Barring any last-minute hitches, the second room at
Rockwood Music Hall - officially dubbed Stage 2 - is set to open on Thursday of this week.
No advanced photos of the room have been made available by Rockwood's publicity-averse management, but I can exclusively reveal a few details, having been given an advanced tour by Ken Rockwood and Kendall Nash last week.
* The room is actually part of the ground floor of the LES Hotel building, to the right of the existing venue. The only entrance is via the street, through a door next to the current venue door.
* Upon entering, one walks down a short flight of stairs to a main seating area, which is also where the bar is. A lift is available for disabled patrons. Expect to see some familiar bartender faces serving in the new room, as well as some new ones.
* Because of the below-street-level main floor, the room ceiling is high, allowing for a delightfully quaint wrap-around balcony, accessible via a staircase next to the bar.
* The sound and lighting board is at the same level as the balcony and looks like something NASA built.
* A comfortable green room and storage is available for performers.
* The venue capacity is 150-200 depending on configuration. On the main floor, tables fan out from the corner stage in a similar fashion to the current room.
* The full backline includes a drum kit on an optional dais, which raises it above the stage.
* A 1916 Steinway baby grand piano on the stage may be moved off it, and backed into a gap in the wall, using an ingenious winch system. Hope it works.
* As much as possible, the existing free-entry/tip-bucket policy will apply. Some cover charge and ticket performances are also envisaged. In general, less acts per night will be scheduled compared to the current room.
Zach Williams will be the first act to perform on Stage 2, on Thursday at 9pm. An honor indeed, so he'd better not fuck it up.
On Friday,
Amber Rubarth and
The Madison Square Gardeners play, at 9pm and 11pm.
And on Saturday, there is
Julia Darling,
The Grey Race and
Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, at 9pm, 10pm and midnight.
It should be a great kick off for the new room. Congrats to everyone at Rockwood who made it happen!