Rock of (All) Ages

Remmington’s Downtown is in flux. Will the show go on?

Some changes are coming to Remmington’s Downtown. Just how sweeping the changes are is yet to be seen.

According to the city licensing office, the all-ages, mid-sized music venue lost its liquor license on January 15, after the city was informed that owner Stevie Mix (real name Steve Sexton) would not seek to renew it. However, Mix, who has owned the club at 201 S. Campbell Ave. for three years, says he has no intentions of closing up shop, though he is working on some décor and, more importantly, format changes.

“Right now I’m leaning more towards dance, and the live music will be all nationals,” Mix says. “If I could still get a Jah Roots in there, that’d be worth doing.”
At press time, Mix declined to talk about his plans further, but indicated an announcement on exact changes at Remmington’s could be coming shortly. Keep your eyes on our blog at springfieldgo.com for updates.

Nevertheless, at least for now, the music continues. When the club lost its liquor license, local promoters originally relocated a number of concerts. Now some are moving the shows—including the Henry Rollins concert on March 10—back to Remmington’s, and will be able to serve alcohol under the catering permit of a downtown bar. Scenesters are tight-lipped about which bar is helping the shows continue.

Tom Morris, president of FM Productions, books frequent regional and national events at Remmington’s. He says he is currently negotiating use of the building on a show-by-show basis. Ken Martin, who owns the building at 201 S. Campbell Ave, could not be reached for comment.

“We have a full intention of keeping the shows intact there,” says Morris, who also indicated Martin was satisfied with the building’s use as a music venue, no matter what Mix decides to do.

The uncertainty only serves to illuminate the situation all-ages clubs have faced since a citywide ban on minors in most bars and clubs was approved in 2006. Clubs like Remmington’s and The Outland Ballroom have managed to salvage all-ages shows, though the trend seems to be gravitating towards non-alcoholic venues like The Belmonte (moved to Commercial Street), The Front Porch and Randy Bacon’s Studio and Gallery.

Another popular all-ages venue, The Blue Room at Billiard’s, is also undergoing changes. New manager Susan Brackley says the contract with the building’s owner is currently in re-negotiation, and while she expects shows to continue, the details concerning age restrictions are hazy. (One unfounded rumor is that concertgoers could be 18 or older, but band members would have to be at least 21.) Brackley refused to give any specifics, saying only that some new provisions would likely result from the re-negotiations.