“Raleigh has lots of bars with a band in the corner,” says Triangle music scene veteran Scotty Brownell, “but very few true music venues.” That balance changed a little this fall when Scotty and his business partner, Howard Moye, opened Southland Ballroom (614 N. West St.), Raleigh’s newest (and Glenwood South’s only) venue focused exclusively on the music. Sure, it has a well-stocked bar (beer, wine, mixed drinks), but you would not meet your friends there for a regular after-work drink or hang out there to watch a game together. On the other hand, if there were a band you and your friends really liked, the Ballroom would be the ideal place to see them perform.
Scotty Brownell, Co-owner Southland BallroomAnd that’s the way Scotty Brownell wants it. He is very clear about his vision. He is not interested in running a neighborhood bar or a dance club. Nor does he want to target a particular age group or any single musical genre. There will be shows for all tastes.
The only demographic label he cares about are people who love live music and want to see it in a comfortable and relatively intimate environment. With a capacity of 325, you won’t have to fight large crowds. By comparison, the Lincoln Theater’s capacity is roughly 1,000 and Carrboro’s Cat’s Cradle is around 600.
Perhaps even more important to Scotty, he wants you to hear the music on one of the best sound systems in the Triangle. And make no mistake, Scotty would know. Since his start in the business roughly 20 years ago as a DJ for frat parties around the Triangle, Scotty has amassed an astounding collection of sound equipment, equipment he put to use in the 7 years he ran the sound at the Lake Boone Country Club, as well as during the Lincoln Theater’s first year and the last 8 years at the Berkeley Café. As an added benefit for those of us who have started to worry about the damage to our hearing from the music we listen to, the quality of Scotty’s sound equipment means that he doesn’t have to blow you out the door to ensure you get the full range of the music. As a result, at most shows, you should be able to talk to the person next to you without losing your voice in the process. For those of us who live within a block of the Ballroom, this also means we don’t need to be concerned that it will bring more late night noise bleeding into our homes.
The vagaries of converting warehouse space to a concert venue made the Ballroom’s opening date a moving target right up till the last minute, keeping Scotty from initially bringing in national acts, which usually require at least 90 days advance booking. That is changing. Although he is not yet saying who they are, Scotty has plans in the works for several. He says the Ballroom is the perfect venue for an act that wants a more intimate environment in which to connect with its audience. And, promoters take note, the Ballroom is open to outside bookings. When asked about whether the Ballroom would be a venue for future Hopscotch festivals, Scotty acknowledged that it would be an ideal location but tactfully says that the decision would be up to the festival organizers.
Because the Ballroom does not do double duty as an everyday bar, it is also open to bookings by private parties (weddings, corporate functions, etc.) for those events where a good stage and sound system are important. Details are available on the Ballroom’s web site www.SouthlandBallroom.com.
Getting to the Southland Ballroom is easy; it is directly across the street from an R-line stop. For those who wish to drive, it also provides ample parking.
For more information, visit the Ballroom’s web site or Facebook page.
Article provided to the DLA by Rick Richardson
