On a brisk August evening, Neighbor fill downtown Lowell’s Boarding House Park with a bright fusion of funk and Americana. Barely two blocks away, Graveborn’s yowls seep out of Koto Lowell and tumble down Merrimack Street in contrast.
If the bone-rattling riffs or metal musicians hulking Orange amplifiers down the sidewalk weren’t enough of an indication, the stages at Koto’s second location are open for business. After originally planning for a winter debut, the sister venue of Koto Salem launched its live music offerings late last month for the annual Lowell Folk Festival. Since then, the hybrid music venue and Asian fusion restaurant has christened two of the three stages planned for 76 Merrimack St.
As Vanyaland previously reported, the stage on Koto’s ground floor will cater to bands, while the third floor space offers a lounge ambiance that’s ideal for dance nights and DJs, as well as private events. (The final stage, which will be located on the second floor, will be developed over the next three to five years).
Janeé Cicero, who also books Koto Salem, is the talent agent for first floor performances, while Chris Cesar — a.k.a. DJ Famous — handles the third floor stage. The capacity of the ground floor space is 100 people; upstairs the capacity is 280 people, or 180 people for functions. Both floors offer full bar service.
A recent visit to Koto Lowell reveals a more vivid picture of the blueprint that Cicero outlined earlier this year. Much like Koto’s Salem location, the restaurant portion of the business is a flexible space that can be rearranged and optimized for hosting performances. On show nights, one slightly raised dining area becomes the stage; staff can tuck booths and tables behind a black curtain that covers the back wall, and wiggle room on the raised platform provides performers with a place to stash cases and gear.
Upstairs, the lounge area is just as versatile. The current stage setup is compact — large enough for a DJ booth — but can be built out to make room for a full band. The raised area behind the the stage currently offers additional seating and a VIP area in the back left corner, although Koto’s staff plan to eventually transform this area into a larger stage.
Shows on the calendar this fall span appearances from Lowellians including Knock Over City and D-Tension & The Secrets, along with acts like Vermont DJ Propag8 and a healthy supply of Boston bands.
Koto Lowell’s summer opening segues into another milestone for the business — the original Salem location turns 10 this fall.