Venue closure marks 'end of an era'
THE harsh economic climate has taken its toll on live music venues in the city.
The latest to close its doors to live music is the Underground on Mutley Plain, which is particularly sad as it played an important role in showcasing some of the more, well, 'underground' local acts as well as some of the heavier touring and tribute shows.
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Badland Bandits at the Underground
The venue's last live show, with Full Mettal Rackett, will take place tomorrow night.
Underground promoter Jonah Davis said: "Since we moved from the Junction just over a year ago, we have had some great times at the Underground.
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"We have seen some fantastic gigs from some fantastic bands. The Jack, Black Friday, Rusty Angels, Badland Bandits, Sleaze, Eye For an Eye, as well as the tribute acts including Hells Bells, Mentalica and 101 per cent Pantera.
"Everyone at the Underground would like to thank all the bands who have played here, but special mention must go to Hi-On Maiden, Meansteed and Kernuyck who were at the top of the list as some of the most hard-working, enjoyable and talented bands we saw."
The venue has seen birthdays, wakes, memorials, charity benefit gigs, album launches and weddings. But unfortunately there has been a fall in attendance of late making it increasingly difficult to justify running the Underground as a music venue.
"It is with a great deal of sadness that we are going to have to say farewell to live music and also to the Underground name," said Jonah, "but it's a case of needing to adapt to survive.
"In this case the adaptation means rebranding and refurbishing the venue as a night club.
"We are no longer booking bands after June 16 and any bands that we have booked after this date should consider the date cancelled.
"We apologise and will do our best to get round to calling individual bands soon.
"It's the end of an era for everyone, an era that started all those years ago back at the Junction. So hopefully everyone will join Pikey, Maggie, Chaz and me tomorrow for the last gig with Full Mettal Rackett, to give the place a grand send off and share good memories of good times well spent."
Comments
by ollie_grifter
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 10:02AM
“It has effectively shut as a venue...the staff I believe have all gone. It will reopen as a night club but will almost certainly die a death...as it has done as a night club several times over.
It could have flourished as a venue/rock bar with a little thought and guidance. Unfortunately most venues/promoters seem to think just doing a Facebook invite is sufficient to promote an even but there is so much more to it and so much more the Underground could have done to make it work.
Hopefully C103 could emerge as a viable venue. It already has a reputation as a rock club and has existed as such for many years and has an audience. It's just in a dodgy part of town.”
by SeepyBee
Saturday, June 16 2012, 2:36PM
“It's going back to what it was just over a year ago - a Chav disco, just what Mutley needs :(”
by CornishPirate
Friday, June 15 2012, 3:45PM
“So they're not closing down? They're re-furbishing and rebranding it as a night club?...”
by ollie_grifter
Friday, June 15 2012, 3:05PM
“This is a real shame, such a cool little venue. My band Grifter only got to play there a couple of times since it moved from the Junction but each time we had a great time. We were due to play there next Friday but the show has now been moved to C103 on Union Street.”