The NorVa

Went to the NorVa for the first time last night. Out of the hundreds of shows I have been to and the years that that took, I had never been here before and I really loved the place. One of my favourite aspects was that it didn't feel packed like a lot of the small venues I have gone to and that is not to say that it was empty, kind of like how downtown Norfolk always is, but I had a little radius of space between me and the crowd which was very nice and it was still almost near capacity. Definitely feel like I have been missing out all these years and will be looking to go back again for another show at some point.

Great concery venue. Smaller and more intimate then many locations. Parking was easy with a garage across the street and drinks were easy with short lines and two good sized bars. Employees all were polite and had positive attitudes. I will prefer this location when I have a choice for concerts

The venue was awesome! Getting a drink was easy, but $25 is quite a bit for a double and coke, I think.

Had a great experience going to see Kim Dracula and Hanabie! Expecting two performers and there was actually four. Would have liked to of had more food options but they did have $7 pizzas slices, which is better than nothing. It also would have been nice to have the upstairs open but I was told there was not enough tickets sold to justify that. The option for reentry would have been nice too so you can go and grab food and come back because there wasn't that many food options. There was tons of good drink options on tap and in can. I was disappointed that my Long Island was poured from one bottle instead of made but overall no real complaints.

Great venue… just big enough but also small enough to feel like you are in the music and part of the show. Just watch for falling objects, (my daughter was hit with a cellphone and a shoe) from the balcony… wild times. 😆 ps to Nettspend the kids will Be OK, just keep being U

I went to The Norva for the KISS6 Tour, and this venue truly gave ghetto energy from the moment I walked in. A few things need to be said: 1. Security and Atmosphere This is supposed to be an R&B concert. Why were people fighting in the middle of the floor like it was WWE? The lack of crowd control was wild, and security was nowhere to be found when folks started getting aggressive. If you’re not going to enforce a safe space, why even have staff? 2. Smoking Indoors? The Norva's own site says it’s a smoke-free venue. So why were folks lighting up freely like this was a basement kickback? The smoke was everywhere and nothing was done about it. For people with asthma or who just don’t want to breathe that in — it’s a health issue. 3. General Admission Setup = Chaos The venue is all GA, but attendees were acting like they bought front row seats. Elbows flying, folks trying to hold imaginary spots, and the staff did nothing to organize the crowd. If you're not going to assign seating, at least manage the flow. 4. Venue Vibe = Dusty It feels outdated, grimy, and like they’ve done zero work to modernize or improve comfort. From the bathrooms to the sticky floors, it gave high school gym turned club. If you’re thinking about seeing your favorite artist here — think again. The artist might be the only good part of the night. The Norva as a venue is unorganized, unprofessional, and unsafe. Hard pass.

I've been coming to The Norva since I was a teenager and I've always been a massive fan of this venue. The staff are amazing every single one of them! The sound and space is awesome. I do miss having access to the top level tho that's been restricted the past several shows I've seen here.

Amazing if you want a up close experience with your favorite band/singer. Easy access to bar and bathrooms.

I'm always super jazzed to come to a show here. The venue is spacious but still has that intimate feeling. They're quick to get you through security and in the door when you arrive. I love that there are quite a few different areas to stand and hang out, including the balcony. The drinks are also a little cheaper than the standard fare at most concert venues, so that's a huge plus. There's street parking nearby as well as a large parking deck, so getting in and out is fairly easy. Overall coming here is always a nice experience and I definitely think this is one of the better venues in VA.

I've been to the Norva once before to see a sold out how with Jay Pharoah. The Big Boi show did not disappoint either. I'm a huge Outkast fan so yes. I will say that I'm not a fan of how the general admission area is laid out for events. People were spilling drinks all over the floor that made it a fall hazard and rather sticky as well. I will say the bar right as you walk in to the right was way more appealing than the one inside the actual facility. The bartender was the coolest cat ever. I'll definitely return for another event. I can appreciate the level of security and precautions they have in place as well, especially for a venue in Norfolk. Bathrooms were clean too. That's a huge plus in my book when having events and a large crowd too.

