The Manhattan Beat: Rockwood Music Hall to Expand Its Musicians Circuit to Boston

Rockwood Music Hall, a complex of three music venues on Allen and Orchard Streets in New York City, may expand and open a new franchise in Boston, Massachusetts. Owner Ken Rockwood applied for a liquor license for 88 Van Ness Street in the Fenway section. This would put the new music club within walking distance of the Fenway Park baseball stadium and the House of Blues music club.

Rockwood seeks to buy the liquor license of the shuttered Uno in Kenmore Square for his new club, according to Universal Hub, a Boston community website. Rockwood is also seeking permission to change the license from one which requires food service to one that would let him serve just alcohol. The proposal has gained the support of local politicians and arts and civic organizations.

Suzanne Santo at Rockwood Music Hall 2 on March 10, 2020

Sasha Dobson at Rockwood Music Hall at Rockwood Music Hall 2 on February 17, 2020

Rockwood told the Boston Licensing Board that he expects construction could take six to eight months. The venue would have 1,847 square feet of space at ground floor level plus a mezzanine, for a capacity of up to 95 patrons with tables in place or 120 when the tables are removed. The new music club would be located in the back section of a building that houses a Target store at Van Ness and Kilmarnock Streets.

Before the coronavirus pandemic began in March 2020, Rockwood Music Hall had three stages of live music every night. Rockwood 1, which opened on Allen Street in 2005, had as many as 10 sets by musicians every hour on the hour. The first annex, Rockwood 2, opened next door five years later, and could have as many as five sets. Rockwood 3, opened in 2012 in the basement of a hotel on Orchard Street behind Rockwood 2, accessible through the second venue, and also had shows in its basement. Rockwood 3 also occasionally had performers in a balcony overlooking the street level bar. Essentially bars with no food menu, the entire complex collapsed when all businesses had to close 10 months ago.

Lizzie & the Makers at Rockwood Music Hall 1 on February 15, 2020

Niall Connolly at Rockwood Music Hall 1 on January 3, 2020

The Rockwood Music Hall adapted to the times by joining the live stream market. Many of the live streams are shot from the homes of the musicians. A few live streams have been shot at Rockwood 2. Jade Bird, Darlingside, the Besnard Lakes, Milquetoast & Co, Lauren Marcus, and KTJ & Carly will perform live streams on the Rockwood Music Hall in the next few days. Live streams will decrease in February as the management focuses on fundraising in order to keep the venues open until the end of the pandemic restrictions.

Amos Lee, Elle King, Lady Gaga, The Lumineers, Matisyahu, Norah Jones, Sara Bareilles, Ben Harper, and Sting with The Last Bandoleros, have performed at the Rockwood Music Hall.