The Evening Muse to resume live music shows, with changes, after long COVID shutdown
After temporarily closing more than a year ago because of the coronavirus pandemic, one of Charlotte’s most popular music venues, The Evening Muse, is making plans to reopen in May.
With the increase in vaccine availability and COVID-19 cases numbers trending downward, founder and co-owner Joe Kuhlmann told the Observer on Friday he is hopeful the Muse will reopen in a couple of months.
“Due to the restrictions still in place, we are going to change it up a bit and offer a more intimate gathering with a limited number of socially distant tables and chairs,” the North Davidson Street music venue said on social media Friday.
The first show will be Jason Eady with Adam Hood on May 19.
The venue’s last show was hip-hop violinist Rhett Price on March 13 as COVID-19 cases began to rise and businesses across the city and state started to shutdown voluntarily or by order of Gov. Roy Cooper.
Cooper could further loosen Phase 3 restrictions next week. The current order expires at 5 p.m. Friday.
It’s not feasible to reopen the venue now, under the statewide 30% capacity restriction and 11 p.m. curfew, Kuhlmann said. The site can hold 120 people.
‘Our business is about togetherness’
The Muse has been helped through programs like the federal Paycheck Protection Program loan, city rent relief and community support, Kuhlmann said.
The Muse will sell full tables with four seats each so people will be with others they know. All COVID-19 safety protocols, like mask mandates, temperatures checks and sanitation requirements will be followed.
There will be two shows each night at 7 and 9:30 p.m.
“So much of our business is about togetherness and having people gather,” Kuhlmann said. “Live music drastically took a hit.”
Other music venues’ plans
Several other independent Charlotte music venues remain closed, as well, including The Visulite on Elizabeth Avenue and Neighborhood Theatre, also in NoDa.
Gregg McCraw, owner of Maxx Music and talent buyer for the theater, told the Observer Friday that limiting capacity makes it unfeasible to open. The current crowd limit would put capacity at 75 people max.
But McGraw said he has a series of live outdoor drive-in music shows planned at Rural Hill on Neck Road in Huntersville this spring and summer until music can start again indoors. The first “Live Cruise-In Concert” is Tab Benoit and Samantha Fish on April 9.
“I think we’re outdoors until September,” he said.
The Fillmore on Hamilton Street also has not held indoor shows during the pandemic, but held a Live in the Lot series in the fall with comedy and tribute bands.
The Fillmore, which can hold over 1,300 people, is operated by Live Nation. The global entertainment group is helping venue and touring crews with a $5 million fund, plus up to another $5 million in matching public donations
“While there is some light at the end of the tunnel, after a year without work many people in our community are struggling more than ever – so the fund (Crew Nation) has just opened up second round grants for those who need it most,” the Fillmore said on social media Friday.
The Underground, a standing-room-only venue at The Fillmore, has a show date for PVRIS April 24 on its website.
Amo’s Southend on South Tryon Street has a live show on its online calendar April 2. Officials did not immediately respond for comment Friday.
Coyote Joe’s already reopened
But some venues like Coyote Joe’s country music venue on Wilkinson Boulevard did reopen last month after Cooper extended indoor capacity.
The multi-level venue, known for bringing major country music artists like Blake Shelton and Luke Combs to Charlotte, sat dark for nearly a year.
The venue added safety measures like plastic shields at the front door and bar, and social distancing markers. Although larger artists aren’t yet on tour, the house band, Out of the Blue, plays each night its open on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
This story was originally published March 19, 2021 at 12:25 PM.