Easily the best concert venue in the 757. If it's at all someone you could be i interested in you should go. I always forget how much I love this place. I would say if you are close to the stage on the floor, go to the bathroom and get a drink or 2 (not enough to need the bathroom again) before the start because it's tough finding your way back!

the workers here are terrible they treated my wife like shit and kicked us out of a concert. they shined a very bright flashlight in her face and pushed her outside the doors. we didn't even put up and fight. this was supposed to be one of the last things we did before i deployed and all i can say is do not support this venue. i'd give this shithole a negative rating if if i could.

This is by far one of the best venues in VA. I've been coming here since 2008. I've seen numerous bands and drank numerous drinks. This place is great because it's smaller so you really get a great experience with the bands that come play. That's how concerts should be enjoyed. Look up their schedule and if you see a band you like, buy the tickets. You won't be disappointed

First show here, came to see Teddy Swims. Not huge but good size. Went upstairs small amount of seating area near bar and you can order pizza by the slice plus drinks. Women's bathrooms plenty of stalls so no line. Ended to parking in a garage not far. Will definitely go back

Not a huge place... intimate concert experience. Place get packed quickly. People will whip out whatever they choose to smoke and light up right in the venue. Place needs more bars as well.

One of my favorite videos to see live music Beautiful building with a nice outdoor smoking section with a bar bathrooms are kept clean Sound quite is great Only complaints Would be that they should have screens to show the artist considering when the crowd is packed you cannot see the stage they also should have water stations near the bathrooms so that if you need to pull off or just take a break you can and will not overheat

Went for the Chappell Roan concert. Bought my tickets when they were $50 and found out they were selling tickets the week of for $300. I think they oversold tickets when they realized how big of a name Chappell Roan is becoming. There were bodies everywhere and people were pushing and shoving to get closer to the stage, even when there was nowhere to go. Security wasn't helpful when I was anxiously trying to get away from being pushed around by the crowd but "checked" on me when I hid in the corner by the exit waiting for my friend with the car keys to leave. I'd give 0 stars if I could and will never see another show here.

I have always enjoyed the NorVa. The selection of entertainment is very diverse. Great Venue for live music shows. The staff has always been very friendly and welcoming. Definitely going back whenever I can.

This is not a women friendly establishment, Me and my friends (all girls) had arrived for a concert, we had noticed the staff was only approaching all women groups and harping on them, the staff was incredibly rude to us from the girl checking tickets to every staff member inside, I would honestly never come back here again.

Came here to see Big Boi (awesome show!!). The venue is warehouse style, a good bar, and clean bathrooms. No seating. I liked it because it isn't a huge venue, there was plenty of room to dance and move around. Friendly and fun crowd and staff. My only complaint that it was cold, even though it was crowded, a huge fan spun all night overhead. But that's better than it being hot, so I'll take it. I hope they bring more of my favorite artist to this venue. Parking was easy, we came early and parked free on the street, yay! There are also parking lots nearby.

Good spot for shows- a good size- not too big and not too small. The performers have been hit or miss lately in my opinion (although more misses than hits), but I do love going here for shows. Their bar is pretty limited, but they do have many local beers on draft- way to represent the locals! It's definitely my favorite indoor music venue, I just wish they had more performers come out.

LADIES BEWARE, this venue allows for the assault of women with no repercussions for the perpetrators. I, the victim, was escorted out of the venue for self defense while the drunken perpetrator was allowed to stay for the remainder of the show. As an avid concert goer, I am incredibly disappointed. The venue has a great lineup on slate for 2024. However, first impressions matter. My first impression was less than spectacular and as a result, I will NEVER return. No woman in her right mind would expect to be violently pulled to the floor, blindsided even, by their own hair when attempting to move in an overly crowded floor space. Much less when the individual pulling was a man. In many cases, an action of this magnitude would be considered assault. And the victim's reaction to that assault would be one of shock and psychological trauma. I'm unsure if this was due to an oversell, poor crowd management, or just sheer out of hand crowd drunkenness. Nonetheless, I felt I should share my experience and offer a warning to others who might attend the NorVa in the future. The stage setup is perfect for a small music venue, with an upstairs, downstairs, and patio area. The sound is wonderful. But, not unlike so many other venues in the state of Virginia. For me, the NorVa missed the mark when it came to the line of societal right and wrong. I would much prefer venues such as The National or The Broadberry in Richmond, Paramount Theater and The Jefferson in Charlottesville, even the Beacon Theatre in Hopewell. If you've made it this far, check those venues out! I can assure you the sound is just as good if not better in some cases. I was excited to try something different, and this place let me down. That's no way to end 2023.

