Union Transfer

Best venue in Philly. Big space, nice sound. Even for a sold out show, there is a room to move.

Very Uncool Duders working there — I saw Grimes tonight, she ended early and then went over to Union Transfer to see if I could catch the final set… when I got there everyone was leaving and Hop Along was playing their last song. So I asked the guys if I could go in, what the hell… they couldn’t get anyone to decide, so I stood there listening to the last song. Finally some flunky came and told me I couldn’t stand and listen to them and gave me a lecture about having to be a paying customer. I go to this place about 20 times a year and bring friends. Next time I’ll get his name.

Eventually! I believe this entire city has been in need of a venu of this calliber. To say amazing is just not enough. The sound system is SO sharp and clear it is like you are in a car with an excellent system, but actually you are moving around comfortably with 1000 other folks. The drinks were a little pricey as well as the area is a little too dim when they bring the lights down and it is in a dodgy section of town, but on the whole I was quite impressed. I can not wait to see another show there!

This is a great venue if you are healthy enough to stand up for 2 – 4 hours solid. Great views & sound quality. Staff very friendly & helpful. Didn’t buy beer so don’t know about the selection. My husband had a minor health issue while we were there & staff & other attendees were so helpful & nice. Everything was fine in a short time & we both were able to enjoy the show. Staff kept checking to make sure all was well, which it was. We got there early enough to get street parking. All in all a great experience & we’ll be back

The kindness exhibited by Wes, an event staff person, the last show we saw at Union Transfer was above and beyond. I really appreciated the customer service I received by Wes and will continue to bring my business here simply due to the fact that he was courteous and helpful. It made the show that much more enjoyable.

They finished a rather impressive transformation in making such a trendy place out of a spaghetti warehouse. I am not normally a huge lover of music venues, with a couple rare exceptions, but this area is pretty well put together. Tons of pubs, tons of space, lots of different areas from which to see the show. Its fascinating that there’s so much space that’s totally separated from the site itself, offering a pleasant retreat from the bunches if you’ren’t THAT into whoever happens to be performing. Overall, this is my favourite music venue in Philly.

Who doesn’t love this place? They get great bands and have an awesome bar. Combine that with the old architectural features (stained glass and chandeliers) and balcony, and it’s just all around perfect.

Loved this venue!
It was my first time here a few weeks back. We waited in line before doors, and then it went pretty fast once they started letting people in. There was hardly any line at the bar, so we grabbed our drinks and explored before ultimately heading upstairs. We sat on the first row of the seating up there so when we stood up we could mostly see over the people standing along the railing. It provided an awesome view of the concert!
I also love the architecture of the building itself, they kept a lot of character which I feel is rare for concert venues. Very cool!
I would definitely come back in the future.

Great venue for concerts. The sound is great and it has fun vibe. There are a few bars so it’s easy to get a drink and they have a big beer selection. The space is standing room only and there is a balcony. The only thing I didn’t like is that you couldn’t bring your drinks on the floor!

This weekend was my first time at Union Transfer and I can’t wait to return. There are many live music opportunities each month. We paid $ 20 a piece for tickets which seemed like nothing for the night we had. Great acoustics, lighting and environment. The building has old Philadelphia architecture which is so unique. The set up has a sunken floor (where you can’t bring your drinks into), a regular floor (where the bars, with great beer selections are located) and a balcony that surrounds the stage allowing for so many viewpoints.
Try something new with your friends and go see some live music in a unique venue!

My wife and I came here for the jukebox the ghost show and were really surprised! We hadn’t been here before but the venue is very cool, being an old market in the late 19^th century, the music sounds great in the big room and the views of the stage are plentiful and access to the various bars is easy. The staff from arrival to departure was very cool and the bartenders do a great job of getting you in and out quickly. We weren’t jukebox fans but became some during the show, we just wanted to see some live music so a venue like this is great to have close to us!

Cool venue for artists! Came here to see Daley and it was fun. Bathrooms are easy access as well as the bar. Drinkers have designated areas altho some a-​holes still bring drinks on the floor and throw their trash on the floor (i almost busted my ass because of someone’s drink on the floor). You get a good view from anywhere you stand, unless you’re right up front, you’re neck will hurt a little from looking up (lol) Overall, a cool spot to enjoy a show!

Great venue for concerts. Great selection of beer and the union transfer is not a rip off like the TLA where you pay 12 dollars for an I.p.a.
Staff is generally friendly. Bathrooms are clean. Sound has been consistently good at every show I have been to.

