Lincoln Theatre

Lincoln Theatre is located in Downtown Raleigh on the corner of Cabarrus and Blount. Lincoln is a small classic theatre that is only standing room. It provides an intimate environment to indulge in a music artist. The sound quality was excellent. You feel immersed in the music. There are very few small tables on the balcony level, so arrive early. There are similar small venues like Lincoln in New York City. I visited for the first time to see the very talented and vivacious Durand Bernarr. He has performed background vocals for R&B and Soul greats like Erykah Badu & Anderson Pak. After watching his NPR Tiny Desk, I was convinced I needed to attend his Wanderlust tour. This was his first show in North Carolina. Tickets were affordable for a steal at $20 online. We arrived just before 7:00 at opening. The line had already wrapped around Blount St into the parking lot. The staff was organized and managed the crowd effortlessly. We headed to the bar for drinks and there were no lines. We found our spots on the lower level closest to the stage and awaited the start of the show. Durand's opening act was singer Jeronelle. He brought a lot of energy and vocal range. The show featured so many layers of this man's talent. Durand showcased all of his talents premiering a DJ set during the show, showcasing lyrical skills and his wide vocal range. The audience was so engaged during the show and the participation from fans really made the experience intimate. Durand also celebrated a birthday so it made the show extra special. I haven't danced and sung at a show like this since high school and college. Durand Bernarr exceeded my expectations. When you search the word show in the dictionary, his face and name should appear. I would definitely return to see another show.

We went and saw TALK perform. I've been here in the past and love it just as much now. However that night they had the top blocked off and I really wish we could have had a seat at some point.

The theater is a really cool space. It's right downtown and next to a parking lot so it's easy to get to. It's small, which is generally a good thing. The downside: it's a really inaccessible venue. I have arthritis and cannot stand for a whole concert. When I arrived I inquired about accessible seating, and I was told they might have some stools upstairs. There was no apparent elevator and stools aren't accessible seating. They're also first come first served and I came later, so I got screwed. I ended up having to sit on a bench in the lobby (directly next to the men's bathroom) trying to catch glimpses where I could. Then a guy let his kids sit on the wall at the back of the venue that connects to the bar and I couldn't see at all. I guess it's allowed because security never said boo to them, but it really sucked. I mostly just listened to the show and periodically saw the heads of the band members. Lincoln Theatre: you HAVE to do better for your patrons, particularly those with accessibility needs.

I recently attended a really good concert at the Lincoln Theater. The music sounded fantastic from the small stage and the bartenders did a great job of getting you what you needed quickly. The lighting and sound were spot-on. My main gripes about my visit were the amount of time I had to stand in the cold waiting for entry and the fact that there were just too many people in the building at once.First, it was in the 30s when I arrived at the venue last weekend. I was wearing a heavy sweater and pants, but it was still really cold outside. Though the ticket takers at the door were doing their best to allow entry after scanning tickets and putting wrist bands on everyone, it still made for a 10-15 minute wait outside in the cold. When I arrived at the door, apparently there were 2 lines to enter, but nobody was using the second line until a man came to the first door to shoo some of us to the other door. It would have been useful to have seen a sign or if someone had been corralling people to get us into the building faster. Secondly, I paid more money so I could sit in the balcony in an attempt to avoid lower back pain due to my sciatica. I am often unable to stand comfortably for long periods of time and the idea of sitting was worth the extra money. However, once I got settled in, several people came and stood in front of me, near the stairway, and I was blocked from viewing the band. I had to adjust my seat, putting me way too close to the person next to me, in order to enjoy the show. There was nowhere else for me to sit unless I wanted to end up behind the first row of people, on a bench that wouldn't allow me to see anything. Otherwise, I would have had to stand in a section for which I paid extra in order to be seated during the show. Though I wouldn't want to take away anything from the theater in terms of profits, it would be nice if limited seating was available in the balcony. Even if I hadn't been able to get balcony seating, at least I wouldn't feel like I spent extra money to have been inconvenienced. Overall, while the music was fantastic and the sound was really good, I wouldn't be interested in returning to Lincoln Theater at this time. Perhaps if things are updated to improve the experience, I will consider returning.

Great for intimate shows - be prepared to stand the whole time though. Bear came to the center of the venue to sing with no mic and no band, just him - he's awesome!

Terrific venue. Just the right size. And the staggered levels is such a great benefit, especially if there are short people in your group. Acoustics were mostly great. Sound team seemed to allow WAY too much reverb consistently for show we went to. But main act overcame that. Make sure to eat before you come. Staff was friendly and bar setup is nice. Stools around several parts of the venue were a nice touch for those who can't stand the whole time (like me). Will definitely go again. Parking is plentiful nearby.

I bought General Admission tickets to a show after carefully checking the website to see about seating options, as one of the people in our party could not stand for more than a few minutes due to an injury. The website (under FAQ) clearly states "For General Admission shows limited seating available on a first come first serve basis both down and upstairs." We were one of the first folks to arrive, and lo and behold there were zero seats set up. I talked to 3 different staff members, one told me it wasn't her job to know about that, one was basically catatonic, and one was sympathetic but unhelpful. No one knew who I should talk to or cared. No one cared what the website said one way or another. Who manages this place? Why does no one know or care? Anyway I've been to many, many different venues in my life and having nowhere for anyone to sit is ridiculous, discriminatory, and unheard of. Waste of money.

We have lived in this area for almost 30 years and this was our first visit to Lincoln Theatre. I heard that this is the place for "rock" concerts so obviously why we hadn't been here.We were here for a pitch presentation for the RIOT organization. Not sure why they chose this venue. There wasn't much in seating. There is an upstairs area where we sat on barstools and watched the presentations taking place on stage.I guess it's a really old theater ? It gave me the creeps .........I had thoughts of getting stuck upstairs and a fire breaking out. I don't think we will ever be back. It couldn't be a safe space ?

This is not a fancy place but, if you're like me and you like to stand and watch a band and dance while they are playing, then this is a great venue for you. If you need to be seated, it is a bit more pricey. I saw On the Border, an Eagles tribute band there on Friday. The band was very good and it was a lot of fun.

Open letter to Lincoln Theater Management:Please be advised that last night, June 8th, 2924, at the Saosin concert, a white patron yelled at my husband, who is a person of color, "Fucking Mexican...." and other racially charged comments. When my husband asked a Lincoln Theater staff person to intervene, or at least ask the white patron to keep it moving, the staff person responded that there was nothing he could do. When my husband said that it would be different if a person of color said to a white person, "Fucking white guy," the circumstances would be different, the staff person merely acknowledged that, but said again, there was nothing he could do. These are the types of instances that can incite violence if not properly monitored by well-trained staff. Please ensure that your staff is more proactive when it comes to racial profiling so that patrons who have paid the same price for a ticket as other patrons can equally enjoy the event. Thank you, Ch. Rosoff.