The Independent

The Independent is a live music venue at 628 Divisadero Street in the NoPa neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Open since 2004, it holds roughly 500 people and is known for strong sightlines, a good sound system and a calendar focused on emerging and indie touring acts. The mid-size scale allows audiences to stand close to the stage while still giving artists a proper touring-level production.

The crowd depends on the act but is generally adult, with many fans in their twenties and thirties, and dress is casual. Most events are 21 and over, though some shows are all ages, so each listing should be checked. The atmosphere is energetic but not overwhelming, and the room's size makes it popular with fans who prefer a more intimate concert experience than the city's large theaters offer.

Programming covers indie rock, electronic, hip-hop, alternative, singer-songwriter and other acts, often artists on their way up or established names playing smaller rooms. The mix changes nightly, so the website calendar is the best guide to what is on. The venue has a bar serving beer, wine, spirits and mixed drinks at concert pricing, and a raised area at the back offers a view of the stage.

The venue operates on show nights, and doors usually open at about 7:00 PM, with openers beginning shortly after. Tickets are required and typically range from about $20 to $50 depending on the act, with advance purchase recommended for popular shows that sell out. Cover charges in the nightclub sense do not apply; the ticket is the entry. Table reservations and bottle service are not part of the standard format.

The Independent is on a busy stretch of Divisadero Street with restaurants and bars nearby, so many visitors eat in the neighborhood before the show. Muni lines serve the area, and street parking is limited on show nights, so transit or rideshare is generally easier.