In downtown Lowell, Thirsty First Tavern has launched a second chapter — and a third chance for live music at 103 Market St.
Roughly a year after vacating its prior location on Central Street, the independent tavern and live music venue has resurfaced elsewhere in Mill City, just as its owners promised in a farewell-for-now note on Facebook last fall.
“We are in the process of finding another location downtown and we hope to open back up as soon as possible and better than ever,” Thirsty First’s staff wrote in November of 2022, after extensive water damage and a terminated lease shuttered one of Lowell’s busiest stages. “We understand that there was something special about our location on Central Street and we will do our absolute best to bring as much of that vibe with us as possible!”
As it turns out, that new place is a mere 0.4 miles from the original location. Thirsty First is now open at 103 Market St., located near other cultural hubs like Brew’d Awakening, Gallery Z, and Warp & Weft.
The tavern settled into its new home last weekend (December 1), kicking off a new chapter with a set from Lowellians The Squires of Soul. It was the first time Thirsty First had hosted live music in over a year, and the first show to grace 103 Market St. in months. Up until this summer, the building was home to CNCPT6, a contemporary restaurant, bar, and art gallery that frequently welcomed local creatives to its stage. Prior to that, UnchARTed Gallery filled the space with a steady stream of performances, rotating art displays, and gooey, supersized pizza slices.
Neither establishment lasted more than a few years on Market Street — which is why Thirsty First’s resurgence in the same space is a considerable asset for Lowell’s growing arts scene. With a 90 person capacity, the venue is poised to join the ranks of newer, nearby venues Taffeta and The Overlook as platforms for the city’s post-pandemic creative renaissance.
“I believe it was June that we were made aware of the space becoming available,” says Derek Widtfeldt, booking agent for the venue. “A friend of ours reached out and let us know.”
At a glance, the prospective home seemed promising. In addition to its prime location in downtown Lowell, the space came equipped with a stage that abuts its massive front windows, broadcasting the action to curious passersby.
“[The stage] should drop plenty of people in,” Widtfeldt says, citing the stage’s location as a key feature of the building. In contrast, Thirsty First’s prior blueprint tucked bands into the far end of the room, hidden from view for many patrons at the bar.
“The space is much better for viewing live music,” Widtfeldt adds. “The old space was going to be [an] L shape, and you couldn’t see the bands from everywhere in the venue. The new space is more wide open and you can see the bands from everywhere!”
Thirsty First’s staff ultimately extended the stage by a foot and a half as part of their pre-move preparation, which also included updating the kitchen and lengthening the bar. The fruits of their labor are already on the menu, with the signature “Black Market Salad,” melty meatball appetizers, and eggnog martinis summoning former patrons to the new digs.
But ultimately, Widtfeldt says it’s live music and community that makes Thirsty First so fulfilling for everyone involved — bands, fans, foodies, and barflies alike.
“We plan to continue our legacy of live, original music,” Widtfeldt concludes. “People have always been able to come to Thirsty First and never know what they’re going to get for live music — punk, metal, reggae, ska, some country/folk, et cetera. We plan to continue that.”