Two gigs displaced from Live get new outlets
Laith Al-Saadi, the local guitarist who played at Live with his band each Thursday, has announced that he has a new regular Thursday gig at Melange. And the 5:01 jazz series, sponsored on the first Friday of each month by WEMU radio, will now set up shop at the Ravens Club.
Al-Saadi announced on his Facebook page that he and his band will play each Thursday from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at Melange, 314 S. Main St. in Ann Arbor. There is no cover charge.
WEMU (89.1-FM), the public-radio station at Eastern Michigan University, has announced that the next date in its 5:01 series (sponsored by Sesi Motors) will be 5:01-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3 at the Ravens Club, 207 S. Main St.
The show will feature the Ben Jansson Quartet, which plays the music of Thelonious Monk and others. He will be joined by Ralph Tope, guitar; Duncan McMillan, Hammond B3 organ; and Sean Dobbins, drums.
Additional shows are planned the first Friday of every month through June.
Meanwhile, the newly renovated and reconfigured joint nightclubs Live and The Last Word (both located at the corner of Huron and First streets, and formerly known as Live at PJ's and Goodnite Gracie) are planning grand reopenings. Live, the larger space, with access off First, will reopen Feb. 3 and 4.
Bob Needham is director of entertainment content for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at bobneedham@annarbor.com or 734-623-2541, and follow him on Twitter @bobneedham.
Comments
actionjackson
Sun, Feb 5, 2012 : 2:58 p.m.
It certainly would be nice to have a venue for the 6:30 to 9:00pm time slot for the local musicians that used to play Friday night happy hours. There was always a good crowd, the band played for the money in the tip jug, and the bar owners picked up the liquor sales. Sounded like a win win situation however no one has seemed to taken the time to look it over and open a new spot for this. Not every town has a George Bedard, Fubar, Drivin Sideways, and many many more local fine musicians that just love to play and we love to dance.
Atticus F.
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 4:21 p.m.
Can't wait to go to Malange when they have a live musician... It's going to be a total hottie-fest!!
Atticus F.
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 6:17 p.m.
*Melange