Union Transfer

This week I am going to talk about another one of my favorite venues in Philadelphia, the Union Transfer.  This building was originally opened as the Spring Garden Farmers Market in 1889.  After the farmer’s market shut down, the building was used as a baggage transfer depot station for the railroads in the area.  At that point it was called the Union Transfer Baggage Express Co. and was open from 1918 to 1942.  This gives the venue a sense of Philadelphia history, and inspired the current name Union Transfer.  After it was a baggage depot, it has been many other things including a trolley repair shop, a trust company, and most recently a chain restaurant called Spaghetti Warehouse.  In 2011, the Union Transfer music venue was opened as a joint venture between R5 Productions and The Bowery Presents.  Now, it truly is one of the staples of the Philadelphia music scene.

The venue is perfect for live music as it has wood-timber construction and open, airy spaces.  It has much of the same old architectural features such as stained glass, chandeliers, high ceilings, and a balcony.  It boasts 3 full bars, a huge selection of beers, enough space to accommodate 600-1,000 people, a wraparound balcony that surrounds the stage, a parking lot with 200 parking spaces, and enough room left over to have some office space and dressing rooms for the performers.  Sean Agnew of R5 Productions had this to say about the venue and their vision for it; “Union Transfer is filling the void for a small- to mid-sized live concert space and will showcase bands that have passed by the city because there hasn’t been the space to plan... Our goal is to create an atmosphere where the fans will be able to have all of the comforts of a large concert venue, while still having the intimate concert experience they are looking for,”.  This is exactly the feel you will get when seeing a show here; it’s hard not to enjoy the architecture, acoustics, lighting, and overall environment that they have crafted.

Another awesome thing about this venue is that they host a large variety of genres of music, it is truly eclectic. If you would like to attend a show here, you will definitely be able to find some music you will enjoy.  You can find tickets at several online ticket sellers, as well as Union Transfer’s website and at their box office.  If you would like to see some of their upcoming shows you can see the shows they have booked for the next few months by clicking here.  They have both all ages shows as well as ones that are 21 and over.  This week’s performances include Drive Like Jehu, Souldiers of Soul, Saintseneca, The Warhawks, and Honne.  Go out and see a show here, you will not be disappointed!