Critics’ Comments
“The Kessler Theater is one such gem, an Art Deco beauty … for a slice of real life, there’s always the Kessler.” – Ben Fountain, New York Times
“The acoustics and ambience are spectacular – the Kessler is a true ‘listening room’ with emphasis on the artist-audience connection.” – Dallas Morning News
“…easily the best listening room in town” - Dallas Observer, Best of Dallas Award
“I’m not sure there’s another venue in Texas that can touch the Kessler.” Chuck Cox, Oak Cliff People
“The Kessler is one of the best listening rooms I’ve ever been in, and was shocked by the hipness of its environs.” - Joe Nick Patoski, author, Willie Nelson, an Epic Life
“It’s the perfect venue for experiencing music. Acoustically, it is a mini Mort Meyerson.” - Vic Savelli, Pegasus News
“If you’re going to see any canonized yet unconventional musician where every note counts, you can do no better than the Kessler’s listening room.” - Christopher Mosley, D Magazine
“…an ultra-hip venue housed in a historic building in the thick of Dallas’ blooming Oak Cliff neighbourhood.” - Ft. Worth Weekly
“…the Kessler, probably the best “listening room” in Dallas or Fort Worth since the demise of Caravan of Dreams” – Ken Shimamoto, Ft. Worth Music Critic
“…a new high water mark for a live music venue in Dallas” - Doug Davis, Music Critic
“From the biggest pounding of a drum to the lightest vocal touch, all things coming from the stage sounded crystal clear. The sound in the Kessler was absolutely perfect.” - Eric Grubbs, Music Critic
“…this is one classy place, and definitely without equal elsewhere in the Metroplex.” – butijustlikemusic, music blog
Artists’ Comments
“This is the perfect kind of venue. I love it. This is now one of my favorite venues.” - Lucinda Williams
“a beautiful building with fine acoustics and a very “hip” crowd! Definitely one of the highlights of our tour” - The Zombies
“The Kessler is one of the best places I have ever played – period.” – Bob Schneider
“It’s a great vibe and superb place to play. The Kessler puts on a great production that really shows how much they love art and music.” - The Orbans
“Dallas finally has a world class venue. The Kessler is perfect.” – Kevin Russell of The Gourds
“The Kessler was my first gig in Texas. It’s definitely one of the hippest venues in the States.” – Marc Ribot
“I have been touring for 11 years and performed in almost every state in the country and I have to say that the Kessler is possibly the finest listening room I have ever seen.” – Kristi Kruger
Awards
2012, Best Live Music Venue, People’s Choice Award
2012, Best Performing Arts Venue, People’s Choice Award
2011, Preservation Dallas, Preservation Achievement Award
2011, Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, Business of the Year
2011, Best Live Music Venue, Best of Dallas Award
2010, Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, Business of the Year
2010, OOCCL, Ruth Chenoweth Conservation Achievement Award
2010, Dallas Business Journal’s Real Estate Deal of the Year, Neighborhood Impact
2010, People’s Choice Winner, Best Performing Arts Venue