God forbid you are of age and have a drink before the venue. All the sudden you're too drunk to function and get labeled a liability by this venue. Even if you're walking and not even drunk. They just label you that and getting a breath of fresh air. Forget it. What a stupid venue and then they accuse you a drinking more when you haven't and say you're more drunk. Screw this place. Will I recommend no.

I had such a blast at this concert venue. A few friends and I went to go see Party 101 hosted by DJ Matt Bennett. It was basically just a concert with a TON of nostalgic Nickelodeon and Disney songs. The DJ Matt actually played as a character on the Nickelodeon show Victorious. The venue itself is one big room with a upper balcony around the perimeter. The tickets to see the show were $38 for General Admission and then we also got the quick pass for $15 to skip the line and head in first. This is what really helped us to score the front row! It's all standing so there's no seats, not even on the balcony area. I'm unsure if the balcony is extra $ or if they just use it for overflow. We did get drinks and they are very very expensive. My rum & coke was $18 alone. The staff was incredible though. At the front row they were constantly pacing back and forth with water bottles and making sure everyone was okay and not overheating. My friend actually got very dizzy at one point and the staff and even the people around us were super quick to help. She ended up being okay with all of us fanning her down and giving her water. It was an incredible once in a lifetime experience. We danced the night away and got to relive a piece of our childhood!

The security made us feel super weird, we were being followed out of the bathroom and were being told that we were giving "alcohol to minors" so we left and kept getting attacked by staff. My friends and I went to the bathroom together and went in the same stall and we had a security guard waiting outside of the stall, it made us feel super uncomfortable. We won't be back for a longgg time.

The Norva is the Tidewater's answer to a larger scale venue, while still maintaining the intimacy and intensity of a smaller club gig. Every show I've been to has been well-attended, and despite the somewhat obstructive pillars in the middle of the standing area downstairs, there really isn't a bad spot to rock in the entire venue. My only gripe about this place is the prices. The ticket prices are a tad bit higher than they are here in Richmond, but if you are a local, they only charge a $2 processing fee for tickets. Most shows will also hold your tickets at will call for free, but at our most recent concert (Jawbreaker), the will call fee was $6! A bit ridiculous in my opinion, but that's business, I guess. They also charge $3 for water, but they only serve plastic bottles. Their food prices are also pretty steep, but with so many great restaurants nearby and the Macarthur Mall right next door, you're really doing your wallet (and stomach) a disservice by eating here. Definitely recommended if you are local to the area or your favorite artist comes through. Solid B.

#12/2020 Lots of memorable concerts that I've attended here!! My first one being Daughtry! Cue heart eyes. I was front row for that one! My most recent one was Jimmie Allen and I opted to watch from up top. I liked it a lot up there! More room to move if you get there early enough so that you're not standing behind other people if you wish to look down. I took my son to see Tori Kelly one time and being short, I pretty much watched the concert through teenagers' cell phones up in the air in front of me. My son wanted to be in the crowd, which is fine because I usually love being front and center at shows also but, I see that as I get older and older I am running out of patience by stupid, rude kids...or rude people, in general. I'm not a fan by any means of people who take joy in leaving their "front row" spots to walk through the tight crowds to get drinks over and over and over. Then having them push into you and squeezing in between you to get back to their spot. That sh*t happens when you have standing room only, right? You know that meme of Arthur's fist?? That's me. I've almost gotten in fights at The Norva- believe it or not- because some people just are a-holes sometimes! PROS: - small, intimate venue - sound system sounds great!!!!! - bars on both levels, with booths and tables upstairs - they serve food upstairs - bathrooms on both levels - designated VIP section to enter and stand upstairs - coat check offered for a small fee. $3 per item, I think - TVs at the bars of the stage - located near the Tide stop - lots of restaurants nearby CONS: - small, intimate venue (some people prefer large venue) - standing room only so... Get there early if you want to see your act or at least, have a good view of them. Wear comfortable shoes and expect to stand for a very long time. - drinks are EXPEN$$$IVE!! $19 for a cup of beer and a tiny ass cup of a mixed drink, for example. - no designated parking but you can find nearby parking garages such as the mall's across the street. Or, take the Tide!

