Big Scott, the historic Boston music venue and dive bar that was an essential part of the city's musical soul, is set to reopen in a new location. After Allston's neighborhood base abruptly closed in 2020 due to pandemic and leasing difficulties, booer Carl Lavin took over the club's name, copyright and liquor license to search for a new venue. Now, with the help of Redefined CEO Paul Armstrong and Noannet Group's Jordan Warshaw, it has secured a building at 1 Harvard Avenue—just two blocks from its original location—and construction will begin next year. Great Scott is aiming for a 2026 opening.
The redevelopment will include two separate venues at street level – the 300-capacity Great Scott and the 75-capacity O'Brien's Pub, its longtime sister club that has remained open—and operates as a mixed-use building. Designed by local architects CambridgeSeven, it will also include additional retail and rental housing, with 100 units expected to be added. Great Scott is in the middle of the planning and permitting phase but has the support of the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture and stakeholders. Once these plans are approved, construction will take approximately 18 months.
“Since the Great Scott closed four years ago, there has been such an outpouring of support for its reopening, but we live in a difficult economic climate where in recent years more small venues have closed than opened,” Lavin said in a statement. . “This collaboration with Pavlos [Armstrong] and Jordan [Warshaw] it has enabled us to create a financial model that will not only allow for a new Great Scott to be built, but also for it to be successful for many years to come.”
After opening in 1976, the Great Scott slowly established itself as a vital part of the Boston music scene and a welcoming venue for artists touring the country. Countless artists have used Allston's spot as a springboard for their early careers, including Charli XCX, Phoebe Bridgers, MGMT and Grimes. For local events, however, it's been a reliable venue for passionate fans, sold-out shows and wheel-less houses, with acts like Pile, Clairo and Speedy Ortiz cultivating a loyal community. Great Scott has previously hosted themed DJ nights catering to the city's queer, indie rock and dance communities, as well as comedy events, drag shows and more.
from our partners at https://pitchfork.com/news/historic-boston-music-venue-great-scott-reopening-in-new-location
