Seeing Lorde at the Greek Theatre This Weekend? From Bag Policy to Parking, What to Know

The Lorde has risen, and she’s coming to Berkeley’s Greek Theatre for one night on Sunday.

The pop star — best known for her raw, poetic ballads — is visiting the Bay Area on the Ultrasound Tour, which centers on her latest album Virgin.

Virgin is Lorde’s most uninhibited work yet, exploring the artist’s relationship to identity, gender and her body.

“This album is a byproduct of that process of fully coming into my body and feeling the fullness of my power,” Lorde said in a recent interview. “I’m not hiding from myself.”

If you got tickets to this sold-out date on the Ultrasound Tour, they were likely hard-won, especially considering the often-chaotic state of concert ticket acquisition.

So you can just enjoy the music and not worry about logistics, keep reading for our guide to how to navigate the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, including the bag policy, parking and public transportation options.

Jump straight to: 

• What time is the Lorde Ultrasound show on Sunday?
• Where can I find parking near the Greek Theatre?
• What can’t I bring into the venue?
  
• Can I still get Lorde Ultrasound tickets for the Berkeley show?
  

What should I expect from a Lorde show?

If this is your first Lorde show, or first concert ever, in this reporter’s humble opinion, you’re in for a very powerful performance.

While there will be some excellent production and a few backup dancers, the real main attraction will be Lorde and her voice. Lorde throws herself into her performances, strutting on stage and cracking smiles during her most beloved choruses that the audience will be screaming along to.

@anthonyhaynes9♬ David – Lorde

In short, Lorde is clearly having a good time during her shows, and this reporter thinks you should consider embracing that unbridled energy, too.

While the Ultrasound Tour will center around Virgin, new and veteran fans can be assured that Lorde will be playing the hits from Melodrama and Pure Heroine.

@noellemcdye i’m obsessed🩻🩻🩻🩻 stay tuned for the outfit #lorde ♬ Green Light – Lorde

And even though her third album, Solar Power, is a bit of an unloved child in the Lorde fandom, a few of those songs will make it through, too. If you don’t mind spoilers, you can check out the entire Ultrasound set on Billboard’s website, although the setlist is always subject to change.

There is no real dress code for a Lorde concert, but many fans choose to embrace the artist’s own minimalist style of a plain white tee and jeans. Bonus points if you cut out ribs in the back of the shirt. Alternatively, you can pick up merch at the concert itself.

What time is the Lorde show in Berkeley?

Doors are slated to open at 4:30 p.m., with the show starting at 6 p.m.

However, Lorde has two opening acts lined up for her Berkeley stop, The Japanese House and Empress Of, so she’ll likely arrive on stage closer to 9 p.m.

The Ultrasound show is around two hours long.

What is the bag policy at the Greek?

Unlike some larger stadium venues, the Greek Theatre does allow you to bring a small personal bag and backpacks (and there are no specific dimension requirements, a representative for the venue confirmed to KQED by email). You can also bring:

• Personal seat cushions (no legs)
• Small blankets under 40” x 60”
• Small food items (there is also food available at the theater)
• Sealed water bottles and empty refillable bottles (there are water refill stations in the theater)

You cannot bring items like:

• Structured stadium chairs and lawn furniture
• Strollers
• Large backpacks
• Flags
• Tobacco products
• Alcohol
• Large banners or posters
• Pets (excepting service animals)

There is no coat check at the Greek Theater, so plan accordingly.

What will the weather be like in Berkeley?

The Greek Theatre is an open venue, meaning it is exposed to the sky like an amphitheater.

So you should keep your eye on the forecast before going, and expect chilly October temperatures in the evening. The venue itself encourages fans to layer up.

According to the Greek’s website, the show will continue “rain or shine.” And while their bag policy said you can’t bring umbrellas, you can wear a waterproof poncho.

What should I know about parking at the Greek Theatre for the Lorde show?

Parking at the Greek Theatre will be difficult, and the venue “highly” recommends the use of public transportation.

There are limited parking spots around the theater, so make sure you arrive early if you’re determined to drive.

The two closest parking lots to the theater are Lower Hearst and Upper Hearst, both of which don’t open until 5 p.m., according to the venue’s website. There is accessible parking available in the Upper Hearst lot.

Other parking locations include:

• The Telegraph/Channing Garage (2450 Durant Ave.)
• Underground parking (2580 Bancroft Way and 2308 Bowditch St.)
• The Oxford Parking Garage (Oxford Street between Allston Way & Kittredge Street)
• Standard parking (2020 Kittredge St.)

You can also check out third-party parking websites like SpotHero if you’d like to buy a spot ahead of time.

But the venue warns that “Stubhub or third-party parking passes are not valid and we can’t assist in any refunds or facilitating communications with these companies, unfortunately.”

What’s the best way to take public transit to the Ultrasound show?

You can plan your trip using BART’s Trip Planner or use 511.

The closest BART station to the Greek Theatre is the Downtown Berkeley stop, located at Center and Shattuck.

See the Greek Theatre’s advice for connecting between BART and AC transit to reach the venue.

The theater is part of UC Berkeley, so a walkable campus surrounds it and is about a 25-minute trek.

There are also bike racks in front of the theater, if you want to bike to the venue.

What should I know about accessibility for the Lorde show?

There is accessible parking available a block away from the Greek Theatre in Upper Hearst, which is at the corner of Hearst Ave and Gayley Road.

“Please note that there is a curbside drop-off area on Gayley Road just north of the Greek Theatre entrance for passengers with mobility disabilities who prefer to minimize the travel distance to the Greek Theatre,” the website reads.

The venue also encourages people to reach out directly to “make requests for special accommodations or needs for any event at any venue we present.” You can reach out through 1-510-548-3010 or email contact@anotherplanetent.com.

Can I still get tickets for Lorde’s Berkeley show?

Sorry: According to Ticketmaster, the show is sold out.

You could try your luck with resale websites like StubHub or SeatGeek, with the costs starting at a cool $339.

Fans also often try to sell or trade tickets on social media, and sometimes this method does work out. However, the Better Business Bureau issued a warning about resale scams during Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, with many people discovering after sending the money through apps like Venmo or Zelle that these “tickets” never existed. So, check out the person’s profile and their past posting history to see if it seems real.

And if you do choose to buy a resale, use your credit card, the BBB said. This at least provides some protection for you if the deal was fake.