September 26, 2007
Fillmore Music Hall to Silver Spring
We noted awhile ago that the owners of the Birchmere had been in talks to open another venue in Silver Spring — while that has fallen by the wayside, it looks like Live Nation will be moving in instead.
The Clear Channel spinoff, which produces concerts and owns music venues around the country, including Nissan Pavilion, various Fillmores, and the House of Blues chain, signed a letter of intent to build in an old J.C. Penney store across from the AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center at Georgia Avenue and Colesville Road.
The hall is expected to open in late 2009 or 2010 and will hold 500 people seated or 2,000 standing. For comparison, the 9:30 Club holds 1200. This doesn't spell the end for the Birchmere's plans either however, Free Ride notes that the Alexandria venue is talking to the University of Maryland about a new space. Free Ride also notes the 9:30 Club was looking into the same Silver Spring location as well. And there was also talk of (and opposition to) a House of Blues in Penn Quarter, but we haven't heard much about that in awhile.
The project is expected to cost $10 million, though $8 million of that will come from Montgomery County and the State of Maryland. Seems like a pretty good deal for Live Nation, although the Post notes the venue will be open for public and private events, "local talent nights and community events." They quoted a Live Nation executive rather unsurprisingly saying, "[i]t's not going to be just another rock club," he said, mentioning "rock, folk, blues, jazz, country, comedy and children's entertainment."
We'll reserve judgment on this — maybe the place will be that decent concert hall we're looking for. What do you think? A much-needed venue, or a corporate threat to local music halls?
Photo by Flickr user katmere
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The 'burbs sux0r!!!
Live Nation is really just a rebranded Bill Graham Presents. Yes it was owned by Clear Channel for awhile there, but it's pretty much just BGP. The Clear Channel name didn't do BGP any favors.
The Fillmore has been on the East Coast before -- there was a Fillmore East in NYC back in the day. And some still refer to the Fillmore in SF as Fillmore West (although the actual Fillmore West was in a location that is now replaced by a Honda Dealership.
Fillmore West (the now destroyed one) was also populated by a cast of 60s/70s SF characters like Bobby Beausoleil, Mick Jagger and Kenneth Anger. And others of course, I just find the whole darker side of SF drug culture far more interesting. And bizarre.
It was a little more than talking, sounds like ink is to paper.
"The Birchmere plans to open a 500 seat, state-of-the art music venue in College Park. It is expected to open by 2011.
It will be part of a major redevelopment project being carried out by the University of Maryland and Foulger-Pratt/Argo, the developers of downtown Silver Spring.
Under the deal, the Birchmere will build and operate a stage for up-and-coming singer-songwriters in the D.C. area, and will partner with the University of Maryland's School of Music to help nurture future stars. "
total slap in the face to IMP.
Silver Spring? Lame. Not that I'd welcome the Cheesecake Factory of music venues in the District, either.