Knitting Factory
Category: Music Venues [Edit]
Neighborhood: Manhattan/Civic Center74 Leonard Street
(between Broadway & Church St)
New York, NY 10013 (212) 219-3006
- Nearest Transit:
Franklin St (1)
Chambers-St-Park Pl (2, 3, A, C, E)
Canal Street (J, M, Z, N, Q, R, W, 6)
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Music: DJ, Live
- Best Nights: Fri
- Happy Hour: No
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: Outdoor Area/Patio Only
- Coat Check: Yes
58 Reviews for Knitting Factory
This is not so much a review of the knitting factory, as a review of their bar. The bartender at the Knitting Factory made me quite possibly the strongest gin and tonic ever to still qualify for the name. I mean it was basically a glass of gin with a lime in it. Negligible tonic.
For some people an $8 glass of gin might be the best time ever...
For me it meant I barely remember anything else about this experience.
...I think it was fun? Music is good?
One neat thing that I do remember is that after the opening act finished they came down off the stage and hung out in the crowd to party. Always a nice touch.
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Alright, one of my favorite ladies books here, so i'm partial, but it seems a great venue. It's an ideal size for a certain kind of show, the sound was good, and I like the littlelittle balcony (though in the dark, i must warn you to watch out for those hidden steps...perilous!)
The old Knitting Factory is expanding to places like Spokane and Boise now (if you consider going to places like Spokane and Boise "expansion"), whiiiich seems strahnge, but whatevsies.
Also, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks reunion show? Oh, well, I guess so. If I don't have anything better to do that night. pssshhhh. And Information knocked my socks on their buttocks.
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Ugh. Did I go to the same place as other people? Hot, bad acoustics (or maybe the opening acts were just bad..?), ugh.
I also have a gripe with their online ticket reservation system. Contrary to what the website says about saving $2 by booking online, the service fee tacked on made buying tix in advance more expensive than buying them at the show, and on top of that everyone had to wait in the same line regardless of whether you had a ticket or not.
Maybe the larger spaces within are nice, but the ceilings were low and felt like they were descending upon me and it was so hellishly hot that I just thought it was an all around crappy venue.
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I freaked out because the website said no cameras allowed. I had a camera with me 'cause I was taking other unrelated pictures and was afraid I'd be turned away at the door and we'd have to go all the way back to Astoria. So I sent my camera and lenses back to Brooklyn with a friend. They didn't even look in my bag at all, let alone checking for a camera. I was sad I went through all that apparently for nothing.
Drinks seemed to be average prices for NYC. Small & intimate venue with a cool crowd.
I knew someone playing in the Tap Room on Monday and it was $5 in advance ($7.50 with online charges), so I figured why not. I do like the chalkboard that lists the artists and times right at the front entrance. Thank goodness for that. I didn't really know where I was going and the staff was kind of standoffish. Greet them first, ask how they're doing. It's kind of reverse service but they'll help you out if you abide by the rules.
The room itself was a good size. These are my favorite kinds of venues...intimate enough that wherever you're standing you can probably see the stage. I lucked out on getting seats at the bar for me and my friend. There was only one guy tending which was kind of annoying since he wasn't really going to the people he saw first, but in order down the bar. He was very nice though and we definitely shared a laugh when the band on stage made nonsensical comments. $7 for draft and sadly a few beers were out when I got there after 8 (doors were at 7:30). Oh well.
The crowd was definitely a strange mix. It was a combo of ticket holders and some rando people. Are there not a lot of bars in the area? Teens, cougars, 20 something hair whippers (you know.. tight tank tops with hair that can be used as a weapon) and their fedora'd counterparts, scenesters, as well as those side to side booty shakers (too conservative to go all out). The sound definitely wasn't the best, but the performers were stellar so they made up for it. And well.. considering that factor.. the cover is approrpiate. Kudos to the clean bathrooms. Completely unexpected. haha
3.5 rounded up. Oh and there's a Chase Bank up the cross street (not Leonard) if you don't wanna use the Knitting Factory ATM.
