Cambridge rock club the Middle East announced changes to its booking team last night, as Lionel Brown, who started Onslaught Entertainment in the 2000s, was named downstairs talent buyer. Brown replaces longtime Boston booking agent Kevin Hoskins, who rejoined the Central Square venue about a year ago after a three-year stint at Emo’s in Austin. Hoskins booked the Middle East from 2004 to 2010.
“It was just a decision to move on in a new year,” says Middle East general manager Clay Fernald. “We have different challenges so we wanted to start fresh. We still love Kevin Hoskins and want him to still do shows here.”
Vanyaland spoke to Hoskins last night, and he said that while he has several new projects he’s excited to start working on, he’s not in a rush to jump into new ventures.
Hoskins did send out an email to his contacts last night, thanking the Middle East, the city of Cambridge, and everyone he worked with while at the club.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to book the Middle East,” he wrote. “I am eternally grateful for the connections I made and the experiences we shared. I’m also grateful for what I learned in this job including how to lead, how to follow, how to put together a team, how to collaborate, and how to stay organized and on task. I’ve tried to treat people with the respect they deserve, be fair, be professional, never forget my integrity, and maintain a positive attitude.”
The Middle East has been in the news lately quite a bit lately: its owners, Joseph and Nabil Sater, plan to build a residential complex above its multi-room space at 472 Massachusetts Ave., which houses the 575-capacity “downstairs” room, the 190-capacity “upstairs,” two restaurant and bar areas, and Zuzu, smaller a bar/nightclub/restaurant hybrid space.
In addition to booking shows for other independent booking agencies around town, Brown has previously been booking the “corner” space in the Middle East’s restaurant area right at Massachusetts Avenue and Brookline Street. Erik Wormwood, formerly of Boston rock band Mean Creek and an employee at the club, will take over “corner” booking duties.
In addition to booking the “corner” for the past year, Brown has also worked as an independent promoter and booking agent for the Middle East’s main rooms. A few weeks ago, Middle East independent promoter Lance Tobin of LT Live Presents was hired by Crossroads Presents to book Brighton Music Hall in Allston.
A few weeks ago, neighboring T.T. The Bear’s Place on Brookline Street named radio DJ David Virr its primary booking agent, replacing local talent buyer Richard Bouchard. The 40-year-old rock club split with booking agency Bowery Boston late last year.