Live Music Society, a nonprofit philanthropic organization has announced a third round of grants to be awarded this fall to live music venues across the United States. These grants benefit small venues with a maximum sellable capacity of 300, and has supported venues including Bowery Electric, Caffe Lena and Levon Helm’s Barn, among others.
Founded in 2020, Live Music Society is committed to awarding $1,000,000 dollars per year in grants to venues that promote and preserve the live music experience in intimate settings. These small venues allow artists of all levels and all genres to get their start, connect with their audiences and maintain their careers as performers. Individual grants range from $10,000-$50,000, and over the two initial rounds of grants, Live Music Society has awarded thirty-six venues in twenty-nine cities grants totaling over $1.2 million.
Small, live music venues throughout the U.S. are owned and operated by music-lovers who are tirelessly devoted to their community, their staff, and their artists. Without small music clubs, so many of our most promising artists wouldn’t have a place to share their work, hone their craft, and build their audiences. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, many of these clubs have been fighting to keep their doors open. Live Music Society is focused on making sure these wonderful spaces stay solvent and independent. It is time to acknowledge and support the great efforts that these venues have made to keep our communities connected and vibrant through the gift of live music.
Live Music Society founder Pete Muller
Live Music Society encourages small venues with 50-300 sellable seats prior to COVID-19, established on or prior to July 1, 2017, to apply. Venues must be committed to live music as their primary activity to be eligible. Grant applications will be accepted from September 28 – October 20, 2021 via the organization’s website.
Prior grantees include:
Ivy Room (Albany, CA)
Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center (Berkeley, CA)
The Hotel Cafe (Los Angeles, CA)
The Mint (Los Angeles, CA)
The Casbah (San Diego, CA)
Kuumbwa Jazz (Santa Cruz, CA)
Dazzle (Denver, CO)
Hi-Dive (Denver, CO)
Cafe Nine (New Haven, CT)
The Hideout (Chicago, IL)
Subterranean (Chicago, IL)
The Jazz Showcase (Chicago, IL)
SPACE (Evanston, IL)
Maple Leaf Bar (New Orleans, LA)
Club Passim (Cambridge, MA)
The Parlor Room (Northampton, MA)
Jonathan’s Ogunquit (Ogunquit, ME)
Seven Steps Up (Spring Lake, MI)
Jazz St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)
The Word Barn (Exeter, NH)
The Bowery Electric (New York, NY)
Caffé Lena (Saratoga Springs, NY)
Levon Helm Studios (Woodstock, NY)
BOP STOP @ The Music Settlement (Cleveland, OH)
Mercury Lounge (Tulsa, OK)
The Kennett Flash (Kennett Square, PA)
Club Café (Pittsburgh, PA)
McGonigel’s Mucky Duck (Houston, TX)
Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe (Galveston, TX)
Jammin’ Java (Vienna, VA)
Zenbarn (Waterbury Center, VT)
Barboza (Seattle, WA)
Fremont Abbey Arts Center (Seattle, WA)
The Royal Room (Seattle, WA)
The Sunset Tavern (Seattle, WA)
Cactus Club (Milwaukee, WI)
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