This is a really nice intimate venue that really puts you up close to the artist, because you can get a very good view of the show no matter where you are. There is no seating on the first floor/pit and very limited seating on the second floor. There are bars on both the first and second floor as well as screens displaying the concert scattered throughout the second floor bar area. The sound system here is very good it resonates throughout the whole venue. Security is very friendly; however, they're no nonsense here, so you really feel safe while you're getting your everlasting life on the dancefloor. I've seen two shows here this past year Fifth Harmony and Monica and both were excellent. All in all, The NorVA is a great venue to have a good time.

We love the Norva. One of the best Venues out there. The bartenders are awesome. The sound is great. I really like the VIP section. Great bar upstairs and nice bathrooms.

I had the amazing opportunity to have all access pass at a recent show at the Norva. My first visit to the venue, I did do a little on line look see to at least understand what the venue looked like inside. Intrigued, I set out to the show I was thoroughly thrilled with the details, set up, the stage and so on. What I was thoroughly blown away with is the amazing space they have for the artists. The upstairs green rooms are amazing one has pool table, pinball machine, ping-pong tables in addition to lots of comfy seating area and very tasteful art. The other area is likewise tastefully appointed furniture wise, as well as art decorating the area. It boasts a huge hot tub, separate saunas and very spacious sitting areas. The sound that the room brings is magical. I already cannot wait to return to this venue.

Venues like these are the absolute best because I love a generalized floor ticket and battling my way to the front- and in the case of EDM: tryna get into the Instagram selfies. I've been coming here since middle school days for pop punk & acoustic sets, but ever since high school, I've been lost in the "rave" crowd and trap concerts from time to time. The staff is responsible and can act quickly. Rewind to the times 12-16 year old girls would go to a pop punk show, and the lead singer of Mayday Parade thought he could crowd surf- well, he crushed us all. No one passed out despite being buried under bodies, but my friend did get dizzy. It gets rough, but the crowd seems to know when it's serious and tries to assist while crowd control tries to prevent anyone from being stomped in the "mosh pit." The cons: you WILL get beer spilled on you; $3.00 gets thrown on you aka water from water bottles; horrifically expensive bar prices; and you might get caught in a fight between 2 men blinded by testosterone. Artists with a single hit or less tend to come through, and some eventually blow up right after. If you spot someone you like, don't take chances. Just go seem them at the Norva- save your money, and enjoy floor tickets!

Worst customer service and management. Didn't receive an email letting me know the correct time for meet and greet. Called and was told doors open at 7 but meet and greet was over at 6:45pm. Checked in my umbrella just for them to put everyone's umbrella in a trash can outside the building to be stolen. Me and my 4yo had to walk in the rain to our car. The most horrible experience I've ever had at any event! Will not be returning and hopefully other artist choose a better venue that cares about their patrons.

Much better venue than the Ted, mainly because of the acoustics! Also, it's a more intimate venue to enjoy the band at close range . This makes it more personal!

One of my favorite places for concerts!!! Small,intimate venue, you feel like you are onstage with the band!! I actually got the flatbread pizza while I was here this time and it was actually pretty good! We were pretty far back in line (wrapped around the corner down the block) but we ended up getting a really close spot to stand! There is a balcony up top as well where you can stand and see the stage perfectly along with another bar and the kitchen. If you can check out a concert here, do it! I don't think you will be disappointed.

Cool venue. VIP section is overpriced during shows with D-level talent. But overall, a great place to bring the crew.

What an excellent venue. The room is a great size and there isn't a bad view in the house. The sound is excellent, the bar tenders are sweet, and security is kind and easy going. From the back end, the sound guys, stage managers and hospitality are all extremely accommodating. The Norva is an great place to catch a show.