Wanda Jackson! In a small club! She's getting on in age so the show was an early one which worked perfectly with our plans for later. Refreshing to go to a small club without being jammed nuts-to-butts with over max crowd.
My band plays here in the Tap Room every so often. It's a great space for both the band and the fans. The door people can be a bit testy sometimes, but once you're in, it's great. the sound quality is very good, sets start on time (great unless you're used to your favorite band going on 30 minutes after they're scheduled to), and the calibre of bands that play here is a cut above most of the other clubs in town. You can just drop in and hear some good bands, which I wouldn't recommend doing at most places.
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The Knitting Factory wins my award for favorite music venue.
A very intimate venue that attracts good national (and international) bands. The venue picks up a wide variety of music - I've seen punk/ska shows and bluegrass.
The balcony is the best when not in the mood to strain your neck by looking up at the stage. They even have theatre seats on the balcony (although they may have removed it since I did not see them the last few times I was on the balcony). The accoustics are excellent and for the most part there's no bad spot.
The staff very friendly and they have a good selection of beers.
It's a combo of two of my favorite venues in SF - Bottom Of The Hill and The Hotel Utah Saloon - plus more.
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not the best sound system in the world, but three different floors creating an intimate feeling throughout. well done.
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Deets: Jump Little Children Farewell Tour '05, 8 pm, decision to go with two almost strangers, made last minute amidst [my] hysterical excitement
Thought process: Fuck fuck are we going to make it? What if we don't make it? They'll never play again must see must see (which classes do I have tomorrow? What time? 8.30? No problem must go must) go go go D train WHY don't you move faster? Must. get. below. Bleecker. soon. What if tickets are sold out? GUYS, what if the tickets are sold out? We should've left earlier. Dammit. Where IS it?
Facts: Dragged a sickly boy and some girl living in the same dorm to see a band they'd never heard. $10, moderately damaged hearing, auditory orgasm compliments of one Matt Bivins be-still-my-heart singing "Body Parts", a once-sickly boyfriend, a break up, a Jump Little Children t-shirt, and my first article for my school's pretentious shitastic paper later and
oh man that was still one of the best shows I've ever seen. Small venues rock my socks.
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The Knitting Factory is one of the few Manhattan venues that gets things right. It's a great space. In fact, it's great spaces as there are three floors with three separate performance areas. KF also books a varied array of bands - hardcore, indie, noise, jazz, hip hop, yelling, god only knows, acoustic - they've got it all. You can go one night and watch people punch each other in the face to music and go the next to stand with your arms folded and pretend you don't care about the band you just paid $10 to see.
Unlike larger venues like Irving Plaza, re-entry is allowed. The sound system seems to have gotten a little worn down, but chances are you won't notice it as the guy at the soundboard loves to crank it up. It is definitely the best place to see small to mid-sized bands.
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Saw my friends' band play in the Old Office space, but got to explore all three floors before they went on. Crowd was an eclectic mix of club kids (and I do mean kids, they looked 16) there for the dance party on the second floor, brooding artist types who were early for the first floor show, and stoned NYUers drinking PBRs in the Old Office. All was well, everybody got along, and I got to see a great show in a very small space.
Thank goodness for a bar on every floor. Drinks were relatively cheap. Bathrooms left a little to be desired, but what club bathroom doesn't?
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The concert was schedule to be at 7:30pm and i arrived at at 7:30. There was a long line outside the Knitting Factory and I was worried the concert would start without me! But the line moved fairly quickly - no problems and staff were friendly and helpful. I half expected to be shouted at just because things can get tense whenever there's a crowd but everything was under control.
The concert was at the Main Room (There are 3 spaces) and as I got there late, it was already packed. but discovered there was a balcony, which was much less crowded and the view was good!