Best venue in Philadelphia. Hands down. I have been to literally hundreds of concerts at several different venues and this is the only one that impresses me every single time.
The sound is flawless. All spots on the floor and up top have perfect view lines. The entire place is very clean. Somehow, even during a sold out show, the place never gets hot. I can’t stand a place that feels like you are bathing in everyone else’s breath and sweat. The staff is very nice and knows what they are doing.
I work at few different venues in the city, and I’m always really jealous that this isn’t one of the places every time I come here. Everything is run so well organized, and everything is always on time.
I have to laugh at any review that is under 4 stars on here. If you didn’t have a good time, I can assure anyone that it is because of them and not the venue. You should probably just stay the hell home next time you decide to go out and be a buzzkill to everyone else having fun.

I had a good time seeing Man Man here. It took me back to the Knitting Factory, site of my first concert in New York. The Man Man show wasn’t as good or as intimate as Knitting Factory, but I was feeling the vibe.
I wrote that ^ in 2012, after seeing a show with Bill McThrill. Since then, I’ve seen several shows here. It is still one of my favorite venues in Philly. I like the seating upstairs, the woodwork throughout the building, and I dig both the up and downstairs bars. The bathrooms are pretty tidy, and there is a lady selling snacks (right? am I making that up?) and handing out paper towel a la Webster Hall.
The variety of performers that appears here is eclectic and suits me.

I love this venue.
Saw the old 97’s perform — it was a great show, albeit long… but. that’s the old 97’s for ya!
Alil meh on the area its in, but there is parking around the block from the venue for a nominal fee and there is an attendant there.
The bar area outside of the main stage area is great, lots of tables and stools to sit on to grab a drink prior to the show, and we did just that. The bartenders were very nice and friendly, and they had a bartender come around to take empty cups and take orders right there — I thought it was a great touch.
I made the mistake of not going up to the balcony, and went down to the stage area… by the time the old 97’s went on, I could not see a thing. We retreated towards the back, up a step and I still couldn’t see. Damn being short.
The bartenders inside main stage area were just as friendly and poured a good stiff drink.
Acoustics were great, so while I wasn’t really able to see, I was able to hear and it was nice and clear.
Cannot wait to go back — a 5 star venue for me!

I love seeing shows here. There really isn’t a bad view in the entire venue. I’ve watched shows from the balcony and at the bar area and throughly enjoyed my time at both shows. The drinks are decently priced and I like how they have waitresses and waiters walking around so you don’t love your spot.
The only con about this venue is that because of the weird location it is hard to walk right outside and get a cab after the show.

I was sad to see the Spaghetti Warehouse close, but I didn’t mind once I attended a show at Union Transfer. I don’t know how the TLA and the Electric Factory have managed to stay in business since Union Transfer opened. Union Transfer is better in almost every way. Great sight lines both on the floor and in the balcony, a great bar, great acoustics, and it’s cleaner.
The only downside is they don’t have a seated area other than the bar and some seats at the back of the balcony, which may not always be open. The TLA does have at least a small seated VIP area at the Front of the balcony. For those of us that are a bit older we’d gladly pay extra for some seats. I have seen the venue bring out stools for people with disabilities, so if you do have a serious problem standing the venue may be able to assist you by bringing out a stool. I always have a good time at a show here.

I’m a huge music fan and go to concerts very very often and I get very excited knowing I’m going to Union Transfer. Not only is the bar the best priced I’ve ever seen at a venue, the staff is equally as great! For the 21+ shows, the back bar gives you perfect visibility to the stage. The sound engineers for their front of house always know what they’re doing because every show I’ve seen has been better than the last.
This venue also encourages concert goers to purchase their tickets directly from their box office, service fee free! That’s huge since you’re saving close to $ 12 per ticket! I hope this venue sticks around for the long haul! I love it.

A great not-​too-​big music venue. In order:
it’s easy to get to
they have a lot (albeit a small one, but it’s cheap)
three bars, great selection, decent prices, great bar staff
great sound and visibility. If I go to a show, I want to see the band
Really what else could you ask for?

Coolest venue for a show I’ve ever been to. Way to steal the bacon, Philly! And I’ve been to some pretty cool spots in NYC, DC, SD, Boston, and Seattle. I loved all the different bar options and the different beers they each offered. The only downside was they had a $ 10 min for credit cards.
I just so happened to be in town visiting friends when Guster was coming through — and my friend’s brother couldn’t make it! This meant I lucked out and got to see the second sold out show in a row for these guys. They were everything I could’ve hoped for and more — but the venue really accentuated all of their goodness. We were probably 12 feet from the stage and had room to get dance-​y. The acoustics were ideal and I enjoyed the high ceilings and airy space. I also appreciated the many entry and exit options and clean restrooms.