Live Music Venues with Kids
Berkeley Parents Network >
Reviews >
The Arts, Books, Entertainment, & Media >
Live Music Venues with Kids
Jan 2010
We have a three year old daughter who is reasonably well
behaved at restaurants. She loves watching live music and
we are trying to find a place that has live music, handles
kids, and has the live music start at a reasonable time...6?
I know, a tall order. Any ideas?
Tim
One place we take our (almost 5 year old) son periodically is
Bo's Barbeque in Lafayette.
On Saturdays, around 6:15 they have live blues music. Very
casual place, big deck when the weather is good, good brisket,
great beer selection. The only downside is a shortage of food
options for kids that don't like barbeque, and the ice cream
machine seems to always be broken. But we have brought in food
from the outside and no one has mentioned anything. No cover
charge.
Bryan in Oakland
O.k., not a restaurant, but something to keep on your radar for this summer, the
UC Botanical Garden has a summer live music series that is perfect for parents
with kids and you can bring in a packed dinner. The performances are in the
Garden's Redwood Grove amphitheater and it's such a beautiful environment,
plus if kids ever get antsy, you can just walk around the paths of the grove and
have nature take-over the entertaining. Periodically, June to September, shows
are 5:30 - 7:00pm. See an example here:
http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/program/event_des/Fall%202009/helenere
nout.html
Christine
Six Degrees on Solano has guitar music on Fri and Sat nights
at 7:30. The food is good and varied, but the service tends
to be pretty slow, so plan on a long dinner.
Ashkenaz. Not a restaurant exactly, but they do serve good
food, and always have live music. All shows are ''all ages.''
Most shows don't start so early, but they often have Sunday
musical events (often family-oriented) that start a bit
earlier, or even in the afternoon.
Yoshi's in Oakland has Sunday matinees geared to
kids/families. This is a show, so you have to buy tickets,
but can also get food.
R.K.
When we lived in Oakland back when our kids were little, we
used to go to Cato's on Piedmont Ave. They had live music a
few days a week. It was a very kid-friendly place and has
pretty good food and an amazing beer selection. I checked
their Website, and they still have live music: Sundays 5:30
to 8:30 pm and Wednesday 6 to 9 pm.
here's the link: http://www.mrcato.com
BACHEESOS, in Berkeley, may be just what you are looking
for. They have live music on Friday nights starting at
6:30. There may be music on other nights too, you'd have to
check with them. It's a family run restaurant with
DELICIOUS, very reasonably priced food. And, children are
welcome. They have an incredible buffet that works well for
both meat eaters and vegetarians. It is only $12.95, and
includes a dessert table. (There may be a lower kids'
price, but I haven't noticed.) In addition, there is a
regular menu, which changes monthly. They are on the corner
of San Pablo and Dwight.
lori
The Oakland Museum cafe is closed till May because they are
renovating, but it's a nice low-key place to see live music
up close with children. We have been there many times on a
Sunday afternoon for lunch and they'll have a piano/bass duo
playing jazz. It's very child friendly.
Ginger
Jan 2010
Our girl scout troop of about 8-10 girls would enjoy seeing a live musical
performance in the Bay Area sometime this winter/spring. I'm sure there are
lots of high quality, low cost offerings out there but I don't know how to
tap into them. Any suggestions welcome! Thanks.
Christine
Why not look into high school performances of both music and
drama? Many are of great quality and definitely fit the
low-cost range.
Leslie
For high-quality, low cost musical offerings, you just
can't beat the productions of Youth Musical Theater
Company of Berkeley. Their upcoming production of ''Once
Upon A Mattress'' will have aa 6 show run at the Julia
Morgan Young People's Center for Performing Arts
(Berkeley) on February 20 21, 26, 27, 28. You can get more
information about the company and its shows at the YMTC
website here at http://ymtcberkeley.org/. If you sign up
for their mailing list at the website, you'll get advanced
notice of when the tickets go on sale. Student tickets
are usually $10, and all seats are reserved, so it pays to
order early. Once the tickets go on sale, you can get them
from Brown Paper Tickets at
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/. Tickets for the event
should be going on sale soon. YMTC puts on incredible
shows. They always have a live orchestra, and a number of
their actor/singers go on to pursue musical theater and
theater performance majors in college. You'll be amazed at
these talented performers - some of these young
actor/singers are going to end up on Broadway!
Long-time YMTC fan
Every year we try to see this production at Marin Civic Center:
http://www.masqueunit.org/Cinderella.html
It is done by a cast of all women, and they do a clever adaptation of a classic.
jj
I don't know how ''professional'' you require, or the age
range of your scouts, but some options to check out:
High school theater. I know that College Prep School in
Oakland is doing ''25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'' at
the end of March. The cost is just a suggested donation,
very cheap, but obviously it's high school kids. I'm sure
other high schools also offer something.
CCCT (in El Cerrito) is doing the musical ''Barnum,'' but not
until June, so that may be too late for you. Adults perform.
http://ccct.org/showslist.html Check out other community
theaters, too.
Julia Morgan Theater has some musical offerings coming,
including ''Mulan'' next weekend, and ''Godspell'' in February.
These are youth players. http://www.juliamorgan.org/#upcoming
Also in February, and again, youth performers, is YMTC's
performance of ''Once Upon A Mattress.''
http://www.ymtcberkeley.org/
Hope that's a start!