The Nova is a sweet music venue located in the heart of downtown Norfolk! I can truly see why this venue has been top rated by major music organizations in the past as it's a perfect venue to listen and enjoy music at! I've been to the Norva a number of times and have only had positive experiences with everything from the security entrance to the bar service! The second story corner is my absolute favorite location to watch and listen to a music artist or group as the view is spectacular and sound quality is on point! The sound from every spot in the venue is perfection and there literally isn't a bad place to stand in the space! Whether you are a front row listener or prefer the second story balcony like me or even if you prefer to sit at one of the upstairs tables away from the crowds, I have no doubt that you will love every minute of your Norva experience!

For some reason I've always tried my best to avoid The Norva simply because I heard it was standing room only and I'm a short dude so I ain't got time to be on my tippy toes all day. I'm so upset that I let deter me from seeing shows here in the past. I finally made it the Norva this past weekend for the "Heavy is the Crown Tour" which had Big KRIT, Cyhi the Prynce and Ty Dolla Sign as the headliner. So let's start at the beginning, I arrived the venue around 6:20pm and the doors were scheduled to open at 7pm. There were two lines along the side of the building depending on which side of the block you came on. I assumed they were letting people in from both sides but it wasn't until about after 30 minutes of waiting on line that I realized one line was for VIP and the other line was for regular P....of course I was on the wrong line, I wasn't VIP at all. There were Norva staff members outside but none were directing people to where they needed to be. Once I switched to the other side I was cool and when the clock struck 7pm they proceeded to let us in after we walked thru the metal detector. When I came in I was shocked in a good way. I expected to have a terrible spot but it's almost impossible to have a terrible spot in there. It's so intimate and I thought I was going to be far from the stage once I had to switch my spot on the line but nope, I was hella close to the front and never moved. The stage was pretty small but that was cool, the music was bumping and lights were everywhere. The upper level had a balcony that went all the way around, I kinda wish I was up there. Surprisingly I didn't have to stand on my tippy toes at all, but I might where boots the next time I come to the Norva because I definitely will be coming back since I'm more familiar with it. I'm mad I didn't come here when J cole came last year!!

I have to say it took quite a while for the NorVa to grow on me. I actually waited for the place to be open about 10 years before I first set foot in the place about 3 years ago. I'm a die hard Boat House fan and it was just tough for me to let go. However, the NorVa is a first class concert hall. It's intimate and there isn't a bad location in the house. The AC works great, which can be a deal breaker. (Anyone been to the Electric Factory in Philly?) The staff has always been great here too. The NorVa is general admission only, just like the good old days of shows at Hampton Col. or Scope before the VB Amphitheater came around. There's a second level and VIP area. Bar's on both floors. You can't argue with that. Parking is also easy. You can park on the block or right across the street in the MacArthur Center parking garage.

Email sent on 11/19/15 Hello. I'm at the venue now for the KRS-One show with my disabled brother. I'm disheartened to learn that you no longer offer companion seating. I'm forced to stand behind my brother as opposed to sitting beside him to enjoy the show. I hope that you will consider, in the future, that concerts are a social affair and offer companion seats to those accompanying the disabled to shows. This is the first venue we have been to without companion seats. Yet they were offered here on the past.

Pros - Great atmosphere, acoustics and location. You have a great view no matter where you stand. It's a piece of Norfolk history, reinvented yet preserved. I've been going here since I was a preteen. Cons - unfriendly staff and atmosphere. The drinks are expensive, as are the tickets. The quality of the shows seem to be getting worse. Shakas in Virginia Beach has bad acoustics, but a chill vibe and cheaper tickets/drinks..and seem to attracting much better bands/artists these days

Ok, right up front you have to realize that I'm very prejudiced toward The Norva because they embrace the local music scene and feature local bands whenever they can. But isn't that the essence of a local music venue? The sound system here is state of the art and crystal clear with zero ear stress at the end of the evening. As good as it gets for real! I've been lucky enough to photograph several shows at this venue and go backstage a few times. If you are a touring band, this is the sort of backstage that you love to see! The variety of acts booked here is fantastic, there is something for every taste with many national touring acts passing through as well. The more intimate setting gives you an instant connection with the band. But the vibe from all of the years of concerts remains, you can sense it in the walls! This place has heard lots of really good music over the years and shows no sign of letting up. I'd put the Norva up against any other like sized venue and know that she would emerge the victor! There is minimal seating on the side of the venue, so get used to standing. VIP gets you upstairs with a few extra perks, if I'm ever going to be in town long enough, it would be a no brainer to get VIP for a year, the shows are that good! If you want to get into the shows early, make reservations to eat at the JewMo Backstage and get a jump on the general admission crowd.

