Pittsburgh City Paper wants to help make attending shows as comfortable as possible. So, welcome to our venue guide, where you can find out what to wear, where to smoke, and everything in between. CP will detail the ins and outs of venues in Pittsburgh, so you can fully enjoy the experience and not worry about little nuisances like not knowing the bar was cash-only.
Owned by John Pergal since 2000, Thunderbird Café and Music Hall in Lawrenceville was greatly missed in its three-year absence as Pergal and his team turned the small blues/roots venue into an intimate three-level space built with both the fan and performer in mind.
Put together by the same team that helped open the Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks, the remodeled venue features a full-size bar on the top level, open regular bar hours, which makes way for the roomy, tiered, steampunk-looking music hall. Musically, the shows will focus on roots, indie rock, blues, bluegrass, jam, jazz, funk, and soul.
Smoking:
Non-smoking venue (this includes vapes)
Smoking is allowed out front, and reentry is permitted
Food & Beverage:
Cash, credit, and debit are accepted
Upon entry is a full-size that will be open every day with normal hours*
A full food menu will be available within the next few weeks
Handheld street foods like sandwiches, fries, chick on a stick, pizza, etc.*
Prices range from $3 (pizza) to $9 (pulled pork)
Vegetarian options are available
Kitchen will be open until between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. (earlier if weekday, later if a busy weekend)
The music hall has three full-size bars, one on each level
Bars in music hall close when show is over, but depending on time, the upstairs area, which is open normal bars hours, may be open
Rotating list of local and domestic drafts
TV menus on sides of bar detail draft list
Official Untappd location
*During opening weeks, there will be a limited kitchen menu and scaled back bar hours
Bathrooms:
Three sets of bathrooms
Not gender-neutral
One set in VIP area
One set located in main bar area (right when you walk in, on the right-hand side, no steps, totally accessible)
One on bottom floor of music hall (elevators can take you there)
Bathrooms are ADA compliant
Age Restrictions:
Most of the time, the shows will be 21+
Room:
Capacity: 382
Standing and seated room (depends on show)
Mostly standing room., with a few seats throughout
Transportation
Paid street parking on Butler Street (Free after 6 p.m.)
Uber and Lyft can drop off/pick up in front
64, 91, and 93 buses get within walking distance
Walkable for those living in or visiting the Lawrenceville area
Valet available for all shows
Pull car up 41st St. along the side of the venue (between Eden Ave. and Butler) where parking attendants will assist. Cost about $10
Security
Standard bag policy: small, wallet-sized purses are fine, nothing huge (i.e. backpacks) are allowed
House security is always around, monitoring space
Ticketing
Box office is located inside, in the back of the main bar (located before steps to music hall)
Tickets can be purchased online, at the box office during an event (if not sold out) or at the following outlets:**
Culture Shop (South Side)
Dave’s Music Mine (South Side)
Government Center (North Side)
Hollowood Music & Sound (McKees Rocks)
Will call available, pick up tickets at box office
** Only tickets for nationally touring acts will be available at ticket outlets
Accessibility
Elevator located on the main floor (bar area) to the right
Box office workers can always assist
Email [email protected] with the event you would like to attend and details of the accommodations you require
Fun Facts:
Upstairs in the bar area there is a small stage were acoustic acts will play throughout the week
Pittsburgh architect Chris Lasky designed Thunderbird
Local steelworker, John Walter of Iron Eden created all bars, taps, tables
Music Hall mural was designed by Dan Kitchener, the same person who sprayed painted the mural on the side of New Amsterdam
For bands, there is ample parking in the back with an easy load-in, an immense greenroom with hotel-style fixings
A private lounge, located on the bottom floor of the music hall, next to the bar, will be available to rent for parties and the like
