Cain’s Ballroom

I’ve been to this venue at least ten times. Out of all the concert places I’ve been to, this one is by far my favorite. Did anyone know that the floor is spring loaded for dancing???

Cain’s is legendary. Cain’s is filled with character. Cain’s is… a glorified warehouse.
Look, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s an old-​time honky tonk ballroom built for dancing and music. Notice the order in that last sentence.
I saw a fantastic show at Cain’s, and will probably return for more, but let’s not pretend that the space has good acoustics. It doesn’t. Let’s also not pretend there’s really anything special about standing up on a wooden floor littered with a layer of beer, sweat, puke, cigarette butts, and assorted debris for hours. This was not my first show, so I know what to expect. I’m just saying that other than history, there’s not much to separate Cain’s from any other Gen Ad venue. It was fine. Let’s leave it at that.

One of the first places that I wanted to see during our weekend in Tulsa was Cain’s Ballroom, located across the railroad tracks, and up on Main Street, near the interstate.
This musical icon is the birthplace of Western Swing, and they’ve been designated by the National Register of Historical Places as the «Carnegie Hall of Western Music». Famous country musical acts such as Bob Willis and the Texas Playboys, Hank Williams, and Patsy Cline have all crossed the threshold into Cain’s, which was opened in the mid-​1920s. Outside, and embedded into the sidewalk, is Cain’s version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with large stars featuring the big names acts that have played in the ballroom over the years.
As times, and musical tastes changed, so did Cain’s Ballroom, and after a while this smaller, intimate concert hall saw the likes of Van Halen, The Police, and INXS performing on their stage. Nowadays, Cain’s is the place to see diverse indie groups and bands not likely to rock the larger BOK Center.
Cain’s is only open in the evenings when they are having a concert, and no longer open for tours during the day. There are numerous reports of ghost sightings inside the ballroom, so don’t be surprised if you feel chills when someone brushes past you.
This is a fun, intimate location to see your favorite musical group, and enjoy the history which made Cain’s Ballroom famous.

I pick up a lot of people here when I drive for lyft. It seems like a great venue. However, I called to cancel a ticket because I’m going to be out of town for the date of the show. The guy that handle the call was a complete asshole. I would not recommend calling Cains.

A pretty nice venue. Went to see the Ryan Bingham show and was pretty impressed. The sucky part is you have to stand most of the time. But there are places to sit if you get tired. Me and the boyfriend dances like sillies in the back when I got tired and took a break. Super fun night! :)

I was excited to go to Caines Ballroom since i have heard so much about it and its history. I attended the Blues Band competition put on by the Blues Society of Tulsa. The competition decides which Blues band will represent Tulsa at the Nationwide competition that takes place in Memphis each year. There were 9 bands that played 20 minute sets each and were judged by a panel of music industry people.
Caines Ballroom is an okay venue. Not many places to sit and drinks were $ 6 for a plastic 6 oz cup. But i could deal with all that.
My complaint was the sound of the show. It was terrible. I dont know if it was the acoustics of the venue itself or the sound man that sat at the sound board but it was really bad. I know the poor sound wasn’t the fault of any of the bands because they all sounded equally as bad. I even moved around the room to see if i was sitting in a bad spot. Nothing helped.
Fitst of all the bass guitar and drums were way too loud. It shook the entire place and vibrated the floor. Now I have no problem with loud music with a big beat but the bass and drums drowned out the rest of the band.
Im a big fan of Blues guitarists so i really wanted to hear these guitar players. Negative. I could hardly hear the guitars. These guys were playing their hearts out but couldn’t be heard. It was a damn shame. I know there were some excellent solos played but they could barely be heard.
I watched as each guitar player turned their amps up after they started playing because they also realized that they couldnt be heard but their amps must have been maxed out because i still couldnt here them play. Therefore it must have been the sound mixer that had a tin ear and needs to stick to mixing pop music that doesnt feature guitars.
I managed to listen to 7 of the 9 bands before i got so frustrated that i had to go. On the way out i stopped at the sound booth and told the sound guy what i thought. Since the show was still going I didnt wait for a response but i said my peace.
My thinking is that because there arent many (if any) complaints about the accoustics at Caines on Unilocal then this was an isolated problem and is not a common occurence at Caine’s Ballroom
By the way, the competition was won by Darell Christopher and the Ingredients but all the bands that i saw were excellent bands. I hope to see each one in a different venue so i can really appreciate them.

Great atmosphere. Easy in and out. Historic and an awesome mix of bands playing here. Clean and Oklahoma Joes right next door. Didn’t get a chance to investigate the bathroom or check if it’s haunted. Can’t wait to go back!

