edpaffjr.comI first heard last night that the Southgate House in Newport, Kentucky would be closing at the end of the year. I just had the privilege of going there for the first time a couple of months ago for Robert Randolph and was looking forward to many more shows in the ballroom. Sure it was dingy and smelly in spots, but the character of the space and the wonderful sound really filled a niche for Cincinnati. Not to mention that it was easily the best venue I have been to of this size (600 capacity).
A note on their website says that they will be opening their business in a new location soon. I read a blog earlier today hinting that the group could be moving into the old IMAX space at Newport on the Levee, but it seems that the theory has been all but officially denied. Either way it is still an interesting move for the Southgate management group. It’s a shame that this historic venue will no longer function, and I hope that the space is re-purposed into something new. It would be tragic for it to sit empty.