new england's live music guide
HARTFORD
THE WEBSTER
ABOUT
The Webster is a 32,000-square-foot live entertainment venue located at 31 Webster Street in Hartford, Connecticut, billed as the state's premier live entertainment destination. The facility houses two performance spaces: the main Webster room with a standing capacity of 1,200 and The Webster Underground with a capacity of 350. The venue features an art deco interior with five bars spread across the complex.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The Webster hosts a diverse mix of local, regional, and national touring acts across rock, metal, hip-hop, indie, Latin, and electronic genres. The venue has launched careers including Staind, Marilyn Manson, Sevendust, Incubus, 311, Jay Z, Method Man, Godsmack, and Fall Out Boy. Both rooms operate regularly with the Underground serving as a more intimate option for emerging artists and niche shows.
HISTORY
The Webster opened on November 19, 1937 as a movie theater built by the Shulman family with a seating capacity of about 800. It first shifted to being a concert hall in 1974 and was restored to its art deco style in 1992. Longtime owner John Peters sold the venue in 2023 for $1.45 million to new owners who made a six-figure investment in upgrades while promising to attract more diverse performers and audiences.