Berkeley’s Greek Theater Is One of NorCal’s Finest Venues

Dispatch at the Greek. (📷: Edward Betts)

By David Coppin-Lanegen

Throngs of people pounded their feet against the stone pavement, their long scarves and long hair dyed wailing, schizophrenic colors. As they danced, Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes crooned, his voice blue and blending with the pink-orange sky and colorful people of The Greek, in Berkeley.

Formally known as the William Randolph Hearst Greek Theater, The Greek is nestled between deep green trees and low, proud buildings at the top of Panoramic Hill in Berkeley. Built in 1903 in a natural bowl of land already in use as an amphitheater, the rings and rings of stone seats designed by architects John Galen Howard and Julia Morgan hearken to the ancient Greco theater of Epidaurus. Among performers, It’s the most highly-regarded venue in Northern California

In its hundred-plus years of operation, it has hosted countless UC Berkeley graduation ceremonies, jazz festivals, speeches by Teddy Roosevelt and the Dalai Lama, and more. The Grateful Dead loved The Greek, playing 29 shows there between 1967 and 1989.

Nowadays, the theater still hosts the UC Berkeley graduation, and other campus activities like the Bonfire Rally before the annually and eternally famous “Big Game” with Stanford. The real attraction, though, greater than any football party, world leader, or graduation, is The Greek’s concerts.

Like the Dead before them, The Greek is popular with modern working musicians. I saw Fleet Foxes there last year, and it was awesome. It was a sunny afternoon and the wind blew a little, the stone seats emanating warmth. It’s a wonderful theater to kick back in during the summer, letting the music of Lana del Rey or Toro y Moi wash over you. 

(📷: Andy Witchger)

And summer is the best time to go. Sunset is gorgeous as the light melts all over the performers and evaporates, leaving them, finally, shrouded in darkness.

To wit, on Thursday, August 24th, Weezer and Spoon played at The Greek. On August 30th Sylvan Esso took the stage, and on September 10th Counting Crows will serenade the Berkeley Campus. No less significant on September 22nd, The Steve Miller Band will build up and tear down the Greek like so many before them.

The theater offers concessions during the show, so no need to eat beforehand. The North Plaza, behind the stage-left most seating area, boasts honey and bourbon chicken sandwiches, nachos, black bean burritos, and all sorts of goodies a la carte. Go to The North and South Tower stands for beer, wine, and other spirits, or candies and cookies. A cafe directly to the east of The Greek offers similar food to the North Plaza, in addition to a great view of Berkeley, stretching out below Gayley Street.

While the stone seats are lovely, and I recommend them, you can also spread a blanket out on the lawn seating above the theater proper. You’ll be nearer to the food and drink, too. Wherever you sit, while you watch a performer of your choice play this very old theater, think about the history behind it. It’s almost as fascinating as the music. Then go get a burrito.