With the possibility of Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery’s public house opening this weekend and other venues making space in their lineups, the music scene in Athens is facing changes after a major loss.
Because The Union Bar & Grill, 18 W. Union St., became inoperable due to fire damage Nov. 16, bands who were scheduled to play at the venue could no longer perform. However, other businesses with space for musicians are stepping in.
Casa Nueva has been working to accommodate bands into its lineup, including the annual Lennonfest event typically held at The Union. Making space for additions to the lineup has not been difficult – Casa welcomes diversity in performers – but finding available time slots is tough, said Josh Brown, Casa Nueva’s booking agent.
“I have noticed a lot of people that I normally would have seen hanging out at Jackie O’s or The Union are coming down to see what kind of music is happening down at Casa,” he said.
Casa does not have a patio space and cannot hold as large of a capacity as The Union, but Brown is hoping to create a system to allow people to leave the venue and return without waiting in a long line.
Donkey Coffee, 17 W. Washington St., a smaller venue more well-known for its intimate acoustic setting, is willing to arrange its small space to host musicians looking for a place to play. In the past, Donkey has had rock bands, hip-hops shows and string quartets. Troy Gregorino, the booking manager at Donkey, said the business welcomes anyone who is willing to work with the size of the venue.
“People have adapted and made (the space) work really well,” Gregorino said. “I think it can have a big venue feel for a band. It just takes a little bit of strategizing to make it work for the smaller space.”
Businesses like the recently opened Club Underground, situated in the basement of Red Brick Tavern, 14 N. Court St., and The Smiling Skull Saloon, 108 W. Union St., are also bringing in musicians that were set to play at The Union. There have also been numerous benefit shows to help those affected by the fire.
Jackie O’s is likely opening its public house side this weekend after it had been damaged by the fire, said Junebug, the operator of the open stage at Jackie O’s.
“We’re really pushing hard for it because we’re having a bottle sale,” he said. “We’re doing everything that all the different inspectors want us to. We’re basically sealing off the kitchen and creating a wall because the kitchen is under The Union and The Union doesn’t have a roof on it.”
On Nov. 24, Jackie O’s hosted its first open stage since the fire on the brewery side, Junebug said. Musicians played on the floor to an audience of about twenty people, which seemed like a lot because of the smaller space, he added.
The business is also selling select menu items again, which they are cooking at The Appalachian Center for Economic Networks facilities.
Although there are options for musicians, Gregorino said the loss of The Union is still difficult.
“As far as The Union as a venue goes, there really is no replacing it no matter how artists’ shows get dispersed,” Gregorino said. “ I think we’re really left with a significant void.”
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