Tag Archives: Boyd Theatre

LVU Wants to Know: Where Do You Want a New Venue?

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We’re not suggesting anything with that image. We swear…

With our ever-growing music community producing more talent than perhaps ever before, the demand for venues – particularly, those which support original music – has increased in recent years.

Of course, this demand has been met by the emergence of hot spots in certain pockets of the Valley. SteelStacks has dominated the music scene in Bethlehem over the past five years, while the South Side also boasts mainstays Godfrey Daniels and The Funhouse. Meanwhile, Allentown’s resurgence and Easton’s emerging presence have, respectively, provided more local, original acts with places to play. There is always room to grow, however, especially as the list of talented artists in our area continues to do the same.

Of course, there is always speculation about turning Bethlehem’s Boyd Theatre into a live music venue. While we’re still on board with that being a great idea – think of the foot traffic! – we don’t own the place, and we realize that there are other areas of the Valley where bands and the community at large would also benefit from an increased presence of live music venues.

So… tell us where you are, why it would make a great place for a new venue, and what kind of music it should support. Or, in your opinion, is our scene fine as it is? Either way, we want to know what you think!

Bethlehem’s Boyd Theatre: A Live Music Destination?

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By now, many of you have probably seen recent updates on Bethlehem’s historic Boyd Theatre. First, we found out that the property had a buyer for the price of $1.35 million. Then, just yesterday, lehighvalleylive.com reported that the theatre has been classified as a “blighted” property.

While many details about the property and its future are unclear, we know two things: 1) Somebody, somewhere in the Valley has at least a loose plan to do something with it and 2) many on the music scene hold the opinion that the Boyd would make a great live music venue, right in the heart of Historic Bethlehem.

Think of the possibilities: A music venue on the North side, similar in transformation to Easton’s State Theatre, where musicians – local, regional, and even national touring acts – could come to play. The Boyd could cater to an entirely different kind of artist (imagine hard rock, alternative, or even hip hop showcases) than many of the region’s other established venues, offering a little more color, variety and opportunity to the Valley’s original music scene. More of the region’s lesser-known, but wicked talented artists could be featured, and therefore prevented from heading to the seemingly-greener, nearby pastures of Philadelphia and New York.

Imagine turning the Boyd into a venue that could attract a national touring act – veteran bands with respectable followings, like Death Cab for Cutie, Breaking Benjamin, Volbeat or, my personal favorite, Our Lady Peace. Then, imagine the opportunity local artists would have to open for them. The headliners would attract a crowd, and our local artists could attract larger followings, and have their hard work noticed by larger audiences, simply by being on the bill.

Then, there are the potential implications for Main Street’s businesses. More foot traffic on nearby Broad Street bodes well for the shops and restaurants that populate downtown, especially amid concerns that the re-zoning of Martin Tower may cause those businesses to take a hit once the land is re-developed. A performance space in an arts-rich community could be the remedy to that, as it gives folks a brand-new reason to visit Main Street.

With all of that being said, there are certainly challenges that lie ahead for the Boyd Theatre, and there is a lot more of this story to be told before all is said and done. In the meantime, we can still dream.

So, dream on and let us know what you think should become of the Boyd in the comments!