Apollo Theater

Apollo Theater is located on 253 West 125th Street, Manhattan, between Eighth Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. (Seventh Avenue).  It has a storied history, best known for...
Apollo Theater

Apollo Theater

Dave Crawford Choir

Apollo Theater is located on 253 West 125th Street, Manhattan, between Eighth Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. (Seventh Avenue).  It has a storied history, best known for being the home of the African-American ‘Harlem Renaissance’ in the 1930s; its ‘Amateur Night’ launched the careers of such legends as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Diana Ross, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill and many, many more.  There was even the TV show, Showtime At the Apollo, which included ‘The Sandman’ who’d remove from the stage contestants who were booed by the audience.  It went into decline in the seventies, only to receive government ‘landmark status’ and be refurbished & reopened in 1985.  While owned by the State of New York, it is operated by the MSG circle of venues (Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre), though more bookers like Bowery Presents have booked shows there in recent years.

For such a legendary venue, perhaps the most famous in New York after Madison Square Garden, Apollo Theater is actually not that large, with a depth less than half that of similar ‘grand movie palaces’ that were converted into live music venues, such as Radio City Music Hall to the south or United Palace Theatre to the north.  It does make up somewhat for that with two balconies, and the lack of depth means that the balconies are surprisingly close to the stage, akin to Town Hall, but only more so.  But there is no separate foyer bar area (just an entryway, past photos of past Apollo luminaries); instead, the main floor bar is just at the back of the seats; the drinks at that bar aren’t cheap, and the drink lines from either end move notoriously slowly.  There is a nice bathroom (and another slow bar) downstairs.

The historical connection with its Harlem neighborhood has somewhat ‘ghettoized’ the Apollo, as it’s so associated with African-American artists and audiences that people rarely look to it for anything else.  However, in recent years it has begun to expand the variety of artists who play there (and thus the variety of crowds who go there); MSG seems to be trying to do that for Radio City and Beacon as well (perhaps diverting artists who’d otherwise play at under-refurbishment Madison Square Garden, or just trying to mine the same vein of artists who have made similar-sized Terminal 5 a success).  While the bar situation is frustrating, the lack of depth creates a much closer experience for the crowd than at other spaces like it.  And there is just something special about saying you saw an act at The Apollo.

Capacity: 1,506

all ages

Address:

253 West 125th Street (between Eighth Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd./Seventh Avenue)

By Subway:

A, B, C & D trains to 125th Street – walk 1 and 1/2 blocks east on North side of 125th Street
2 & 3 trains to 125th Street – walk 1 and 1/2 blocks west on North side of 125th Street
4, 5 & 6 trains to 125th Street – walk 5 and 1/2 blocks west on North side of 125th Street
1 train to 125th Street – walk 5 and 1/2 blocks east on North side of 125th Street/Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

 

QRO Coverage:

-Diunna Greenleaf, with Robert Cray, Essie Mae Brooks, Matthew Whitiker, Monty Alexander, Jeffrey Wright, Danny Glover, Wendy Oxenhorn, Taj Mahal, Davell Crawford, Mario Cantone, Betty LaVette, and The Titans of Jazz Bass, March 30th, 2023 (Jazz Foundation of America Gala) – Diunna Greenleaf photos, Robert Cray photos, Essie Mae Brooks photos, Matthew Whitiker photos, Monty Alexander photos, Jeffrey Wright photos, Danny Glover photos, Wendy Oxenhorn photos, Taj Mahal photos, Davell Crawford photos, Mario Cantone photos, Betty LaVette photos, The Titans of Jazz Bass photos, red carpet photos

-H.E.R., November 2nd, 2021 (SiriusXM & Pandora ‘Small Stage Series’) – photos

-Ronnie Brooks & Diuna Greenleaf, with Doyle Bramhall & Jimmie Vaughan, Bruce Willis, Eddie Palmieri, Nona Hendryx & Cassandra Wilson, Cassandra Wilson, Danny Glover & Wendy Oxenhorn, Nona Hendryx, John Faddis/Heath Bros/Harold Mabern/Rufus Reid, Chevy Chase/John Faddis/Heath Bros, Wendy Oxenhorn, Davell Crawford Choir, Steve Jordan, Matthew Whitaker, Alex Morrast, Roberta Flack, Brittany Howard, Chevy Chase & Bruce Willis, and red carpet, April 21st, 2018 (Jazz Foundation of America ‘A Great Night In Harlem’ 16th Annual Gala) – Ronnie Brooks & Diuna Greenleaf photos, Doyle Bramhall & Jimmie Vaughan photos, Bruce Willis photos, Eddie Palmieri photos, Nona Hendryx & Cassandra Wilson photos, Cassandra Wilson photos, Danny Glover & Wendy Oxenhorn photos, Nona Hendryx photos, John Faddis, Heath Bros, Harold Mabern & Rufus Reid photos, Chevy Chase, John Faddis & Heath Bros photos, Wendy Oxenhorn photos, Davell Crawford Choir photos, Steve Jordan photos, Matthew Whitaker photos, Alex Morrast photos, Roberta Flack photos, Brittany Howard photos, Chevy Chase & Bruce Willis photos, red carpet photos

-The Afghan Whigs, with Joseph Arthur, May 23rd, 2017 – The Afghan Whigs photos, Joseph Arthur photos

-Jazz Foundation of America Jam Session, with Steve Jordan, Robert Randolph, Robert Cray, John Mayer Trio, Davell Crawford Choir, Gary Bartz, McCoy Tyner, Brandon Goldberg, Dr. John, Bruce Willis, Dr. Michael White, Jazz Foundation of America Staff, Wendy Oxenhorn, Joe Morgan, Zeke Mullins, and Danny Glover, October 27th, 2016 (Jazz Foundation of America Gala) – Jazz Foundation of America Jam Session photos, Steve Jordan photos, Robert Randolph photos, Robert Cray photos, John Mayer Trio photos, Davell Crawford Choir photos, Gary Bartz photos, McCoy Tyner photos, Brandon Goldberg photos, Dr. John photos, Bruce Willis photos, Dr. Michael White photos, Jazz Foundation of America Staff photos, Wendy Oxenhorn photos, Joe Morgan photos, Zeke Mullins photos, Danny Glover photos

-Blood Orange & Friends (including Adam Bainbridge, Despot, Nelly Furtado, Solange Knowles, and Caroline Polachek), December 12th, 2015 – photos

-Allen Stone, November 14th, 2015 – photos

-Eels, June 1st, 2014 – photos

-Lykke Li, May 15th, 2014 – photos

-Gary Clark Jr., with Alice Smith, November 15th, 2013 – Gary Clark Jr. photos, Alice Smith photos

-Charles Bradley & The Extraordinaires with Menahan Street Band, May 16th, 2013 – Charles Bradley & The Extraordinaires photos, Menahan Street Band photos

-Phoenix with Blood Orange, May 13th, 2013 – Phoenix live review, Phoenix photos, Blood Orange photos

-Jenny Lewis, October 4th, 2008 – photos

Joseph Arthur

Apollo Theater

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