Live Music Society’s “Empty Spaces” Series Features Denver’s Hi-Dive and Brooklyn’s C’mon Everybody
Video Series Spotlights Independent Music Venues Across U.S.
Empty Spaces: Hi-Dive Online Premiere, Thursday, June 17th,
8:00 PM CMT
Watch Here
The Live Music Society’s Empty Spaces documentary video series unveils its latest episode, Empty Spaces: Hi-Dive, on June 16th. The episode focuses on Denver, Colorado’s iconic rock and roll club Hi-Dive, featuring live performances from Bluebook, and Colfax Speed Queen, and interviews with owner Matty Clark, Denver-based journalists John Wenzel (Denver Post) and Alisha Sweeney (Colorado Public Radio), and other long time staff and patrons, who share their favorite stories and memories from the venue's colorful and storied past. Watch the premiere online here on Thursday, June 16th.
The Hi-Dive has been a Denver institution since 2003. Countless local bands got their start at this charming dive bar, which is in the middle of the historic Baker neighborhood. Numerous touring bands have gone on to play bigger audiences, gaining national and international acclaim after playing the Hi-Dive, many of whom — such as Denver’s own Nathaniel Ratliff and the Night Sweats — still make it back to perform regularly. Hi-Dive prides itself on its excellent sound and promotes local shows with the same vigor and enthusiasm as they would a national one.
Hi-Dive was a recipient in the inaugural round of Live Music Society grants in 2020. The second round of LMS grants was awarded last month, with sixteen venues in twelve states receiving individual grants up to $50,000 dollars. LMS was founded in 2020 to provide a lifeline to small, independent venues forced to close their doors due to the COVID pandemic. In 2021, LMS supports independent venues as they struggle to reopen in a challenging post-pandemic landscape. With the first two rounds LMS will have dispersed over $1.5 Million in grants and is committed to giving $2 Million by the end of 2021.
Directed by Chris Morgan and produced by Morgan and Mike Ligon, the “Empty Spaces” series highlights small U.S. venues and the stories of their experiences before, during, and after the pandemic. The next episode spotlights Brooklyn’s favorite intergenerational, intersectional live music space C’mon Everybody; featuring performances by The Illustrious Blacks, Madison McFerrin, and an interview with R&B legend and LMS board member Nona Hendryx. Empty Spaces: C’mon Everybody will debut in July, date TBA. Learn more about Empty Spaces and watch previous episodes here: https://www.livemusicsociety.org/emptyspaces