Its an intimate way to watch your favorite indie act perform. didn't know NY had something like this!
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I've always wanted to go to the Knitting Factory after hearing Eric Bogosian's SEX, DRUGS, & ROCK n ROLL!!! Well this place is soooooo Bogosian!!!! (Not that you know what I mean exactly!)
Though established in '87, the Knitting Factory is a venue which makes me think of New York in the 70s-80s when real bands played. You can feel the history in the place! This IS NOT a lounge, all you bratty people who shop at Scoop/Precision, ie my neighbors!
There's the main level with the largest room with a raised stage--above is the balcony. It's not a big room, but seems to be the biggest in the place. There's a bar in there. Then there's a large room off this room with a bar as well--great for hanging out.
The two levels below are also large rooms with a bar--both have tables, both have a space to perform in, albeit not necessarily with a raised stage.
As I do mention the levels, I can't see how the Knitting Factory is handicapped accessible. Maybe you could get into the main room and the bar off of it...but there are stairs to the balcony, as well as to the 2 floors below. The restroom is on the first floor below, so that's an issue as well.
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Saw Pansy Division here Saturday night.
AWESOME!!! Nice staff, nice space, the intimacy really works with bands and fans like PD's. The band was really responding to and working the audience, the crowd was really into it and literally within spitting (or sweating) distance from the music. The band was even among the crowd in the bar before and after the show, which was cool as $#@&!!!
The one weird thing is how the neighborhood around The Knitting Factory has transformed over the past 20 years... we ended up walking all the way up into the WV to find some quick affordable eats when we found out that PD was going to be the second to the last band of the four playing in the main space.
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First time I went there for Gothamist.com birthday and from then on I always try to drop in there for some great live music. Very personal warm atmosphere, even got to be backstage few times, lotsa fun...planing to go back sometime very very soon.
Same small intimate coziness as the Hollywood location. It has a nice old underground feel to it. Very humble venue.
Get spit on by famous MC's, literally.
The place is small but that makes it great.
I was able to sneak up to VIP during a sold out show cause it's just gets bonkers in there.
All types of underground and indie acts perform here. Kanye had a show here before he went BIG.
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I've checked out two shows at this spot: both stages. There's definitely an intimate feel and the place seems to reach the point just before capactiy - so you're liable to rock out. Crowd is always pretty hype, I usually am too being that there usually isnt too much damage on the pockets to get in!!
Peace.
saw bedouin sound clash here. they sounded good and it wasn't too crowded. the creepy drunk guy dancing like a crazy person got kicked out by the bouncer. i approve.
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With gentrification killing the likes of CBs, Sin-e, and Tonic, and with the Bowery conglomeration morphing into a Live Nation clone, let's take a moment to remember why we fell in love with New York.
With free jazz explorations in the Old Office, whisky river country in the Tap Bar, CMJ sensations in the Main Space, what fantastically raucous times I've had in this venue.
Who else books afrobeat, ska, hip-hop, post-punk, and shoegaze all in the same week--hell sometimes all in the same night? Nobody, that's who.
You can even save 5 bucks on your ticket price if you text message your order in. Think about that next time you're paying 9 dollars a beer to see some overrated band at the Hiro after having given Ticketmaster an unnecessary 12 bucks for "service fees."
I raise my glass to the Knitting Factory for keeping the spirit of music for music's sake alive.
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So seeing an indie rock show has been on my "to do" list and my "make it a habit" list for a few weeks now... So when the opportunity to see the Umbrellas last weekend came up, I was really excited about it.
When we entered the place I was a bit skeptical. Well actually even the location was a bit obscure and there was not much around. Upon entering you understand why the name of the place is called "Knitting Factory." Actually I don't know what a knitting factory would feel like, but it felt like some kind of factory or mill. The wooden floors were old and they creaked with every step. Okay it was almost like an old dormitory. You can go upstairs, downstairs, into the room, whatever. We went downstairs for the show, and you pay for the particular show you're seeing before entering that room.
