If you havent had The timeless pleasure of a state theater concert then you my friend are truly missing out. This place serves great drinks always promotes and brings in fantastic performances and is also just a downright beautiful venue.
Great concert hall, awesome setup for standing room along with seeding. Very good Acoustics for something that would normally be an opera house. I will not hesitate to go back and see concerts here in the future. I also like that they had water station set-up. I did feel it was a little crowded and do feel that they could have lowered the capacity just a little bit. But I was told that this was the reduced capacity.
The venue is too overly protective for one. Plus they have more staff members than concert goers. Only gone here a few times over the years and its become more and more of a drag honestly. Cant recall the last show I stayed all the way through. Not like my opinion matters, but I dont think Ill end up at another one here. Sigh... such a cool spot thats been dragged down.
Melissa Ethridge was amazing!! Not disappointed at all. The State Theater was good. Acoustics were amazingly perfect for a small place. Just very hot! No AC...but worth the Heat! Melissa did not disappoint! Worth the 2 year wait!!!
The concert was good but felt unsafe with people standing in the walkways blocking them in case of an emergency. Which staff would have asked them to move like they said they would.
Absolutely love this theatre and I will be looking for more opportunities to go to events here. The seats are a little narrow so be prepared. But getting to your seats are easy and the view is great. I was in the upper balcony for the Nutcracker ballet and was able to see very clearly. I just with the guy behind me hadnt felt it necessary to keep his feet over the seat next to me..
A great concert, but could have used some air conditioning.
Nice venue. Clean, well-maintained, friendly staff.
Great venue to see a show! It has a smallish, classic theater feel, that really brings you close to the band. The staff was very pleasant, and bartenders did a great job. If youre in Portland, Id definitely recommend trying to catch a show here. Pro tip: if you use the upstairs coat check (which is pretty convenient in the dead of winter) be prepared for a long line retrieving your items after the show.
The cornerstone of the Maine Music Scene. Without Lauren Wayne and the leadership who took over/renovated the venue in 2010, Portland would not be what it is today. The current layout provides great sound and easy access to drinks, bathrooms, etc. Impeccable booking/programming just makes it even more impressive. Best venue in Maine. Hands down.
Of all the venues Ive been to, this is hands-down my favorite... so much so that I routinely travel from out of state to come to performances! Great selection of artists, prime location, reasonable prices, clean facility, friendly staff, spacious standing room and ample seating opportunities! Wish Tegan and Sara would preform here more often! Always a great show :-)
A bit crowded and hot. Not great sound under the balcony.
Great appearence in the main hall area, the performance area, and the balcony. Ive seen comedy shows, light rock, techno, and heavy metal shows here. For the most part its an awesome spot. There are a few downfalls... Parking is horrendous. It cost $30 at the closest garage, and it takes forever to get out after a show. If you choose not to use the garage, youre on the street, and there are only about 25 spaces. Also, I dont know if its just the clientele of a venue like this who ruin the experience, but they always seem to have disgusting bathrooms, and overflowing toilets.
I always enjoy seeing shows at the state theater. The atmosphere is great. Its no e to be able to go from sitting to standing and vice versa for most shows. My husband and I most recently saw the Rise Against show at the theater. Drinks are a little pricey(7-9 dollars for a beer), but I dont drink much so it didnt bother me. Good use an increase in restrooms though as it took nearly twenty minutes to be able to use the ladies room.
My first visit to this venue. Good sight lines to the stage and a lot of folks loved to watch some of the show from the bar area inside the theatre. Definitely got very warm in the theatre. Seats were comfortable and good leg room where we were.The staff are wonderful and helped make the experience more memorable.
Sound travels really well, and three different levels makes it a super comfortable venue (unless youre trying to get alcohol...I suggest not going during the intermission!) The staff has always been great and responsive, and the bartenders move the line along pretty quickly almost always. Theres multiple bars for easier access, as well as a totally separate section for merch which helps with clustering. I love the State Theater, especially because of how long its been around and all the wonderful artists that have been there or will be. P.S. They always have the best artists from around the world and locally, too! Its a good idea to get tickets ahead of time if you can, and get in line as early as possible or wear an extra layer; the lines can get long to get in, and it can get pretty cold in Portland at night.
Love this place! Ive probably seen over a dozen concerts here. The multiple bars are a plus for keeping lines short. The upper balcony seats are tight, but a great view. Usually sounds great here and the building is awesome
I usually love the State Theatre for seeing my favorite musicians, however I recently attended a show with a speaker and sat in the back of the orchestra section just under the open balcony area serving drinks and could barely hear the performer at times. The sound of ice, doors squeaking, and people ordering drinks was a huge distraction. They should keep that area closed for quieter shows or find a way to close the opening off.
I think Ive been here three times now, normally the prices arent horrible and the seating isnt that uncomfortable. The last time we visited we sat up in the balcony section, the cheap seats, and I saw everything perfectly. They have amazing shows!
This is my favorite venue in Maine 👍
Very nice concert venue! Saw Steel Panther, the staff were professional and courteous. The theater itself is art deco but very well preserved cant wait to see my next show here!
Large, antique, decorative theater. Very good lighting variety and options, as well as large speakers that produce nice base sounds. Has bar inside the theater, I recommend for adults. Not a playground for children.