Great concert venue. There are always some good shows on the schedule and the venue is very classy and accommodating. The stage, soundsystem and lights are world class. It is two stories and the balcony view is a nice option for a different vantage point. It is all general admission except for the v.i.p. are on half of the balcony. Definitely a super cool place to see a show!

I'm so disappointed your now requiring vaccine passports after October first. And on top of that not offering refunds to those who bought tickets for future shows before The Norva made this announcement.

The five star rating is specifically for the sound system. The stereo sound BANGS! I saw Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats and Leon Bridges the other night, and I stood in the back of the venue with one of my friends. I could hear everything clearly without it being overpowering (except the Wurlitzer and organ - they were piercing at first) and still have a convo with him without yelling. The high ceilings definitely helped with the acoustics in the building. As for the venue itself...I'd prob give it 3.5 stars. It's standing room only, so if you're vertically challenged I'd suggest you get there when the doors open. The floor will be PACKED once the show starts, and the balcony area will fill up quickly as well. The floor will also be slippery and gross because...ya know...it's a concert venue. Perhaps some shows have VIP seating, but the two or three I've been to were general admission, so they were first come, first serve. You've been warned! Now...having heeded that warning, if you go to the show for the MUSIC, then you'll be satisfied! Again....the sound is great.

I love The Norva, always have, always will. I've been going to The Norva ever since I started going to concerts - I've seen John Mayer, Gavin DeGraw, Snow Patrol, Jason Mraz, Imogen Heap, Carbon Leaf, VACO, etc. I go to a lot of concerts in the area and The Norva is by far my favorite venue. There isn't a bad seat in the house (although usually it is standing room only). It's first come first serve, so get there early enough and you can be up close to the artist who is performing. There is a balcony area that's pretty nice as well, although it's not very big. The Norva is just a cool looking place - it has a rustic charm. There is a bar downstairs and upstairs (bar area is bigger upstairs). The one thing I will say about the place is the drinks are extremely expensive. I paid $7 dollars for a bottle of Corona, then I cried. If you're lucky enough to get VIP, then you get to sit in a special area of the balcony and go to the VIP only area lounge which is a really great space. If you haven't caught a show here yet, GO! There are tons of great acts coming this summer.

I've been to two concerts here and although I loved the performances, the cost of the tickets were too high to not have your own seat and have to stand for 2+ hours. It is really hard to enjoy yourself when you're feet are hurting, you are squished between people, you cant see and can barely dance. I saw Chris Brown at the Hampton Coliseum for $30(ish) dollars while Trey Songz tickets here were almost $70. The venue itself is decent, on both occasions (one in extreme rain) the bathrooms were clean and the security wasn't unnecessarily difficult in terms of my bag size. Unless they are handing out free tickets, I probably wont be back.

I bought tickets for a show and they didn't make any post visible that a vaccination card or negative covid test was needed for entry. Upon opening our tickets before entering the show we received a notification that you can not enter without either of those options so we went to the store bought a home covid test and video taped my Partner taking the test and video taped it developing into a negative result and the two people who I tried to speak two were super rude and basically told me to F off so the norva obviously just wants to take ppls money without informing them of their rules.

The Norva is probably one of the better spots in Hampton roads for shows. Personally I like that it is standing room only (there is a few seas) because you just get the whole concert experience and you don't have to worry about being in the way. I've been to all kinds of concerts here from country to EDM to rock and roll. It's all been great. The only thing that bothers me is during rock concerts the staff is too on it with moshing and crowd surfing, which I get because it's a hazard and insurance thing. Overall I've always had a good time here, the bar is overpriced though but that's what you get at venues like this. It's in a conveniant location for both parking and eating.