If a band you like is playing here, it is worth attending. If you don’t live in Tulsa, I still insist that it is worth making the drive and seeing the show here.
I have had nothing but stellar experiences with this venue, starting with the minute you enter the door, the staff, the level of service, and pretty much everything else involving what is needed to have an enjoyable live music experience as a patron.
I am super particular about where I see shows. I have had one too many bad experiences where something about the venue has ruined what could have been a great show. It is refreshing to attend a show at a place that truly knows how to execute the process of booking, promoting, and then following through to the show itself. The building is a historical one, so if you do check it out, be sure to take note of the photos, and get a good look around at the history behind the place.
For our most recent show, the doors were at 7:00pm. Show at 8:00. This really happened. Like clockwork. There were plenty of people filing in. But the door staff handled everything in an organized and logically efficient fashion — AND with a smile and kind demeanor. Even the confused guy in front of me who did not even know he was at a concert, asking «what is this place» instead of pulling out his money &/​or ID was treated with respect and kindness.
I will always keep Cain’s on my list of preferred venues to catch my favorite touring acts. It is nearby some good options for food and cocktails, as well as food trucks that sit nearby and provide options for the bar across the street. No complaints here. The sound was good. Seating is limited — so take note of that. But if you get there early, you should be able to find something, even if it is the bleachers.

What can I say about Cain’s that probably hasn’t been said dozens of times already? Historic? Has that been mentioned?
Seriously though, I have been going to the Cain’s Ballroom for concerts since my teen years. The venue has changed and updated a lot since then and it has all been for the better. This is a great place for a somewhat intimate show with your favorite musicians. The venue doesn’t hold that many people so concerts are likely going to sell out if the act is somewhat famous.
I don’t know if it is new or just for this particular concert (Saint Motel /​The Moth & The Flame), but there were about a dozen small tables and chairs towards the back wall so there was a little room to sit which is a nice addition. You will have to be in line way early to hope to snag a seat there though.

May be my favorite music venue. Ever. Place was clean and there doesn’t appear to be a bad seat (ok, standing room) in the house. By far the best sound system of any «dive» I have ever seen a concert at. It was definitely appreciated. I cant wait to go back.

For tour package. This was a fun venue. Two green rooms one is a detached building behind the venue where load in is at. There is a shower right behind the stage next to the other small green room. Walkway behind stage. We walked down the street a little bit and ate a local restaurant. Wasn’t much around from what I can remember. Much room for activities.

Awesome venue ! It’s huge and the stage is huge as well so there isn’t a bad seat in the house. Sound was excellent, lights were excellent and it even had a disco ball !
The staff is all super friendly. The Merch is set up with light actually shining on the T-​shirts so you can see them. They sell booze, soda and snacks .
There is a upstairs with its own bar and restroom. When it’s a smaller crowd they have chairs, tables and even bleachers set up .
I heard some pretty sweet ghost stories happening around this place ! The venue has been around for 90 some years, the acts to have gone through here are amazing !

Love this place! Got a ton of history and most importantly, the noise never gets to a level where you feel like your ear drums are bleeding.
The pictures on the wall show artists going back over 60 years who have played there, including the great Hank Williams. No, not his mentally unstable son, but the gospel-​slangin man himself. The floors here are apparently just wooden slats placed over an ancient indian burial ground dirt floor, which does cause some problems during shows, and they seem a bit too bouncy after a few drinks and a couple of trips to the mosh pit (which is especially hardcore for bands like Train, James Blunt, and Barenaked Ladies, amongst other speed death black metal bands…)
You would think they would have enough money coming in to replace the floor, but the tickets are so reasonably priced here, maybe this is the sacrifice they have to make.
If you have the opportunity to see a show here, it is definitely worth it.

Cain’s is a place I have come to know and love even though I am not a born and bred Okie. This venue brings in musicians from all different genres. I’ve gone to many different shows here and never been disappointed! They sell beer by the six pack, which is very helpful since lines for the bar get a little long between acts. Speaking of lines, I have never had to wait in line for the bathroom at Cain’s which is a perk that not every concert venue can boast. I also love that Cain’s still pays homage to its roots with the portraits that line the venue. This is a Tulsa treasure!
(Side notes: tickets are usually very cheap, kids are welcome at some concerts, and don’t forget there is no re-​entry after you leave!)

Is there a better small venue for live music in Tulsa at the moment? No way.
This dance hall goes back to the days of Bob Willis and the stories that have built up over the year are as legendary as the acts performing here.
The place has great acoustics and really is a great space to jam out to a band like Ghostland Observatory, or listen to the lyrics of Iron and Wine.
The breadth of acts here is great, you can always find an excellent show and the crowd is great because it’s Tulsa!

