All planned gigs in the recently opened space on Baggot Street were pulled abruptly.
It was only February when the new pub and live music venue The Star Bar on Baggot Street arrived with much fanfare.
It was building a reputation as a quiet pint kind of spot with live music programmed by a recognisable name on the Irish music scene.
The music in the last five months was booked by Stefan Murphy aka The Mighty Stef / The Sleevens, and featured regular trad, jazz, folk, blues and acoustic singer-songwriter nights.
Paid in shows from Niamh Regan and Stoat (this Friday moved to Jacob’s Inn) were planned to take place in the coming weeks and months, with recent shows from Neosupervital and Leigh Arthur already taking place.
Now the venue has abruptly pulled all music performances without much warning during the typically quiet July calendar after the venue changed ownership, according to the now ex-booker Stef
The Business Post reports that the venue changed ownership as a result of receivership of Paddy McKillen jnr’s Grafter business. A forfeiture notice was also issued for the Butler Arms Hotel in Waterville, Kerry which was owned by Grafter.
McKillen was also a former director of the company that owns Workman’s Club Limited.
Workman’s Club Limited runs the music venue The Workmans Club, along with hospitality venues like Angelina’s, Bison Bar, John’s Bar, Mary’s Bar and Hardware, Vintage Cocktail Club and Doolally among others.
In May the company went into examinership.
Paddy McKillen jnr is attempting to save the Captain Americas bar and grill, as fall out from the Press Up boom continues.
As revealed by the Business Post earlier this week, a receiver has been appointed over two McKillen jnr firms that own the properties housing the Stella Cinema and The Grayson.
No doubt the location of The Star Bar among weekday office spaces, away from busy weekend footfall made the task of getting people to the space for a show a bit more difficult than one in the middle of the city, but the space was not given a chance to develop, and build a reputation as is needed in the venue and event space game.
Sadly, the receivership news put an end to that, as the new owners have ceased the live music offerings of The Star Bar.
External independent promoters are lacking in venues to put on small and intimate capacity gigs, and this is just the latest blow to Dublin’s music scene.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