I am most definitely a fan of the Norva. I'm not a huge concert guy any more but I have wandered in a couple of times in the past few years for Better Than Ezra shows. Each time, I have had a great time. First off, the place itself is very intimate for a show. There doesn't seem to be a bad seat in the house. Given my general disdain for other people, I typically go to the upstairs area and try to catch the show. There are plenty of places up there to grab a spot along the rail and watch. I've had good experiences both times. As for the drinks, they have a decent selection of beers for a concert venue. You aren't just stuck with drinking Bud or any other big brewery. They did have a few craft beers on tap for you to enjoy. The prices were reasonable, I thought. There is a bar downstairs and upstairs. I've yet to wait more than a few minutes for a drink while there so the staff keeps things moving fairly well. Overall, I honestly wish I had more opportunities to catch shows down at the Norva. It's definitely a great spot if one of your favorites are in town.

So impressed with this venue! I have been to a few shows around the south in the past week and this venue was second only to 9:30 club in DC. Last night I saw Anberlin play as part of their Farewell Tour. I got to the venue three hours before doors opened and there was only one person sitting in line. Rumor is he got there at like 2. The concerts I have been to recently would already have a line of about 20-30 three hours before the show. The venue is right across from the mall so I took advantage and shopped for an hour. I came back in an hour and now there were ten of us, so I didn't feel so odd. While we were waiting the lead singer and a few band members came out the front doors after their sound check. It was pretty cool. Doors opened on time and I was able to get in the second row, the first row people were mostly all part of the early access group from the next door restaurant. I didn't think to make a reservation until it was too late. The merch booth was set up right by the front door and the bar was in a spot off to the side. I thought that was a bit odd since you can't really see the show from there. Since I didn't want to lose my spot on the floor I didn't check out the bar. Next time... The show started an hour late. I have had shows start 10-15 min late, no big deal. Earlier in the day we got a phone call from ticketmaster that there would be no opening act, but the show would still start at 8. Around 8 the lead singer put on twitter that the show was starting at 9?! I guess ticketmaster forgot to call the band. I wish The NorVA had made more of an attempt to communicate with the anxious crowd. Since I don't think the delay had anything to do with the actual venue, I didn't take off any stars. The sound here was fantastic! One of the few indoor venues where I could actually understand what the singer was saying during the songs I didn't have memorized! I was impressed. It was an intimate experience, but there was still plenty of room on the stage for the band to do their thing. I hate seeing band members practically step on each other during their show. I will definitely be back for more shows at the NorVA.

Nice intimate venue to see artists at a reasonable prices. SRO but all great views of the stage. Buy your tickets in advance from the FM Bar around the corner from the venue to avoid fees. After 6 PM, free street parking but Granby Street can get busy, early arrival suggested. Be advised, certain hip hop artists have multiple local opening acts & main artist may perform for 35-45 minutes.

The ONLY place to see live bands if near Norfolk/Hampton Roads area. Up close with a kicker sound system. Bar is good, pizza is all they offer, but that's okay. B.B. King, Kongos, Foster the People, just to name a few. Plenty of parking with great local restaurants. FM is attached, come early there and you get into the NorVa 30 minutes earlier. Love be this spot.

if you have special needs do not use this venue. The disabled are in a small area near the bar near the back. People use the area as a place to gather and talk and the disabled cannot hear the band. So, why go? Nothing or no one will assist. I felt corralled and disrespected.

Ridiculous. Don't fall for the "eat at the restaurant and get in early sham." Staff was late AF. If you eat at the crappy restaurant day of the show, you're supposed to show up at the door that connects the two for early access 15min before doors open. Tonight the doors were supposed to open to public at 7pm. Rushed thru the meal bc waitress says you have to be at the door at 645pm. The Norva staff finally opens up the door at 730 just so we could be told we can stay in the corridor or go back and wait at the bar until they can let us in. We finally get in at 745pm when they are simultaneously letting general public in. Better chance of getting a seat if you just stand by the front doors. Drinks are wicked expensive $10 for 20oz of beer. Only serve bottled water at $3. Get some water at the sink in the bathroom after washing out the beer cup. The concert line ups are ok but def used to be better 10 years ago. It seems to be the same artists at the same time every year.

