Our Story

The building was built sometime in the ‘60s in what has come to be known as Midtown Raleigh. Though a premier music venue today, the building has been through many different iterations over the years.  Our personal favorite stories from guests include the time it was a seafood restaurant called the Flying Cloud! Indeed, The Ritz has experienced many lives before becoming Raleigh's premier concert venue. In 2015, Live Nation updated the venue into an out-of-this-world live event space, officially reopening on February 13. Since then, the building has welcomed thousands of artists through its doors, including Lizzo, Slayer, Tyler Childers, Lil Wayne, Steve Aoki, Excision, Papa Roach, Snoop Dogg, Zach Bryan, 311, Fall Out Boy, and many more. Every year, the Ritz team works tirelessly to bring the venue to new heights with today’s hot new artists in addition to the legendary, established performers - all while constantly upgrading the fan experience, facilities, and providing a safe and friendly atmosphere.

Some iconic artists that have hit the Ritz stage:

The Smashing Pumpkins -11/18/1993
Gregg Allmann - 12/31/1993
Tool - 2/8/1994
Widespread Panic - 2/23/1994
Dave Matthews Band -2/23/1994
Weezer - 11/12/1994
Ramones - 3/13/1995
Tesla - 3/29/1995
Sonic Youth - 10/13/1995
Marilyn Manson - 11/11/1995
Clutch - 11/11/1995
Motorhead - 1/26/1996
Foo Fighters - 4/9/1996
Wilco - 10/31/1996
Dropkick Murphys - 9/10/1997
Primus - 10/12/1997
Ben Folds Five - 10/19/1997
Morrisey - 11/19/1997
Jonny Lang - 3/5/1998
Incubus - 10/3/1998
Deftones - 11/19/1998
Black Crowes - 1/7/1999
Slayer - 3/28/1999
Goo Goo Dolls - 4/1/1999
The White Stripes - 9/26/1999
Godsmack - 10/20/1999
Megadeath - 11/30/1999
Slipknot - 1/19/2000
Static-X - 2/13/2000
311 - 2/21/2000
Gov't Mule - 11/11&12/2000
Disturbed - 5/7/2001
Tenacious D - 10/15/2001
The Strokes with Jimmy Fallon - 11/25/2002
Queens of the Stoneage - 11/23/2002
MXPX - 11/9/2003
Brand New - 11/9/2003
Pixies - 6/12/2005
New Found Glory & Fall Out Boy - 1/18/2007
Passion Pit - 10/18/2012
Fun - 11/29/2012