A gaggle of impartial music venues in Chicago have come collectively to protest the constructing of Lincoln Yards, a $5 billion new improvement on the town’s North facet, which is ready to incorporate three to 5 new live performance halls run by Live Nation. In a press launch, the newly-formed Chicago Independent Venue League (CIVL) mentioned they’re “concerned about current urban development trends favoring tax-payer supported developments that leave out, disregard, or even stifle smaller, independent, often historic performance venues and businesses.” Members of CIVL embody house owners from the Empty Bottle, Metro, Schubas, Lincoln Hall, the Hideout, and extra.
As the Chicago Tribune reports experiences, the venues really feel that they need to be included in negotiations concerning the event. CIVL co-chair Robert Gomez, who owns Subterranean and Beat Kitchen, instructed the Tribune, “We should be in those conversations. Everything’s happening behind closed doors between the mayor, the alderman and [Lincoln Yards developer] Sterling Bay. Enough.” He added, “This isn’t an anti-Live Nation movement. This is: If you’re going to alter the cultural music scene of the city, we need to be in the conversation.”
Mark Campana, COO for U.S. Concerts at Live Nation, not too long ago addressed issues in a letter to Chicago’s 2nd Ward alderman Brian Hopkins, because the Tribune experiences. “[W]e want to be a great neighbor and always work with independent venues,” he wrote. “At Lincoln Yards, our goal is to add to the scene and complement the established independent music venues. We have no interest in changing the vibe.”
Pitchfork has reached out to Live Nation for remark.
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