Kristian Knutsen
The future home of The Frequency
The closing of the King Club was definitely a blow to small- and medium-size bands looking to play downtown Madison. Fortunately, the hole it left in the local music scene should be plugged by the end of May. That's when Darwin Sampson, who's spent the last nine months booking the Annex, will open a new live music venue in downtown Madison called The Frequency.
This new club is located at 121 W. Main Street, the former home of the recently shuttered Adair's Lounge. On Wednesday, the city's Alcohol License Review Committee okayed a license for the 99-person capacity night spot.
After a few changes to the interior of the multi-room venue, Sampson says he'll begin presenting local, regional and national acts. At first, live shows will run Thursday through Saturday. In the fall, he plans to present music throughout the week.
Sampson plays in several rock acts, including Ladybeard and Helliphant, and he often concentrated on rock during stints booking the old Anchor Inn and the Annex. However, he says The Frequency won't be restricted to any one type of music.
"I'm going to take the best live music that I can get," Sampson explains. "I'm a fan of all kinds of music, and I've just seen some incredible bands that I feel need to be playing [in Madison] more regularly. It's not going to be one genre."
