit allows them to book a variety of artists that you will not see at other places. We were on the guestlist for the last two shows we saw here, so I can't really comment on the ticket prices. In the past ticket prices have always been reasonable What I really enjoyed was the framed calendars that lined the hallway to the bathrooms. "The Freight" has been around since 1968. It was interesting to see all the different performers that played there over the years, some became famous, others are pleasant memories, and some I have no idea who they were.

We love it! Great food, coffee, drinks while experiencing such wonderful music and shows. Thank you for being there, and staying there, F and S!

We love Freight & Salvage, the box office customer service is stellar, prompt & helpful. We live in south bay so we don't get up there as much as we would like but it is a fantastic venue with an eclectic lineup. The adjacent parking garage is very convenient.

Don't go here if you believe in your right to choose whether you get a booster shot because you won't be admitted if you don't have one even if you're fully vaccinated. Honestly.. is it even legal to allow a sale of a ticket without a disclaimer that a booster is necessary and then deny you entrance..? Extremely angry at this establishment and will never go here ever again.

I saw an NPR Moth slam here. It was an intimate and yet professional venue. I loved it and enjoyed the wine and truffles for sale too.

Excellent music venue! They always have great shows! Love their selection So glad they are open for business and that they have taco options. We did not try them this time but will next time . Fun!!

Great venue for musical acts. Not too small but not too large either. Great seats and views from pretty much anywhere. Walking distance to nearby restaurants for post-show eats.

Mahalo Freight & Salvage, what a beautiful venue you have. No seat is a bad seat. Chairs are so comfortable and not tight, get space. I wanna say Mahalo nui for bringing Hawaiian music here to the bay area Kalani Pe'a, Landezza Ohana, Kumu and her halau and much more. Please continue to reach out and bring more artists from the islands to here.

Great smaller venue for a show. Decent prices on snacks and drinks outside of the hall. Beware of the biatch mask police lady who ruined the entire experience by insisting our masks placed a certain way. Everyone knows how to wear a mask by now. This pushy woman had her own agenda. Everyone else was great!!

No matter who I see at freight and salvage, the venue is almost always the star of the show. It is a very nice small music venue in the heart of Berkley. Accessibility is superb, whether by private or public transportation. There is a giant public parking lot literally next-door with stairs that lead to the front door of the venue. Once inside you will find a a very chill atmosphere with comfortable seats, large aisles, good vending and great sight-lines. We frequently sit in the last row and dance behind our seats all night. The acts that play here are diverse and talented. You might see Hawaiian Masters one night and Hot Tuna the next. I recently saw Paris Combo there and the entire delightful show was in French. Tickets are generally sold at a modest price but this is the Bay Area so nothing is cheap. Enjoy great music at the Freight and Salvage.

Really great venue! So glad I discovered it when I bought tickets to a Jon McLaughlin concert here. Very intimate setting. Affordable shows. Advance general admission tickets for Jon McLaughlin were just $17 ($20 at the door, I believe). Hardwood floors, wood panel walls, chandelier style lights hanging from the ceiling. Quite lovely. The space isn't huge which I really like because it makes for more intimate performances. Would be interested in returning to check out some other performances! And also to try out their "concessions." There's a bar that sells some alcohol, coffee, water, not sure what else. The performance I went to included an intermission. Probably hard to find street parking around here, as it is in downtown Berkeley. But it's SUPER close to Bart so I would recommend taking public transportation here if at all possible. Lots of restaurants nearby all within walking distance if you want to grab a bite to eat or a drink before your show.

This is a great venue to listen to music. I have been here several times and each time is wonderful. Acoustics are great and no bad seat in the house. The other nice thing is you can see legends of music here. This is a non profit place. Come and support it! I am so

