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Delaware music fans who long complained that there was no place to go see live original music can now officially shut their yappers.
The First State saw three new venues pop up recently, each injecting much-needed tuneage in separate genres of music. Here’s a peek at what they do and what they’re like.
World Cafe Live at the Queen
Address: 500 N. Market St., Wilmington Information: www.queen.worldcafelive.com, 994-1400 The site: At nearly 100 years old, the Queen Theatre reopened in April for the first time since 1959 as a spinoff of the popular Philadelphia music venue World Cafe Live. With two stages, the venue can hold up to 1,050 music fans at a time. The spot also has a full-service restaurant and bar built-in. What you’ll hear: Just like in Philadelphia, the venue will focus on an eclectic mix of music that fits perfectly with the playlists of venue’s musical partner, WXPN 88.5-FM. Acts that have already performed there include Ingrid Michaelson, John Oates, Aimee Mann and Robert Randolph & The Family Band. This weekend, the NON-COMMvention will land at the venue. The three-day nonprofit radio conference will feature performances by Ben Harper, Bright Eyes, Thurston Moore, The Jayhawks, Justin Townes Earle and 20 or so other national acts. It is sold out.
Mojo Main
Address: 270 E. Main St., Newark Information: www.mojomain.com, 369-6656 The site: The old home of the East End Cafe re-opened as Mojo Main in August, a spinoff of Mojo 13, located in Holly Oak. The place got a much-needed makeover and has become hands-down the best spot for live music in Newark, drawing more and more college bands and creating a bit of a Newark music scene on a nightly basis. With a beefed-up cajun menu, both UD and townie patrons and a mysteriously mystical Big Easy/carnival theme, there’s no place like it in the state. What you’ll hear: It’s here where you can see an old school honky tonk act like Scott Birney and Steve Hobson of the Sin City Band, a traveling national rock act and a rapper at an open mic night. And that has all happened on a single Monday night in the past. Everything from folk, rock and rap to metal, country and reggae can be found here.
Station 7
Address: U.S. 9 and U.S. 13 in Laure.l The site: The venue was called The House up until May 2010, when new owners took over, renamed the bar and started offering live music. The venue boasts a cool firefighter theme and the crowd ranges in age from 25-65. What you’ll hear: If you want to hear some country, this is the place to go. Laurel’s Bo Dickerson Band is among the regulars who serve up everything from old-school Nashville sounds to wild honky-tonk