Red Dirt Christmas
The Hangover Ball
Turnpike Troubadours
American Aquarium
Reckless Kelly
Bo Phillips
Aaron Watson
Brandon Clark
Stoney Larue
Robert Earl Keen
Cody Canada
William Clark Green
John Moreland
Jason Isbell
Just a view of the red dirt/​Texas country shows I’ve seen play at Cain’s, some of them multiple times. Cain’s has a great history and is THE place for good music in Tulsa. Even though historically they have catered to mostly country bands, you can hear all types of music there. What I like about it is that they are exclusively a concert venue and even though there is a bar, and food available at Oklahoma Joe’s next door, people go there to enjoy music and support independent artists.

Without question, this is my favorite place to see a concert in Oklahoma. The set up is perfect and there really isn’t a bad place to stand (or sit) in the entire venue. The crowds are always excellent and make whoever is playing feel right at home. They get great shows for fans of all different genres here. This venue is a must for anyone visiting or living within a 200 mile radius — you won’t be disappointed.

The heart of Middle of America Rock and Roll beats here.
My first ever concert was at Cain’s. As a 13 year old, I had no idea about the history on the walls nor would I have cared back then. But as I’ve grown older I can appreciate what Cain’s is and I love the place to death.
But that great history brings some amazing acts to a Tulsa because these acts want to be a part of this history. We’re not the biggest city in the world, or even Oklahoma. But the personality and rich musical heritage can’t be ignored.
I love the set up. Right in the Brady District which has started coming together nicely. General admission is the way to go. You can be right up next to the stage if you get there early enough. There are no assigned seats. There is a VIP area, but I have no idea why you would pay extra to sit down. It might be different for every show, but I’ve always just enjoyed the open area.
I never have trouble getting my tickets. The staff is always helpful and the bartenders are cool and fun to talk to.
I’ve had some pretty amazing experiences at this particular venue. It will always be near to my heart.

Ever since moving to Oklahoma, I have heard nothing but good things about Cain’s Ballroom. I am a bit of a music nerd, so I’m actually surprised it took me this long to make it out to Cain’s, but it met all my expectations and more. I saw St. Vincent, who was absolutely phenomenal in her own right, but the atmosphere at Cain’s definitely contributed to my positive experience as a first-​timer.
Cain’s Ballroom is literally a ballroom. It’s a small enough space that there’s really no bad spot in the house. Sure, being close to the stage is the ideal for some people, but as I meandered around during the opening act (Noveller), I could see the stage pretty clearly. My back was bothering me, so I opted for one of the «seats» in the bleachers along the sides. As expected, people stand of the bleachers during the show, but fortunately, I was on the top bleacher, so I was able to lean against the wall. That was a great view of St. Vincent, let me tell you.
Drinks are a’plenty. There’s a bar downstairs with alcohol, soda, and water. I was a little tired so I grabbed a soda before the show started, and this is my only complaint about the entire experience: they only serve Pepsi products. What can I say? I like my Coke.
There’s also a bar upstairs, but I did not get the elusive mezzanine ticket which gives you access to the second floor overlooking the ballroom. This area has a bar like I mentioned, what appeared to be some seating, and if I recall correctly, maybe a bathroom. And a good view of the stage! If standing in crowds isn’t for you, I’d try for a mezzanine ticket.
Oh, and bonus: Cain’s is a historic building. I love old buildings, so it only contributed to the good ambiance for me. I wish we had a venue that was as good as Cain’s, if not better, here in OKC, but for now, I’ll happily make do with the 1.5 hour trip to Tulsa.

I will not be able to count how many shows I have caught at the Cains. I absolutely feel at home here. I get excited when each new line-​up comes out for the seasons.
The location is perfect and they have come a long way to make it a comfortable place to hear music. (I remember visiting back in the day to see a show and there was zero circulation of air, people were allowed to smoke and there was cork flooring. The latter was the coolest thing. I miss it).
For a few examples I will tell you some shows I have seen at the Cains. Beach House, Death Cab for Cutie (in same week. Yes!) Smashing Pumpkins, Damien Rice and today, Sara Bareilles.
Seriously the Cains is a happy place.
They now have a BBQ restaurant and two bars available. Yes there are usually long lines but they move quite quickly.
There is special balcony seating available for most shows but the bleachers on each side of the floor is always available.
Security is usually pretty good and helpful.
normally encounter friendly faces when I am there.
One more thing, the bathrooms are fairly large and kept somewhat tidy.
See more shows at Cains. It is a great way to have that intimate musical experience. The acoustics alone are worth it and ticket prices stay pretty reasonable.