UPDATE, 7:36 p.m.: Rockwood Music Hall has updated its website to clarify that the venue will close this Wednesday. The statement reads: “Rockwood Boston will permanently close on May 1st, 2024. As a business that depends on bar sales to survive, unfortunately we were not generating enough to make operating sustainable. Thank you for all your support.”
The website’s calendar now only lists its three remaining shows; Preyhound, Woodfern, and Wufer will be the last acts to take the stage tomorrow (April 30) before the venue permanently shutters. The new statement also shares that artists will be paid any “outstanding balances” within 30 days.
UPDATE, May 1: Both Jen Kearney and Leaving Irene have secured replacement shows after their performances at Rockwood Music Hall were cancelled. Leaving Irene will host Saturday’s EP release show at St. Anthony’s Club in Woburn, and Kearney moved her May 30 performance with Cilla Bonnie to Boston Harbor Distillery.
***
Less than one year after opening, Rockwood Music Hall in Boston is informing scheduled performers that it will close this Wednesday (May 1). Two Boston acts have shared on social media that the Fenway venue has suddenly cancelled their shows over email, citing the club’s alleged forthcoming closure.
These accounts from local artists, which thus far include Jen Kearney and Leaving Irene, surfaced on social media today (April 29), less than 24 hours of ahead of Rockwood’s alleged final day. The venue, which has a sister club in Manhattan, opened on Van Ness Street last summer.
“This came about very suddenly,” writes Kearney on Instagram, informing fans that her May 30 show at the venue will not happen. “I’m sorry to hear another venue couldn’t make it and even more sorry that we’re not playing the show.”
Accompanying Kearney’s post is a screenshot of an email from the venue, which states: “Rockwood Music Hall is closing as of May 1. Wish I could do something to change this but unfortunately at this point this is the case… This means we have to cancel any shows from May 1 forward. Sorry for this inconvenience. ticket holders will be automatically refunded within 7 days.” The email is signed from “Ken,” potentially referring to venue owner Ken Rockwood.
Rocco DeRosa, a member of the band Leaving Irene, reports receiving a similar email, posting on Facebook: “Our show at Rockwood musical Hall on this Saturday was just canceled by Rockwood Hall as they are shutting down the venue. I am in need of a venue ASAP!” The band’s performance on Saturday was supposed to be an album release show celebrating their first EP. Both artist statements emphasized the need and desire to rebook their shows elsewhere.
Rockwood Music Hall has yet to comment on the matter on social media, but did post about this evening’s performance on Instagram a few hours ago.
More to come…