Cleveland Agora Fails to Pay Band Black Keys and Has to Shutter Operations During Summer
A legendary Cleveland rock n roll venue is facing some difficult times. The Cleveland Agora has been dark all summer and will not be hosting any shows until fall. Agora owner Hank LoConti made the announcement to the Cleveland Plain Dealer last month saying:
"I'm closing for three months -- June, July and August. I'm still renting the place for shows that other promoters are doing, but I'm not booking shows until September."
Scene Magazine delved farther into the hiatus in a piece out in print now. The Scene reports that Akron band The Black Keys are in the process of suing the venue for failure to pay a $50,000 booking fee from their show their last winter. All of the staff have been let go from the facility. The owner of the venue conceded in the piece:
"All I can say it is a messy situation. I'm moving very slow but I am going to keep The Agora alive. I feel bad about having to let everyone go"
Has the House of Blues, a 5 minute drive from up Euclid, delivered a death blow to the legendary establishment? We will probably know the answer in the coming months.
Comments
One of the best venues in the country.
It saddens me to read about this. I can't believe it, actually. This venue is like a home for me. The staff are my friends, and they treated me like family. I don't know what exactly went down, but I will say that it's a shame to read something like this. The Agora is legendary, and some of the best bands in the World have graced its two stages. Something needs to be done to reinvigorate the Agora, and I know in my heart that Clevelanders will not let this landmark music venue die.
Agora not closed
Starting July 17th there will be shows in the Agora ballroom, put on by Diggit Productions, me. I am a promoter who lost $10K in 2004 because of a blizzard and took over as the stage manager, at the Agora, later that same year. I will be doing local shows in Cleveland, Kent, Columbus, and Bloomington In. Cleveland is where I am starting, at The Agora. If you want to play a show at the Agora please send me an email,
DIGGITPROD@gmail.com
Thank you
Post new comment