The Vault Music Hall, a live music staple in the downtown district of New Bedford, has closed, “effective immediately.” The venue posted the news to social media on Sunday (June 12), catching many live music fans around southeast Massachusetts and Rhode Island by surprise.
Located on Purchase Street next to the iconic Purchase Street Records, the 350-person capacity club was a haven for hard rock, hardcore, and metal, featuring a mix of touring national acts, locals, and cover bands. Just last night, The Vault hosted Choppahead’s 21st anniversary party with Murphy’s Law and Lenny Lashley’s Gang of One, and recent shows included Faster Pussycat and L.A. Guns last week, and RATT’s Stephen Pearcy in May.
“The Vault Music Hall will be closing down effective immediately,” the venue wrote on Facebook. “We’re working with the agents for all of the bands that were scheduled over the next several months to see if we can get the shows moved to other venues within the region, so keep an eye out for announcements regarding that. All tickets for future shows will be refunded over the next few days.”
Upcoming shows, according to vaultnb.com, included Autograph on July 8; Spring Heeled Jack on July 9; and (hed)p.e. and Crazy Town on July 17. The fall calendar included Richie Kotzen (September 10), Fozzy (October 3), and Dead Boys (October 23), and cover bands playing the music of Tool, Aerosmith, Alice In Chains, Guns N’ Roses, Ozzy, Journey, and others lined the calendar through the next several months.
Part of The Vault complex was the pub side, a full-service bar and restaurant that was separate from the music hall. That will also shutter, with a re-opening tentatively planned “under a new concept.”
“Further details will be released as that progresses along with time frames on when we plan to reopen,” The Vault adds. “Gift cards will still be honored upon reopening. We want to thank everybody who has supported us as a live music venue featuring some of the best entertainment that has ever been brought to this city. It’s been a fun ride!”
We’ll post more information as it becomes available.
RIP The Vault.