Last week, the news broke that Rumors, the scrappy, DIY venue housed above Mulligan’s in Biddeford, was being forced out of its longtime home after the owners of Mulligan’s decided to pull the plug.
At the time, Rumors mastermind Austin Hunter-Melanson said he’s actively looking for a new space where he can keep live music happening in Biddeford, and artists who’ve played there over the years are already coming out of the woodwork to help make that happen.
On Sunday, July 12, the Townhouse Pub in Saco will host Rally for Rumors, a benefit show aimed at helping fund the venue’s relocation. Every dollar raised will go toward the costs of finding a new home and keeping the music going.
The lineup for the July 12 show is stacked with local heavy hitters, including A Home Beneath, Bite the Bullet, Endure, Ayychem, Last Embrace, Snake Lips, Nobdy, Headfirst, Sorry Safari, It’s Milty, Xomboy, Milk Street (acoustic set), Caazi, Savor, Plague Dad, Provenance, and Piss In Public.
Doors open at 3pm. Advance tickets are $15, with day-of-show admission set at $20. You can get tickets here.
Whether Rumors ultimately survives remains to be seen. What’s already clear, though, is how much the venue means to musicians and fans throughout southern Maine. The response to the news of its displacement has been immediate, and Rally for Rumors is the first major effort to turn that support into something tangible.
If you’ve ever discovered a new favorite band there, played one of its packed shows, or simply believe southern Maine needs more independent music spaces instead of fewer, mark July 12 on your calendar. Tickets are already moving quickly, and this one has all the makings of a sellout.
And if you can’t make the show, Hunter-Melanson has also launched a GoFundMe to help cover the costs of relocating Rumors.
Six Shows. Five Days. Let’s See What Happens.
Speaking of live music, I’ve got a busy stretch ahead.
Over the next five days, I’ll be playing six shows across Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, including four dates with anti-folk firebrand Hamell On Trial and the always-excellent Will Bradford.
The run kicks off tonight at O’Brien’s in Allston before heading to The Square in Portland on Thursday, Hey Sailor in Searsport on Friday, and The Loading Dock in Littleton, New Hampshire on Saturday.
Then on Sunday, I’ll be pulling double duty at Resurgam Festival, with an 11am set at Thirsty Pig and a 4:15pm performance on the WMPG stage.
That’s six shows in five days, which seems perfectly reasonable until you say it out loud.
If you’ve been meaning to catch a Plague Dad show, this week offers plenty of opportunities. Come say hello, buy a record, and help me justify all the gas money.
For a closer look at the Hamell On Trial run, check out my recent preview.