Gabe's Concerts 2025

Best place for metal shows and live entertainment in Iowa City. Gabe’s is an enduring masterpiece for shows, house music, pool, darts, and gatherings. You can find college students, townies, and regulars that all return again and again to this Iowa City favorite.

Live Dj's, great drinks, good variety of college and older aged people. Super positive and chill environment. Tip the staff well, and enjoy the smoking area outback.

Probably the greatest college town live music venues in the country. Have seen many acts here. Mac Lethal, Smashing Pumpkins, Black Keys, Radkey, GZA, L7, Neutral Milk Hotel, Sludgeplow, and many others. Grimy bathroom. Stickers on everything. When I took my son here he said "It smells like the Can Shed in here." I told him that's how you know it's great

I usually don’t write reviews, but after seeing how the owner responds to his online community, I felt obligated. Worst bar in Iowa City. At the door, bouncer snatched my clearly non-alcoholic soda and threw it away in front of me, lots of attitude, terrible customer service. The entitled worker proceeded to not let me in because my ID was a passport. Power trip. Used to be a better bar, someone needs to do something about the culture here. They treat the Iowa city community like a disposable piggy bank, instead of the loyal customers we are.

0/10, never going back. I saw a sign on a lamppost advertising a 60s vinyl night, which looked like good fun, so I walked in with my brother. First thing I did was ask the location of the bathroom, cause I had to go, so went in and did my business. When I came out I thought I’d check by the front desk, just to ask if there was an entrance fee before I checked out the vinyl area. Immediately, a hostile bearded man told me I had to leave and my brother was nowhere to be seen. He refused to give any reason why he had thrown out my brother, and similarly refused to explain to me what was going on. Instead he laid hands on me, pushed me out the door, and got one of his tough guys to further refuse to answer any questions, instead laying hands on me and ripping my glasses off my face. As someone who is genuinely passive, though stubborn for justice, this whole episode tramautised me and I am currently looking into filing charges for assault. And to think, all I wanted to do was hear some cool 60s records. I’m genuinely at a loss right now, but the police have been called and I will be meeting with them shortly. Absolutely stunned by my treatment here.