Local 506

Came here for the Wet concert, and it was a decent music venue with an ok beer selection. I had a «Not Your Father’s Ginger Ale» for 6 bucks. More of an intimate, small music venue. The annoying thing is their $ 3 membership fee. Nothin’ special, but an a-​ok bar.

This venue brings in an eclectic range of artists and bands, from indie rock and bluegrassy folk to metal and hip hop. There’s also a bunch of local free events (music on Sunday afternoons and a Monday night open mic) that help facilitate a stronger music community in the local Chapel Hill/​Carrboro area. Because it’s a smaller venue, the music experience is intimate — no matter where you’re standing, you’ll feel enveloped in the show and have a great view of the bands performing on stage!

Had a great time here and met some cool people! Service was really great and some great music too!

Local 506 is a great place to see a band. Not too fancy, very simple and safe. Shout out to the bar staff (Alik, Mike, Melissa) for handling busy crowds. Wish that even more people knew about this place!

I’m a big fan of Local 506. While I think many tours are now being directed to different, or newer venues like Cat’s Cradle back room, Motorco, Neptunes, and Kings, there’s still a handful of great shows that run through here.
Not much has changed at the venue. You can order your favorite liquor drink, or there’s a good selection of domestic and craft beer. There used to be some video games near the bar, but those have now moved out (maybe to The Baxter, which is around the corner). They still fill up a couple of water coolers, so you don’t have to bug the bartender for aqua.
The venue itself is a bit of a dive, but it’s well-​maintained. The sound system is good. The bathrooms are basic, but in full working order. There are seats along the sides; you’ll want to get there a little early to grab one of those.
Local 506 requires membership so they can serve liquor in addition to beer. It’s a North Carolina law, so get over it. Tip: Take a picture of your card and keep it on your phone. They don’t mind this since everyone has a unique membership number.

Small, intimate venue with decent acoustics. Would have been a great place to see a show… But BEWARE of their deceptive advertising of a show as «seated general admission». I assumed there would be seats for everyone but apparently they really mean «seated if you get here first otherwise you must stand or sit way back in a bar area with an obstructed view»!! False Advertising!!! Really not cool as I was pregnant and not wearing shoes I could stand in for a long period. Will not return.

Great Venue. I had the pleasure of performing here and have seen many bands play at 506. It’s a wonderful place to play and see shows!

Local 506 is a staple, a brilliant fold in the musical culture of the Triangle. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing multiple artists perform here, so I can say that it is definitely one of the coolest places to hear your favorite jams. Local 506 has a nice mix of local and national musical acts, plus an interesting mix of other events that they host. The space does seem a little strange your first time there, but it really does allow for a great show, regardless of genre. I’ve seen acoustic folk and I’ve seen post-​hardcore — both shows ended up being amazing. Even though I might have gotten stuck behind tall people at some point, I still heard the music and that’s what mattered.
If you live in the Triangle, make an effort to be a part of the music scene and see a show here.
Sidenote: they had a fair beer selection as well.

I had the pleasure of performing here in the 2015 North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival. The venue itself is well lit and has a great sound system for live performance. The drinks they make there are very good and the staff is über friendly. I haven’t seen a band here, but I can imagine it’s just as amazing.

This place hasn’t changed a bit… and that’s a good thing. It knows it’s a dive bar and is proud of it. Very intimate place to see a show, although it can get a bit hot and stuffy in the summer. Technically, it is a private club with a $ 3 membership fee to enter/​see a show; you don’t need a new one unless you lose yours. They recommend you just take a picture with your smartphone. Great website that tells you «the rules» and why they do it.
Cash only for drinks. Raised seating/​benches at the back for shows. Like Ron W said — «Local 506 rocks it hard».

Love the Local 506. It is drenched in music history (and sometimes beer) and just feels like a rock club should. I’ve gone to dozens of shows there over the years and I can’t remember a bad one (even the night Funland played 45 minutes for ten people was cool – if you’re one of 10 people in the crowd they are going to play your request). The sound is always good – and not too loud, shows starts when advertized, good drinks and beer selection, free water, working bathrooms – that’s about what we look for in a rock club.
I understand people’s frustration over the membership fee, but that’s an NC State legislature issue, not a Local 506 profit center. And regarding people’s other big gripe about not taking plastic, remember two things: a small business has to pay a transaction fee on credit charges and that means they pass on the cost to you in higher prices, so bring some cash and keep prices low. The second is that I learned long ago that if you buy drinks with cash, you’ll do a much better job of managing your personal finances.
So if you want to get sweaty and up close with some great live music check out their website and just spend 30 minutes checking out some of the bands– you may discover somebody you never heard of that you really love.
Support live music and tip your bartender.

You don’t go here for the ambience, expensive beer, nor the concierge.
You’ve come for the show; remember that, hold your breath, and you’ll be fine.

Fun little venue for live music.
We went to see Truth & Salvage Co. We got there around 9, in time to see the 2^nd opening act. I like the set up — the small area at the front for merch, the bar area decent selection, and then the stage and surrounding room, with elevated benches in the back. We’d eaten a large meal, had several pints, and it was later than I was used to being awake, so I curled up in the corner bench and took a short nap between acts. Sound was louder than I’d prefer, but they do sell earplugs at the bar for the old folks like me.
$ 3 membership, as required by NC law, but at least it’s good forever (or as long as you keep up with the paper membership card).

