We LOVE Once Somerville! They are so supportive to local artists and always welcoming to new talent. Rosie is a true MVP. This is a great place to go and support!
JJ Gonson Photography
Local music, good sound and community gathering to enjoy it are always the priority.
Brook Wiers
The facilities neglect the customer. A single food vendor served Indian empanada-like pastries out of a cooler. They came cold and tasted flavorless. The setting has charm (industrial lot next to a railroad track), but felt awkward and uncomfortable, with a large empty space devoid of people and nowhere to sit or rent chairs. A higher level of professionalism would benefit the performance line-ups. The first two performers asked if anyone knew about jobs available. They sang to karaoke tracks of their music. The main musical act, Brandi Blaze, brought energy and creativity for half an hour. The speaker and light systems performed well, but the overall set-up (no tables to eat, asphalt parking lot as listening area, portapotties as bathrooms) felt unrefined. One of the available beers tasted good at $12 a can. Several non-food vendors arrived about 9 pm; the music started at 8 and the doors opened at 7. I would have enjoyed walking around and visiting them before the start of the show. I recommend having them set up before. Overall, for your money you can have better experiences elsewhere, like the Lawn on D Street. ONCE, if you want people to come back: (1) get a food truck serving hot food; (2) provide tables to eat; (3) have non-food vendors set up before the gates open; (4) provide or rent chairs.
Samantha Em
Awesome that ONCE still lives, and this is a great location!Lacks seating, but there is plenty of space to set up your own chair
MG L.
ONCE Ballroom is not only a Somerville staple for the underground show network in general, it is also more specifically one of the most accessibly booked venues around. Super cool inside, with furniture from the bowling alley it used to be, and an awesome stage setup that for the size of the venue makes you feel as though you are in a much larger space. Halloween shows rock here. The last act I saw there pre-2020 was Guerrilla Toss, and the show was so badass I woke up with whiplash and a ripe hangover. To many future bashes here.
John Doherty
Always a blast. Great host
Kristian Hosker
Wanna dance ballroom? Great, this place is like every place you dance ballroom at. I went to a metal concert here. staff was great and understand ing
Tori Clay
One of the best and coolest clubs you can set foot in! I can walk there and they have parking.
Gianni Rosato
Amazing club that hits the spot. Go more than once
Kristine A.
This place is unique. They have a "ballroom" where I have heard Bernie speak before several years ago. Then an upstairs area where there is a bar & pool table. It's a pretty nifty place w/ various old paraphernalia of various things. While waiting for food from Littleburg I noticed they had a small tv that was playing some random old movie. Well there was a whole bookshelf of VHS tapes that was total blast from the past. I have never come here for a show or anything so not sure what that's like.
It's a cool space, and I enjoyed seeing the Playing Dead there, but... 1. Parking around there is absolutely impossible 2. There were no food options 3. Eight dollars for a beer in a bottle, really? 4. Bartender must've been having a rough night, he yelled at the guy before me and ignored me. That is all.
Derek Kouyoumjian
ONCE Somerville is a unique venue with personality and character you don't see as much anymore. There's a hard working crew that make ONCE a fun place to visit, see shows, have drinks, and enjoy a good time.
Justin Perry
Great Venue! Fun and intimate atmosphere! Cant wait to go back!
Shay Curran
Locally owned, accessible shows, i don't know what i would do without this venue! A somerville staple
Jon Archer
Cathy was an awesome bartender. The bands were very good. Need a bit better sound balance; too much bass and not enough mid / treble so difficult to hear lyrics. Would go again.
We LOVE Once Somerville! They are so supportive to local artists and always welcoming to new talent. Rosie is a true MVP. This is a great place to go and support!
Local music, good sound and community gathering to enjoy it are always the priority.
The facilities neglect the customer. A single food vendor served Indian empanada-like pastries out of a cooler. They came cold and tasted flavorless. The setting has charm (industrial lot next to a railroad track), but felt awkward and uncomfortable, with a large empty space devoid of people and nowhere to sit or rent chairs. A higher level of professionalism would benefit the performance line-ups. The first two performers asked if anyone knew about jobs available. They sang to karaoke tracks of their music. The main musical act, Brandi Blaze, brought energy and creativity for half an hour. The speaker and light systems performed well, but the overall set-up (no tables to eat, asphalt parking lot as listening area, portapotties as bathrooms) felt unrefined. One of the available beers tasted good at $12 a can. Several non-food vendors arrived about 9 pm; the music started at 8 and the doors opened at 7. I would have enjoyed walking around and visiting them before the start of the show. I recommend having them set up before. Overall, for your money you can have better experiences elsewhere, like the Lawn on D Street. ONCE, if you want people to come back: (1) get a food truck serving hot food; (2) provide tables to eat; (3) have non-food vendors set up before the gates open; (4) provide or rent chairs.
Awesome that ONCE still lives, and this is a great location!Lacks seating, but there is plenty of space to set up your own chair
ONCE Ballroom is not only a Somerville staple for the underground show network in general, it is also more specifically one of the most accessibly booked venues around. Super cool inside, with furniture from the bowling alley it used to be, and an awesome stage setup that for the size of the venue makes you feel as though you are in a much larger space. Halloween shows rock here. The last act I saw there pre-2020 was Guerrilla Toss, and the show was so badass I woke up with whiplash and a ripe hangover. To many future bashes here.
Always a blast. Great host
Wanna dance ballroom? Great, this place is like every place you dance ballroom at. I went to a metal concert here. staff was great and understand ing
One of the best and coolest clubs you can set foot in! I can walk there and they have parking.
Amazing club that hits the spot. Go more than once
This place is unique. They have a "ballroom" where I have heard Bernie speak before several years ago. Then an upstairs area where there is a bar & pool table. It's a pretty nifty place w/ various old paraphernalia of various things. While waiting for food from Littleburg I noticed they had a small tv that was playing some random old movie. Well there was a whole bookshelf of VHS tapes that was total blast from the past. I have never come here for a show or anything so not sure what that's like.
Restaurantji Recommends
It's a cool space, and I enjoyed seeing the Playing Dead there, but... 1. Parking around there is absolutely impossible 2. There were no food options 3. Eight dollars for a beer in a bottle, really? 4. Bartender must've been having a rough night, he yelled at the guy before me and ignored me. That is all.
ONCE Somerville is a unique venue with personality and character you don't see as much anymore. There's a hard working crew that make ONCE a fun place to visit, see shows, have drinks, and enjoy a good time.
Great Venue! Fun and intimate atmosphere! Cant wait to go back!
Locally owned, accessible shows, i don't know what i would do without this venue! A somerville staple
Cathy was an awesome bartender. The bands were very good. Need a bit better sound balance; too much bass and not enough mid / treble so difficult to hear lyrics. Would go again.