R.K.
My personal favorite is San Francisco Performances, which
has family matinees that are very inexpensive, especially
if you subscribe. www.performances.org. It works out to
something like $8 for kids and $12-15 for adults. The
regular prices are just a little bit higher than that w/o
a subscription. THey are also very nice to their
subscribers, and the events are low-key. YOu can also
check out their grown-up, evening events. IF you
subscribe they also usually have an event that's free--
e.g., some new talent who just won some music award.
Yoshi's also has jazz on Sunday afternoons, something like
$5 for kids?
And Hertz Hall (UC Berkeley) has free music performances.
In the summer, you can check out free music in downtown
oakland (you can google the oakland parks and rec site),
downtown SF (near the Hyatt Regency and Yerba Buena
GArdens -- gooogle yerba buena festival or something like
that).
Also, just keep an eye on your local paper, or
sfgate.org. the events columns have plenty of stuff.
Sept 2008
Does anyone know any cafes in Berkeley or nearby that have live
music during the day? My 4-year-old loves to listen, but most
places feature music at night.
El Cerrito Mom
Try the Cheeseboard on Shattuck and Vine for daytime music. call for exact
times: 549-3055
prem
Nabolom, the bakery on Russell near College in Berkeley, has
music during the day on weekends.
anon
Dec 2007
Looking for east bay venues that have music during the day and are nice to
come over with toddlers. I am not looking for kids music lessons, but
places where they have jazz, classical or other live music. Any ideas?
music loving family
There is jazz piano at the Oakland Museum, Sundays I believe. Around lunchtime in the
cafeteria. Call the museum to confirm.
Anon
I haven't been yet, but I hear that Ashkenaz has a weekly Sunday morning jam that is
very kid-friendly.
Lisa in Oakland
March 2007
I'm looking for any live Irish music being performed on Saturday March 17th that I could bring my 1 year
old son to. I want to introduce him to his Irish heritage in a way he would enjoy as he loves music. I
would prefer outdoors but I'll take any suggestions other than a pub. I don't mind paying and I would
prefer East Bay or North Bay--definately NOT SF.I know about the Habitot thing but I'm worried that it
might be very crowded so I'm not sure about going there.Thanks in advance, Bridget
There's a great Celtic music band called Golden Bough who are playing
several dates in
the Bay Area in March. Check out their schedule here:
http://www.goldenboughmusic.com/Calendar/calendar2007.htm
They're in Sunnyvale on St. Patrick's Day, but in Moraga the day before,
and that show
is with Irish dancers!
Lori
I know you said no pubs, but in case you change your mind... the
Starry Plough on Shattuck (between Ashby & Alcatraz I think) is
really fun on St. Patrick's day - they usually have kids doing
the Irish dancing so I am pretty certain you could take your one
year old, but would recommend calling to check.
July 2004
My husband & I are wanting to expose our 1 year old son to some
live music performances. During the day or early evening would
be best. Does anyone have any recommendations? Seems like most
things are at night. It doesn't have to be for kids
specifically, although that would be nice, too.
Thanks
music lover
Hello,
Cal Performances has a ''Family Fare'' matinee series:
http://www.calperfs.berkeley.edu/presents/season/2004/
family_fare/
It's great. This year they have Dan Zanes booked, and
honestly he's the best kids' music performer going right
now. Check out his ''Night Music'' and you will be hooked.
enjoy!
anon
It's a bit of a drive, but San Gregorio Store
(http://www.sangregoriostore.com) just south of Half Moon Bay
has fun, family-friendly (and free!) music on Saturdays and
Sundays (usually an 11am-1pm and a 2-5pm set, so very kid-
friendly). Styles range from folk to bluegrass to easy-going
rock and roll. There are always families there, dancing and
general roaming around is not only tolerated but encouraged and
there are real live cows in the pasture across the street. It's
one of my favorite places to see live music, with or without a
child. If you want to see something specifically for kids, go
on a day when Lane Murchison / Lane & the Badass Chickenbones
are playing - Lane teaches preschool music for a living and
always throws a few great kids' songs into his set.
Jeni
We go regularly with our 16-month-old to the live bluegrass at Jupiter in
Berkeley, Sundays 4:00-7:00. I highly recommend it.
jtownson
Hayward offers free band concerts in a park (with playground) on
Sunday afternoons in July:
http://www.ci.hayward.ca.us/news.shtm. Both Berkeley and
Oakland have weekly daytime (weekday), outdoor summer concert
programs as well -- I've seen posters around but don't know the
details.
robin
Ashkenaz on San Pablo Ave. in Berkeley is all ages all the time
and I have seen babies, toddlers and kids there as late as 11 Pm
but if you look on their calendar they usually have one
children's venue a month and several shows that start more
early-ish. Happy dancing! I wish I had gone sooner with my kids.
http://www.askenaz.org
anon.
How about lunchtime jazz at Cheese Board pizza?
this page was last updated: Jan 25, 2010
The opinions and statements expressed on this website
are those of parents who subscribe to the
Berkeley Parents Network.
Please see
Disclaimer & Usage for
information about using content on this website.
Copyright © 1996-2012 Berkeley Parents Network