The room was not that big, and I'd say it could accomodate 50 people max. There was a bar, and a small stage. I'm not an expert at telling if sound systems are good or not, but from what I heard, it was good enough. I thoroughly enjoyed the Umbrellas, but the band that came on afterwards, Lola Ray... I'm not too crazy about. The lead singer of Lola Ray did seem to enjoy many female fans though, lol. So does the Knitting Factory book great bands? That's for repeat visits to find out...
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Cool space with friendly staff and a great assortment of bands on multiple stages. Where else can you see Czech art rock, South Boston white boy hip hop, and some random dude from middle America on an acoustic guitar, all in the same night?
Drinks are reasonably priced and strong enough and the bathrooms aren't too heinous. The sound system goes from good to great, depending on the stage. The crowd is nearly always cool, because this place isn't really surrounded by anything else and if you come here, it's for the music rather than the scene.
My only complaint (and it's not really the KF's fault, but it has had unfortunate results on more than occasion), is that there is a ten o'clock curfew in the neighborhood. This means that when a band is scheduled to play the main stage at say, 8:30, and there's one opening act before them, if you show up at 9:35 you will be lucky to catch more than one song by the people you actually wanted to see. They don't fuck around between acts, so don't think you'll have time for one last drink before getting there. You won't.
Despite this little annoyance, the Knitting Factory is one of my favorite venues in New York. Don't miss out.
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I. Am. Slacking. Been coming here for years. My biggest gripe is that it's so far downtown. It always seems to be in the middle of nowhere. Cabs are a necessary must. Been for concerts downstairs. Sound and acoustics are....intense. Quite loud. Gone for hip hop karaoke upstairs. Always a fun time. The place can get super crowded and there's just the bar off to the right side. Drinks can add up--this might be the night you skip the RedBull Vodka and stick with the BudLight. Suggestion--if you stand towards the back of the bar you can be safe from the crowds, but struggle to see through the large poles. I like to do a little in-between. Mingle in the crowds and then go seek refuge off to the side. The bathrooms (downstairs) however aren't too bad, I never have to wait long, if any, and they're decently clean. Thank goodness! Always a nice place to catch some live entertainment (a guy friend of mine even had his bachelor party here....hollaaa!) so if you have a chance--go check it out!
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Knit Facts:
1. This was an old Knitting factory once.
2. The wooden floors, old staircase, strange configuration of rooms/spaces attest to the above.
3. The Tap Bar downstairs has a great bivouacked inlet-seating for make out sessions.
4. Each floor has it's own bar. YES!
5. Door enforcers are really sweet Umpalumpas on heels, and will never keep you waiting.
6. Performers at this venue are the BEST indies in town (Apes & Androids concert was phenomenal)
7. Several performances in one night and in all rooms.
8. Above statement should include the independent payment at EACH event, which sucks (hence the -1 star) but, sometimes the nice ppl at the door will wink at you and let you pass.
9. Hot girls and boys.
10. Cheap drinks to boot.
11. Come, play, and make merry.
12. I heart you Knitting Fact-four-ye
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The Knitting Factory was a really cool venue. I was expecting it to be bigger but it wasn't an uncomfortable size, the stage seemed really small though. I LOVED that there was a steady flow of AC streaming through the crowd throughout the whole show, that really sold me on coming back. Very easy to get to from the Franklin 1 subway stop.
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I saw Iron & Wine on their first tour here. It's the single most breathless show I've ever seen in my life, & that is every bit as much a testament to the band as it is the Knitting Factory.
Possibly the best place for an intimate show in NYC.
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This will always be one of my favorite venues. I've seen so many bands here over the past 5 years (and counting.) And a lot of my favorite memories involved drinking outside before the show starts. Sometimes the guys at the door can be ball busters (not to me, but I've definitely seen a few 15 year old girls cry because they were shunned at the door) but I'll always love Knitting Factory.
