The #PreserveRockwood benefit concert series begins with a performance from Sara Bareilles on June 30, with many more to come over the next few months in a continued effort to keep the independent venue alive.
Singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles has announced an initiative to help save Rockwood Music Hall in New York City, which is currently in danger of closing. The #PreserveRockwood benefit concert series kicks off on June 30 with a show from Bareilles at the venue.
The series will provide an opportunity to see artists perform at the long-running independent venue while helping to keep it alive. All proceeds from the shows will be donated to Rockwood to help continue to run a space designated for performances from independent and emerging artists.
“In 2007, I played one of the first shows of my career at Rockwood Music Hall on the Lower East Side, a venue that then and now represents the grit and determination of New York’s aspiring musical community,” says Bareilles on the campaign’s GoFundMe page.
“This venue represents more than a physical space; it is a reflection of the incredible, diverse artistry that is paramount that we all work to save, so I am encouraging everyone to please join me in helping protect this space for the future of music.”
The GoFundMe campaign aims for $250,000 to maintain the 18-year-old venue and has already raised over $35,000 — including a $5,000 donation from producer Alan Menken. Menken is responsible for the soundtracks to such films as Disney’s The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.
“It’s a vital venue for independent artists. So many have developed their careers on one of their stages,” tweets Menken.
Other artists joining the concert benefit series include Chriel Thile and Michael Daves on July 1, Amy Helm on July 6, Isabel Hagen on July 10, Ingrid Michaelson on July 20, Elle King on July 31, The Lone Bellow on August 10, and more.
Since opening its doors in 2005, Rockwood Music Hall was an early venue for artists like Jon Batiste, Lewis Capaldi, Gary Clark Jr., and Lady Gaga. Rockwood Music Corporation filed for bankruptcy protection in February after struggling to recover financially from the pandemic.
