Kristian Knutsen
Tristan and Lisa Gallagher: 'Thanks to all of you for the support, the fun, and most of all the incredible music.'
The King Club will be ceasing operations on January 21.
The space will subsequently reopen with new partners and a new operation, with the city losing one of its most vital music venues in one of the downtown's primary entertainment districts. However, it will continue to host a longtime Madison music institution -- a weekly gig by "Funky Drummer" Clyde Stubblefield known as Funky Mondays.
An announcement about the closing was sent Monday morning by club co-owners Tristan and Lisa Gallagher and subsequently posted on The Daily Page Forum.
Bearing the subject heading "Yes, its True, The King Club is reformatting," this announcement follows:
Hi all.
Tristan here writing to let you all know that the rumors are true. The King Club will be closing its doors as a live music venue on January 21st and reopening a month later as something entirely different, to quote Monty Python. The only live music we will continue to host will be the Clyde Stubblefield Funky Mondays.
Its a been a long and fun run but the move is for various reasons, most of them good ones. Change is constant and its fair to say that the flavor of the live music scene has changed in Madison, and one has to change with the times. We have taken on new partners who are going to take teh bar in a new and interesting direction.
All will be rvealed presently, but til then thanks to all of you for the support, the fun, and most of all the incredible music. Its been a life changing experience for both Lisa and myself.
Best of Luck , and Peace.
Tristan and Lisa Gallagher
Though the venue will continue to host Stubblefield, its other regular residents, including a plethora of Madison rock and hip-hop groups as well as MadCabaret, Indie Queer Madison, and year-end round-up covering the local music scene. "Local music is everywhere in Madison," he wrote. "Nowhere is it more concentrated than at the King Club. Owners Lisa and Tristan Gallagher host an occasional touring act, but most weeks, local artists play all seven nights. What's even more impressive is the diversity of the King Club's offerings. Hip-hop, rock and indie-queer dance nights make it a place for everyone."
The final show at the King Club calendar is listed as Saturday, January 19, and will feature The .357 String Band, Those Poor Bastards, Mario Matteoli, and High Lonesome. Funky Mondays with Clyde Stubblefield is set to return when the club reopens by early March.