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I grew up on small, intimate concert spaces in SF and NJ, and was disappointed by the lack of cool indie venues in the city. Thank goodness for the Knitting Factory! It's pretty tiny (and unfortunately the really popular artists sell out very quickly), but it makes for a fantastic concert experience.
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You can't really get much closer to your favorite band anywhere else. I've only been to the main level (there's something downstairs too), and the view from the balcony or the lobby is up close and personal. These people know the meaning of variety too.
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The Knitting Factory is an incredibly rad place to go see a show. I caught Koufax there playing with Piebald what seems like forever ago, but it was still a great place. Sure, everyone was crammed in, but it wouldn't be a rock 'n roll show without cramming. I had a great time and was able to still be comfortable. The bar wasn't bad and the bartender was good about giving out free water when it got especially hot in the club. I haven't been to a show in a while, but they are constantly booking great acts that I wish I could afford to go see. They also book lots of off-the-map and under-the-radar musicians which I think is really cool.
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I'll be honest here. I can't give an honest review of The Knit. Why? Because my friend Zach works here and every time I go he gets me heinously plowed. His personal favorite: the time I accidently snorted whiskey after the Jonathan Richman show and I was pretty sure JR wanted to either hit me in the face or cry.
They never, EVER turn on the air conditioning so even in January this place can get steamy, and come summer, shit is unbearable.
The booking is improving consistantly, and the fact that there are three distinct performance spaces, each with their own bar, plus a separate bar in the front of the venue upstairs is pretty neat. The sound is comprable to Bowery but the main space is about half the size.
I have no idea if any of this is true. All I can remember from my dozens of trips is Zach's flowing red locks as he hands me a shot of Jaeger and an MGD demands I drink them both by the time he comes back.
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An intimate space - you'll run into band members all over the place - but if you like 'em loud, be prepared to have ringing ears. I saw the Wrens here (and they like the albums soft and the live shows loud) and it felt like I put my head in their amp.
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Really nice venue. Awfully hot in the summer, though, but their ceiling fans work nicely. I saw Jump, Little Children there in early September and they wanted to turn them off for an unplugged "Where She Lies", which was beautiful, but ugh.
The bar's pretty good, too. They make a strong Long Island Iced Tea.
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Very intimate and you can walk right up to the stage. Went to go see Man Man and everyone was just going crazy.
Recently went back for the Meat Puppets. Another insane show. You can stand anywhere and still get a good view. Staff was friendly including the guys at the door + bartenders.
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This place is like a movie theater of live music. multiple floors each with its own stage and bar and its own nightly band. went and saw Bishop Allen there a couple nights ago and it was fantastic. There's definitely a lot going on here. reasonably priced drinks with a $6 pbr plus shot special that seems destined to destroy us all.
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This is a great venue in a great space at a great location. Drinks are affordable, but not cheap, admission is affordable, but not cheap, but the thing is that for every show they have here that is totally awesome (Drop Dead Fest ect) they have about 15 shows that totally suck balls for quarters. I hear some promoters are even packing the place with niaeve young bands who pay to play. For shame.
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Rock on, rockers. Local bands. Indie bands. No matter who's on stage, KF is a good time. Drinks are fairly priced and the bartenders are mostly quick and attentive. Very loud and, if the A/C breaks down again as it did one night I was there, it's unbearable. Without the mishaps, though, it's a great place to groove and scream and party like a rockstar.
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Recent lineups for punk and indie shows has been really underwhelming. I used to go here a lot because it was small enough to get intimate and close but enough space during the downtime not to be a hassle. I enjoy the bar areas, but its just not nearly as good as other venues in the city anymore.
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The Knit books a very wide variety of great shows on practically every night of the week. All three floors boast great live music sound. While the huge weekend crowds can be frustrating, the bartenders are generally friendly and the bathrooms are clean.
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