Roseland Ballroom To Close!

According to a report from billboard.com, based on a received email, is scheduled to be closed by April of next year. Having first opened in 1919, Roseland has been host to a wide variety of well-known artists such as Frank Sinatra, Sting, the Rolling Stones, Dream Theater, Danzig and Beyoncé. Roseland Ballroom has a rich musical background; it was originally a hall where “dance marathons, jitterbugging and jazz” could be found. More than 700 couples found love at Roseland, with plagues throughout the ballroom to commemorate each marriage. From the pay-per-dance to disco to an all-standing crowd, the venue has u undergone many fundamental changes. While an official reason for the decision to close Roseland Ballroom has not been issued, there is speculation that the tall offices and luxury hotels surrounding it have made Roseland an outcast. The area has not become ideal for a music venue.

Personal Thoughts: I had been thinking that the once unrivaled music culture of New York City was slowly dying, but this news confirms it for me. I have had great experiences at Roseland Ballroom, and have seen a few of my earliest shows there. I love this venue for its more intimate size and how close you can get to the stage. Every event I attended there felt like a quality experience, never overcrowded. Concert venues are becoming obsolete due to internet screenings, live tv recordings and the virtual extinction of CDs. After the takeover of the tradionally alternative, rock n’roll St. Mark’s place by mainstream karaoke bars and frozen yogurt, I am convinced that New York’s music scene is undergoing a big change, a negative one in my opinion.