$ 3 membership, not sure for what exactly. To me, it’s not a good enough venue to be exclusively needing membership. The show I went to was free (excluding the membership price), but I would feel bad for people who actually had to pay ticket prices on top of the membership price.
The bar is cash only (come on, it’s 2012… every dive bar I’ve been to in NC will take at least VISA). They do offer an ATM but of course, there’s a $ 2.50 fee associated with it.
So I basically paid $ 5.50 in order to get cash to purchase my drinks. If I could have opened a tab I could have used that money for my drinks instead! With that said, the drink specials were good and what I would expect for a smaller venue, and the bartender was nice.
I’m not going to go out of my way to go back unless there’s a band I really want to see playing there… and even then, I’ll check to make sure they don’t have any more NC dates so I could go to a more accommodating venue.

They have great bands coming through, but a very poorly maintained «database» (read: excel sheet) of members. Another negative, they are cash only.
I went one night and didn’t have my membership card and I knew I had one. They looked me up in their excel spreadsheet (which they didn’t have when I got my membership a couple of years ago) and couldn’t find me. I pay another $ 3 – 5 for a new card. I come home and my original membership card is right by the door, where I put my keys. So yeah, not a comprehensive «database» of members.
Drinks are a bit over-​priced, ok selection, but honestly, I just go for the music. Sometimes it’s filled with the UNC frat-​hipster crowd and I feel old. Bathrooms are usually well maintained and they do have big water jugs out. I don’t think anyone gets drunk as it’s live music, not a club. Plus $$$ drinks. It gets very hot temperature wise for popular bands. They need better fans.

A grimy, unpretentious dive music venue in Chapel Hill. It does require a membership card, which costs a few bucks. It’s a small, intimate venue, and I’ve been to shows where I was one of only two people in the audience, and been to shows where I was a packed sardine. Sometimes a violent mosh pit develops, so if you’re a small female like myself, you may want to bring your helmet and elbow pads… or strategically place yourself outside the circumference of the mosh pit.
The bartenders have always been friendly and efficient, and the crowd is unique. Lots of misfits. I feel at home amongst them, and can dance like an enraged, electrocuted maniac without judgment.

I am a HUGE fan of Local 506! They are at the top of the list with Cat’s Cradle and Kings. They bring such great shows through the area!
Yes, it’s a little dingy, a lot dark and some acts tend to draw some sloppy college kids… but as far as I’m concerned that’s all part of the show! And while this shotgun bar’s layout affords an intimate and personal experience, if the crowd is off… well…
Last show I was at, I had dumb girls yelling about boys & bags over my shoulder through the main band’s set and at another point there was a 5 foot tall ‘bad-​ass’ guy fist-​pumping a finger-​gun and yelling ‘buck, buck, buck’ and ‘GO HAAARD!’ at regular intervals… very special… but you know what? I put my big girl pants on and moved on up in the crowd to a better spot and enjoyed the rest of the show.
Another tactic to avoid this special kind of concert-​goer is to get there when doors open and perch on one of the nice tabled seats that line the sides of the venue. Very good idea if you’re there as a couple or are wearing unfortunate shoes. My plan is to buy some serious platform gothed-​out stompin’ boots! That’ll show those tall dudes and dangerous-​dancers!
PS — Andrew W.‘s tip about earplugs is essential. ESSENTIAL.
PSS — $ 2 PBR tallboys…

Local 506 is a GREAT little spot for local indy rock acts out in Chapel Hill. Dark, small and a bit mysterious, it pulls in a young, mixed crowd looking for good music. You’ll definitely see quite a few beards and plaid shirts here. Drinks are reasonably priced, they’ve got seating around the edge of the main room and acoustics are really solid. They play it loud here, but I’ve rarely heard any distortion or feedback, kudos to their sound man. Let’s just say that you can do far worse than Local 506 for some live music. Smaller than the Pourhouse but just about as cool, Local 506 rocks it hard. Pass me over a PBR…

506 has style. Loud and dirty style.
506 is smaller in comparison to it’s down street competitor venue, The Cat’s Cradle, although this size works for this venue. There’s not a bad seat in the house and it makes shows much more intimate.
I love the fact that there is ample seating surrounding the main stage floor space so if people want to get a drink and rock out while perched atop the side wall seats you’re more than able to.
Like Cat’s the door and bar are CASH ONLY. An ATM is kindly placed inside for your cash needs but if you want to avoid ATM fees, come with money.
Unlike Cat’s, to get in you will need a membership ($ 3 sign up). Unlike some places in Downtown Raleigh one person with a membership will *not* get your friends in with you so be prepared to drop the $ 3 at the door if you don’t have a card. A friend asked if you could take a picture of the card and carry it on your phone for re-​entry instead of carrying the actual card and they said this was A-​OK. According to Andrew R’s review they also have a list of members on hand at the door if you forget your card. Smart cookies!
Drink prices are terribly reasonable — a well drink cost me $ 4 on a Saturday night while a pint (Shotgun Betty — local beer FTW!) ran around $ 5 (according to my in-​head breakdown of prices based on 2 pints and a well). If I’m wrong, please correct me.
They do sell ear plugs for $ 1 and I advise picking up a pair if you don’t have your own already. The music can get LOUD (which music is supposed to do obviously) but you don’t have to walk out ears ringing to enjoy a good show!
The one thing that blew me away here were the acoustics. Absolutely stunning. I strongly recommend this venue for a band. Especially a band you absolutely love because you’ll get to see more of them, on and off stage.

Do you like it when the band plays directly in front of you?
Do you like cheap drinks?
Yes, you do.