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The Sound Room

3022 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611, USA
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The Sound Room is a small, focused listening room in Oakland, a short stretch up Broadway from downtown and close to major bus lines and BART connections. Inside, it feels more like a neighborhood arts space than a bar, with a low stage, simple lighting, and rows of small tables where most people sit for the whole show. Seating is usually at four-person tables and can be either general admission or assigned, depending on the night.

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There is table service from a compact cafe that does small plates, desserts, beer, wine, and a good range of non-alcoholic drinks. The space is all-ages and wheelchair accessible, and events typically run in the evening with one intermission.

Music is the main focus, but the calendar mixes in other spoken-word and storytelling nights. Regulars come for jazz shows ranging from local combos to touring groups, as well as Brazilian and other international styles. On off-nights from the straight-ahead jazz bookings, the room hosts true storytelling shows like StorySlam Oakland and Pretty Good Stories, where people tell five or six minute real-life stories, sometimes mixed with live music. Shows generally start around 7:30 pm, doors open early enough to grab a seat and order food, and events usually wrap up by around 10.

The Sound Room operates as a nonprofit under Bay Area Jazz and Arts, Inc., with ticket sales aimed at paying artists and keeping the sound quality high. Over the years it has developed a reputation beyond Oakland, including multiple mentions in national press and recognition from DownBeat Magazine as one of the notable places to hear jazz worldwide. It remains relatively intimate in size, so advance tickets are often recommended if a particular concert or storytelling theme is important to catch.

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The Sound Room

Upcoming Events

All The Sound Room events

Wednesday, May 27

Thursday, May 28

Friday, May 29

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Location and Directions

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