New Fillmore in Silver Spring; New Birchmere in College

Fillmore Music Hall To Be Built In Silver Spring Under County Deal


By Richard Harrington and Ann E. Marimow
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, September 26, 2007; Page C01

Live Nation, the world's largest producer of live concerts, has sealed a deal to build one of its Fillmore clubs in Silver Spring, bringing a hallowed name in rock history to the entertainment district in the city's revitalized downtown.

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett said he would join officials of Live Nation at noon today to announce they have signed a letter of intent to build the facility at Colesville Road and Georgia Avenue, the location of the old J.C. Penney department store, whose historic art deco facade will be preserved and incorporated into the club's design. The Fillmore, which would accommodate audiences from 500 (seated) to 2,000 (standing), will be across the street from the AFI's restored Silver Theatre and the Round House Theatre.

…

Duncan, now an administrator at the University of Maryland, announced a new plan yesterday to open a Birchmere venue in College Park. The 500-seat music hall would partner with the university's school of music and be part of its major redevelopment project to bring more restaurants and stores to the campus.

…

On Monday, Seth Hurwitz, head of Bethesda-based IMP, which owns the 9:30 club (the nation's busiest in terms of ticket sales) and operates Merriweather Post Pavilion, sent a letter to Leggett expressing his "sincere interest in the proposed music facility in Silver Spring." Hurwitz said he had held off, hoping the county and the Birchmere "would all get back to the table because it's probably what belongs there. . . . As a lifelong Montgomery County resident, and with 28 years of experience in the music business, I would have liked to be considered for this opportunity."

The Fillmore would likely pose major competition to the 9:30 club, a District venue long celebrated for booking important rock bands and ranked as one of the nation's best places to hear music.

Leggett said Hurwitz's letter came "sort of at the last minute" and too late. "We've been out there and some people have come and talked to us, but this was the first I heard from them."

BTW, here is one of several artist's conceptions of UMCP's East Campus project where the new Birchmere would go (the photo is from this site). The building on the right is Ritchie Coliseum. The birds are a nice touch, though they remind me of the beginning of the video for "We Built This City." Lot's more info at Rethink College Park.

<img src="http://eastcampus.umd.edu/Image/Init/Slide24.jpg" alt=" - " />

I've always thought it interesting that we've got a non-American license plate on the dark car at bottom right. Can't quite make out what it is.

Apparently the Fillmore development was very controversial in the neighborhood. We may have some S. Spring residents who can speak to it, but I got into a conversation with some friends who live there, one of whom is a real estate agent. I think there's concern about 'loitering,' bringing kids and loud crowds into the area, which is kind of crazy as places like that folks drive in for a show and are gone as soon as it's over. Anyone ever seen random loitering music fans around the State Theatre?

Nice props to the 9:30 in the article as one of the best venues in the country, as we all know. The article in the Post is much longer than the excerpts above, and interesting. Find it here.

PS, a friend 'inside' thinks the Fillmore plans will put off the House of Blues possibility until at least past 2010, when the Fillmore is expected to open.

As always, I'm worried that Live Nation will try to wield market power to keep bands from 9:30, but I think between this and H. of Blues, there was no keeping Live Nation away….

Originally posted by beetsnotbeats:
BTW, here is one of several artist's conceptions of UMCP's East Campus project where the new Birchmere would go (the photo is from this site). The building on the right is Ritchie Coliseum. The birds are a nice touch, though they remind me of the beginning of the video for "We Built This City." Lot's more info at Rethink College Park.

I guess they forgot the nooses hanging from the trees.

Originally posted by beetsnotbeats:
Leggett said Hurwitz's letter came "sort of at the last minute" and too late. "We've been out there and some people have come and talked to us, but this was the first I heard from them."

Translation: "I looked through my donor rolls and found no record of this Hurwitz guy."

Don't think this link has been posted yet:

http://www.livemusicss.com/index.html

There are signs up at the SS location with this URL on it. If you click on the link for "Team", there's no mention of Live Nation. Hrmmmm….

I just hope that the newly opened SS "School of Rock" kids will be able to get opening gigs at this venue! :)

Originally posted by Bags:
Apparently the Fillmore development was very controversial in the neighborhood. We may have some S. Spring residents who can speak to it, but I got into a conversation with some friends who live there, one of whom is a real estate agent. I think there's concern about 'loitering,' bringing kids and loud crowds into the area, which is kind of crazy as places like that folks drive in for a show and are gone as soon as it's over. Anyone ever seen random loitering music fans around the State Theatre?

There's all kinds of hubbub about the new venue. The county seems to think they're going to have a hand in dictating what types of "suitable performers" will be playing. I think they're stopping just short of saying "We don't want to attract the wrong element". They're worried about traffic and parking. As for loiterers, there are already tons of them in that area at night, but they're afraid people are going to come into town, become loud, drunk and ready to fight. You damn rock and roll kids.

Apparently the Fillmore development was very controversial in the neighborhood. We may have some S. Spring residents who can speak to it, but I got into a conversation with some friends who live there, one of whom is a real estate agent. I think there's concern about 'loitering,' bringing kids and loud crowds into the area, which is kind of crazy as places like that folks drive in for a show and are gone as soon as it's over. Anyone ever seen random loitering music fans around the State Theatre?

Under that logic, the Majestic theater should certainly be closed, considering the sheer numbers of loud mouthed, rowdy kids that loiter outside of that place every night.

I'm going to pledge my allegiance right now.

I will never, ever, under any circumstances…post on the Fillmore chatboard.

Ike Leggett just lost my vote.

Originally posted by azaghal1981:
Ike Leggett just lost my vote.

Now now. Let's not give Robin Ficker any hope.

There is only one Fillmore in the world and thats the one in San Francisco. The Denver one is a spin off. Now Philly at TLA, Miami, and New York at Irving Plaza have been bought off from someone with rights to the Fillmore name and abusing it. Just one Fillmore and thats San Fran. No need to expand like the Hard Rock Cafes and concert venues.

Originally posted by Arthwys:
I've always thought it interesting that we've got a non-American license plate on the dark car at bottom right. Can't quite make out what it is.

It looks to be a German license plate from Hamburg as they have the "HH" designation for Hansestadt Hamburg…

there were two fillmores. the original location is the current one at geary + fillmore in sf. moved in '68 to market and south van ness. the other opened in nyc in '68. pretty lame that cc/LN is renaming all their venues fillmores. boycott cc,LN,nisson etc. as far as the birch, originally they were only bluegrass and country. now they are all over the place. they charge big bucks and get the suburban soccer mom/family crowd. it will be intesting to see who shows up to see rollins. the college park birch would also complete with 930 and fm for some acts. if anything, prices might go up if everyone is competing. then again if you look at nyc and all the venues they have, alot of the big ones like the fm/irving + webster are dark alot.

From what I've read so far, the CP Birchmere may work with UM's School of Music. How I'm not sure but I would guess jazz and world. The Birchmere might actually work in conjunction with UM's Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center with some CSPAC seasonal shows at the Birchmere. For that matter, the new venue would be on UM land that is leased to the developer and subleased to tenants, so who knows?

Originally posted by Arthwys:
I've always thought it interesting that we've got a non-American license plate on the dark car at bottom right. Can't quite make out what it is.

So does the one in front - 2 bimmers so I'm guessing they're german…have you noticed the station wagon is a mirror image?

no wonder seth is pissed. mo co is giving $4mil. md is giving $4m. LN only has to put up $2m.

more bands coming to DC!!!!!