Place is pretty righteous if youre catching a show. Ticket prices are always stellar... But unfortunetly they make up the difference on the adult beverages. It could use more restroom facilities, as the lines are always long but for the most part, pretty decent venue, and Ive been a patron before the renovations and after ( so for the kids... Thats a long a$$ time). To State, thanks for being a decently priced place to catch a show and for the great artist that you bring!
Was at State Theater for a SYSK show, the show was great and the theater was unique!The venue was very clean, the front got everyone into the building quickly.Bar service was available, the line moved much slower then it should have with the number of staff they had behind the bar.Will definitely enjoy many more shows here!
Had a great time! Nice place. Parking can be tough if youre not familiar with the area.
Had a great experience at the two shows I attended here this month. Staff is really friendly and helpful despite how busy they are kept!My only issue is that taking tickets/security check is very slow to get through, but I know the staff does their best. Doors opened an hour before the shows started, but the lines to get inside were still very long fifteen minutes after the show was supposed to start. It could help to open doors earlier to get more people processed through so that people who arrive early can still get in before the show starts, and so that the show can start on time.
I saw Lucinda Williams perform here and she and the theater were amazing. Not a bad seat in the house and the sound system was fantastic. Its a small performance space so every seat is close. I really enjoy seeing shows here.
The State is a favorite venue for music. Small enough to be intimate, yet large enough for a good crowd. A great mix of new artists and legends are booked, creating a diverse mix of music. Ornate decor, and a balcony, as well as a sky bar overlooking the stage, are just a few of the little extras. The staff is friendly and helpful. Go see a show! You will love it!
We were here for the Bear Hands and Walk the Moon concert, and were here for Kaycee Musgrave a few weeks ago.The venue is nice. We like the balcony area for the view but theres not really a bad spot. The acoustics are phenomenal. Every band weve heard here has sounded great. We definitely plan on coming back.
Always my preferred choice for venue. Happy to have seen many great shows here! And more to come! Its such a beautiful building. I hope their next big project is getting the balcony new seats.
The overall experience Can be great, But it can be very hot all times of year especially in the balcony. Last nights show was probably 80-85 degrees in the lower balcony. Upper balcony seats are almost unusably small for anyone over 6 tall - not enough leg room to fit.
I always absolutely love this venue. Its beautiful, with plenty of vantage points for enjoying a great band. The sound quality is also superb. Its definitely hot in the Summer, so if youre delicate about that, beware. The bartenders know how to make tasty basic drinks and the bathrooms are generally pretty clean. Theyve improved the experience for disabled folks as well, which is important to me and my crew.
Amazing venue. Great staff.
Ive been going here for years. I love the venue. It has several bars and you can see the show very well from the balcony.They moved us right along for a sold out show. The line cleared in under 5 minutes.Security was present and visible.The bathrooms week okay..Awesome place.
I have always enjoyed this venue. Its a good place to see a concert. Beer prices are reasonable $3 for a PBR, not sure about drinks or other beers... They had plenty of people working the bar so wait time was pretty much non-existent. The bathroom situation was good, never much of a wait there either.
Love going to shows here! Went to several this year and had a great experience no matter where we were sitting. I’m sure I’ll be back!
One of those old time BEAUTIFUL theaters that remain. I LOVE this place. It is small, dark, and am AWESOME place to watch a concert. I saw First Aid Kit here in the summer of 2018. I have seen Ween twice here in the mid 2000s. It is the perfect atmosphere for a rock concert. I LOVE IT!
Great venue with super cool nooks an crannies. Lots of bars placed throughout the space. Seats in the balcony were great when we got tired of dancing.Time on the ticket was 9pm, but doors were at 8pm, or at least earlier. Getting through security took forever. The line was around the block. We showed up just a few minutes after 9pm and it took more than an hour to get in the door. Talked with some friends about it and they had a similar experience. Get there an hour before the ticket time, and prepare to wait in line!Two stars because Im super bummed I missed the opener. Sound was a little tinny, and the mid range was low or absorbed by the space. So vocals were a little tough to hear. Could have just been that bands sound guy.
Great venue. Sound is usually on point and the several bars allow you to not get too thirsty.
What a great venue. Love the classic details inside the theater. Staff was great and I really liked how you can choose to sit or stand. Booze galore too!
This place rocks! I’ve been to two shows here in the last few months and it’s awesome. Easy to move around in the front. Security is laid back. It just feels like there is no limit to how much fun you can have. Def going back for another show soon!
Nice theater that does a ton of different events. Just try to avoid it in the summer if you cant handle the heat as there is no AC and a lot of people crammed into a smaller venue.
The State Theater has definitely gotten better in the past few years. No more long lines for beverages and lots of places to get one at that. Still a great place to see a concert. Sight lines and an intimate feel have always drawn me there and the updates keep me coming back. Staff is courteous and helpful.
Its a great venue, intimate, comfortable and nice to enjoy a drink during the show. But the acoustics still arent great. You can hear the loud noise from the instruments but the vocals often got lost. Could be my older ears, could be the sound crew setting up. Still was a fun concert.
Went to see Tape Face! What a fantastic show. I love the original architecture. Staff was a little confused how to use the electronic ticket ( that was scary) all in All a great experience.
This theater is absolutely not the place it was 20 years ago. Clean and well staffed, its a wonderful venue for any event.