issue 34 working_Layout 1 8/7/2013 11:36 AM Page 14
CIDER MAGAZINE
ISSUE 34
When Barnaby’s announced that they would be taking their very popular festival name and opening a new live music venue in Brattleboro, people seemed enthusiastic and motivated to see how it would come together. The overwhelming response was Barnaby’s would become a premiere destination for live music and the fans that follow. Unfortunately, things have drastically changed for Josh Hearne and The Barnaby’s name. After only a few short months, the doors are now closed, shocking the cult fans of Barnaby’s and causing a lot of talk along social networking. A lot of rumors have swirled, but Cider has the real scoop and it’s not as shocking as you would think. People simply didn’t come out enough. The bar jumped off to a great start, but as many drinking holes in Southern Vermont quickly find out, the honeymoon period does not last long. Even though Barnaby’s was offering live music up to five nights per week, a concept unheard of in Southern Vermont, patrons simply did not show up in the way they were expected or promised they would. Another glaring reason behind Barnaby’s sudden closure was the overall attendance of their biggest festival of the year, Rockinghill. Rockinghill had all the stars aligned for what most of us expected would be one of the most memorable festivals of the year. But poor weather, accompanied by competition just a few miles down the road put the much anticipated festival into a downward spiral, costing the organizers thousands. The Frendly Gathering, with major sponsors like Burton Snowboards, planned their festival on the same weekend. Knowing the VT Festival scene, only one of them had a realistic chance of coming out on top and at the end, the scales tipped towards Frendly. Not to say that Barnaby’s didn’t deliver. The Ryan Montbleau Band crowned an amazing line up of musicians over the weekend, and a few hundred people were in attendance. Unfortunately, the organizers needed that attendance to be in the thousands, not hundreds. Barnaby’s Music Hall has fallen victim in the wake. The closed doors are symbolic of what could have been if everyone did what they say they would do, and that is support the people who are making the scene work. It seems that far too many are willing to talk the talk, but not walk the walk. Have we seen the last of Barnaby’s? Only time will tell. Our best goes out to Josh and Chris as they embark on new projects. All the best from Cider Mag.
Amid controversy and sadness, Barnaby’s Music Hall closes doors
Brian Joy
PG 14
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