Brooks Hubbert rehearses during a soundcheck on Monday in preparation for the opening of Vinyl Music Hall on Palafox Place. / Ben Twingley/GoPensacola.com
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After more than 18 months of build up, the final touches are being put onto Vinyl Music Hall, the eagerly anticipated concert hall in the former Masonic Lodge at 2 Palafox Place (the corner of Palafox Place and Garden Street in downtown Pensacola). The public will get its first chance to explore the space starting at 2 p.m. Saturday with a free open house featuring music from The Gills, Brooks Hubbert and Big Rock Candy Mountain. Vinyl Music Hall officially opens for business on Sunday with its first ticketed show, featuring mash-up duo The Hood Internet.
After that, Vinyl partners Joe Abston, Harry Levin, Evan Levin and Sherrod Levin have announced an ambitious concert schedule that features music for fans of just about any genre (see listings below), and continue to expand offerings.
"We want to have some country, some rock, some reggae, some jam bands ... enough variety so that everyone will check in regularly," Harry Levin said.
"We like people that like to listen to live music," Abston added.
Vinyl Music Hall can hold about 550 concertgoers, and features a state-of-the-art soundsystem that partners call "the best on the Gulf Coast."
When the venue is up to speed in "November or December," plans call for three to four concerts per week featuring regional and national acts. The venue features a full liquor bar, and most shows will be restricted to ages 18 and older.
On evenings without a concert, the adjoining 5½ Bar will feature higher-end wines and spirits in a modern, speakeasy-style setting. On concert nights, 5½ becomes a VIP area.
Smoking is not allowed in the venue. An outdoor deck will accommodate those who want a smoke.
Visit GoPensacola.com throughout the weekend for complete coverage of Vinyl Music Hall's opening weekend events.
Vinyl Music Hall concert schedule
• 2 p.m. Saturday: Open house featuring The Gills, Brooks Hubbert and Big Rock Candy Mountain. Free. Open to all ages.
• 8 p.m. Sunday: The Hood Internet (mash-up duo) with Eddie Gold of Kush Productions (dubstep DJ). Tickets: $10 in advance, $13 at the door.
• 8 p.m. Sept. 4: Appetite for Destruction (Guns n' Roses tribute). Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at the door.
• 7 p.m. Sept. 15: Perpetual Groove ("trance arena rock"). Tickets: $10 in advance; $15 at the door.
• 7 p.m. Sept. 23: Bad Rabbits (eclectic "New Crack Swing" band, serves as the backing group for legendary rapper Slick Rick) with Imaginary Air Show. Tickets: $7 in advance, $10 at the door.
• 7 p.m. Sept. 24: Devon Allman's Honeytribe ("sci-fi blues"). Tickets: $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
• 12:30 p.m. Sept. 25: "Rock for the Coast" benefit for Emerald Coastkeeper featuring Below the Stitch, This Day Will Tell, Drayton Sawyer, Diversity is an Old Wooden Ship, Unnatural Soundz, Scream Out Loud, Forevers Calling, the Helvetica Effect, the Spanx, For Shame and Sinistral. Tickets: $10. All ages.
• 7 p.m. Sept. 29: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (emo-punk hitmakers) with The Sleeping (post-hardcore/alt-rock) and My Farewell (reunited local favorites). Tickets: $13 in advance, $16 at the door. All ages welcome; those younger than 21 will pay a $2 surcharge at the door; those ages 16 and younger myst be accompanied by a ticket-holding parent or guardian.
• 7 p.m. Oct. 3: The Electric Six (rock with eclectic influences) with The Constellations and Cockfight. Tickets: $12 in advance, $15 at the door.
• 6 p.m. Oct. 4: Haste the Day (Christian metalcore) with Sleeping with Sirens (post-hardcore) and Ms. White (screamo). Tickets: $12 in advance, $15 at the door. All ages welcome; those younger than 21 will pay a $2 surcharge at the door; those ages 16 and younger myst be accompanied by a ticket-holding parent or guardian. Advance tickets available at Blues Angel Music or online at www.ticketweb.com.
• 8 p.m. Oct. 8: Battery (Metallica tribute). Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at the door.
• 7 p.m. Oct. 15: Dr. John and the Lower 911 (legendary New Orleans funk/R&B/psychedelic/Creole artist). Tickets: $38 in advance, $43 at the door.
• 7 p.m. Oct. 17: Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band (funk sextet). Tickets: $10 in advance.
• 7 p.m. Nov. 11: The Queers (long-running pop-punk band) with Kepi Ghoulie (of the Groovie Ghoulies) and The Riptides. Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at the door.
• 7 p.m. Nov. 12: Bucky Covington ("American Idol" finalist turned country music star). Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 day of show.
• 7 p.m. Dec. 2: The Misfits (legendary horror-punk icons) with Juicehead. Tickets: $20 in advance.
Unless otherwise indicated, advance tickets are available at www.vinylmusichall.com or www.ticketfly.com. Additional fees may apply. All shows are for ages 18 and older unless otherwise indicated.
Who do YOU want to see?
GoPensacola.com Facebook fans were asked who they would like to see play at Vinyl Music Hall. After eliminating acts that regularly play stadiums and large arenas, among the most frequently mentioned suggestions were:
• Vampire Weekend.
• Sublime with Rome.
• Modest Mouse.
• Galactic.
• MGMT.
• Collective Soul.
• Soulive.
• Collective Soul.
• The Avett Brothers.
• Metric.
• Steve Earle.
• JJ Grey & Mofro.
• Interpol.
• Black Keys.
• Kottonmouth Kings.
• Todd Snider.
• Will Kimbrough.
• Tegan & Sara.