I saw Hanson last month at the Norva (I know I know) - this was my first visit to the venue in over 10 years of living in Virginia Beach! I've often seen lines outside for sold out shows and have heard from friends and family who have been there. I know it's a smaller and more intimate venue and it's standing room only with an upstairs bar area that is first come first serve. I was on crutches due to my recent ankle sprain so we were taken to a handicap area and promised "a really good view". Negative folks. Apparently there were a lot of handicapped people who chose to come to Hanson because they were at capacity for their little sectioned off corner by the stage (which wasn't that good of a view anyway from the back side) and were packing wheelchairs and bar stools in like sardines. There is a HUGE pole in the center that says "Handicapped Only" and they started putting people directly in front of that. I literally could not see ANYTHING for the pole and the people in front of me who were placed in front of it. We said something to the incompetent guy who was clearly overwhelmed and either not comfortable making a decision to try to solve the issue, or wasn't empowered to, but he did nothing and got more and more agitated as more people said something when he kept bringing more people in and asking everyone to shift closer and squeeze in. One of the gals got really irate and started telling him off and cussing - eventually he went and got the manager when he asked me to move for the third time and I told him I literally couldn't see ANYTHING at all of the stage from where I was and he was making it worse. He also sat a woman in a wheelchair directly in front of the pole so there was no way she could stand or even try to see anything. When the manager arrived my cohorts started berating him about "treating people this way" and he was obviously not going to help so I calmly explained that I understand they probably are meeting the minimum requirements for handicapped space and realize that there were a lot of people - but it was an easy fix on his end to either slide the partition down and ask the other folks right beside us to shift to allow us to see (since they were all able bodied) or to move us closer to the VIP area which had TONS of space. He said he couldn't do that, yadda yadda, I explained he had to know this was wrong and pointed to the women in front of me in the wheelchair who was literally face to face with a 15-foot in diameter black pole. He said the show was about to start and he couldn't ask those people next to us to move now - when I informed him that his employee had been told over and over again BEFORE those people were there to shift the space down a little to accommodate and he was rude and unhelpful and clearly overwhelmed - he said he'd be right back. 5 minutes later - JUST as the show started - he had about 6 of us move with him to the VIP section and set up a small partition just outside of it - directly facing the stage - we were further away than before but had a clear eyeline view of the show. MUCH better. He did the right thing and my friend and I were able to enjoy the show. We thanked him for solving the issue and I was able to see the mob of people standing down beneath us for the entire show. I don't know if I'd want to stand the entire time - crutches or not - so while this venue is really neat and cool - I'd make sure there were seats if I attend again (I know some shows allow you to sit/bring blanket, etc.)

This past Saturday night I obtained the opportunity to the Norva in Norfolk Virginia (it is across from the Macarthur Mall location wise).  The event I went to the Norva for was for the Smith & Myers concert  (they are musicians who are part of the Shinedown music group)which the concert in itself was really fun and featured entertaining music and  powerful singing.  My husband treated me to this concert as an early X-mas gift and obviously the fact that I enjoyed the concert made the gift that much sweeter.  The pros: I was able to get inside the building faster than I expected the wait to get inside was minimal in a good way and the people I interacted with to get my ticket scanned were polite, there are two floors to choose from where you are standing for the concert, some artistic drawings on the walls, very easy to find where you are meant to to for the concert caveats: the venue is the type where you are standing the whole time which in itself is fine however if you are hoping to see the faces of any of your chosen musicians to perform  getting a good visual glimpse of the band is going to be the opposite of easily within reach unless you boldly andor politely ask someone in a spot you like to temporarily move for you while you catch a glimpse andor someone moves from a good view spot during the concert and you boldly go where they just went before someone in their entourage jumps in that spot, the drinks are far from cheap even if you get a non-alcholic drink so you might want to bring at least 20 to 40 dollars minimum for drinks, However, aside from those caveats going to the Norva for the Smith & Myers concert was very much worth it.