This is probably one of my favorite intimate, classy and BEAUTIFULLY structured small music venues in the Bay Area. That could be in part because it hosts plays and local charity events as part of the community, but this place is just lovely. I went here a few months ago to see American singer-songwriter/bluegrass aficionada Sarah Jarosz perform, and... Let me tell you a story. Sunday night. Left late. Decided to skip on the opener. Since tickets were sold out, I went in for Standing Room only. No ticket bystander was at the box office. I heard the musician playing overheard over the front-of-house speakers. I thought to myself, "Oh my gosh! I'm missing it! Is this how I'm going to experience this show? Outside the venue as I happily listen to her perform over the speakers?!" Luckily I was able to ring the buzzer and the lady came to me and let me go in and enjoy the rest of the show. Might I add, there is not one single bad seat or view in the entire room. The stage is centered downward as the audience seating angles upward all around the venue. The music and acoustics are GORGEOUS. You can hear every little sound, as I would like to think this place makes for a great live recording venue as well. They usually house American bluegrass singers and songwriters and local music groups, which makes it more of a community-driven all-American venue. Transportation is EASY as you just walk a block or two from the Downtown Berkeley BART station. Parking can be a little difficult as it is downtown, but there are little spots and alleys all around (and Berkeley makes for such a great and easy walk-around). I absolutely fell in love with this venue and would love to go again. Although they house more musicians that I am unfamiliar with in the Americana song branch, I would definitely come again... Book fair? Readings? Speakers? Local choirs? If something catches my attention, I'm there. The venue itself is gorgeous, classy and clean and serves its musicians and audience right.

Hello, I would like to say how disappointed I am in your companies ability to notify your customers of a RESCHEDULED show. I purchased tickets for the Andy McKee 1/11/22 show, took time off work, drove 3 hours to Berkeley, lodging, etc. just to find out while visiting your website for directions that the show was rescheduled to May 2022. I received no call, no email, NO notice whatsoever that this show was rescheduled. I find this extremely unprofessional and will not be returning to your establishment.

I visited the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse for the first time tonight and this is the place that I've been looking for. Unpretentious musical talent in a setting that is both small and intimate but also big enough to give me the anonymity I desire so I won't get singled out to be serenaded by the singer (ha!). I just love live music and this venue didn't disappoint. I enjoyed the vocal stylings and music of Molly Holm & Her Fab Band. There isn't a bad seat in the joint. The sound is great and you can view the band from any seat with near to no obstruction (unless the person in front of you plays basketball for Cal or something). I really look forward to years of visiting this place. I can see that volunteers help during tickets/admissions. The costs to see a show is so minimal and totally worth it.

Love the space!! Attended a Moth StorySlam here the other night and got premium seating tickets which didn't seem necessary b/c I think all the seats in the space probably have a decent view of the stage. They have a coffee bar and a wine / beer / cider bar as well that has light snacks (pretzels, nuts). There was a taco truck outside and some patrons came in with burritos or tacos so that's at least a food option. There is a garage next door for accessible parking and lots of places to eat and explore in Berkeley. Hope to be back for another show in the near future!

I have been supporting Freight & Salvage off & on for about a year. This review is way over due. ... This is an intimate world class venue that does everything right!! They have a wide variety of different types of events. I personally have seen Blues musicians (Ray Charles Experience with Chris Cain), harmonica blow outs, International Piano Festivals, Cuban Salsa Band,Irma Thomas, The Blind Boys if Alabama & Presentation Hall Jazz group, etc....all within the last few months. Acoustics are great, seating is comfortable, venue is always clean (Huge plus on the bathrooms ), no bad seats in the house, snack bar isn't that robust, but it's good enough to get through the evening. Nice, relaxing, semi-reasonably priced venue. Great Experience! ! Now special note of the staff: Exceptional! Small crew, of extremely dedicated exceptional staff. I recently had need to avail myself of their ADA ...what impressed me most....was the courtesy call inquiring about any preparations needed to ensure a successful experience. I don't know if they are always able to reach out personally, but it brought tears of gratitude nevertheless. This is a truly exceptional venue being run by exceptional people! Thank you, thank you, thank you for another memorable experience. Warm regards Sharine

What a great space for intimate music. And a non-profit, hooray! Staff and volunteers were lovely. Conveniently located next to a parking garage. Simply nothing to dislike. Thanks for keeping the Freight rollin'!

Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse is a fantastic music venue. The acoustics are perfect. The lighting sets a comfortable mood. One doesn't sit in the dark during the concert. Every seat does indeed have a great view of the stage, but front row seats, be they in front, to the left or right of the stage, can't be beat. It's a bit like sitting with the artist in their living room as they perform just for you. Less than a block from BART, Freight & Salvage is so easy to get to. The folks here are so nice and you can tell that music is their passion. I always watch the calendar and try to get here as often as I can.