Bowery Presents Pens Farewell Letter To Montclair Music Fans As Live Nation Takes Over Booking Wellmont Theatre

Late last month we shared the disturbing news that the future of rock shows at the Wellmont Theatre in Montclair, New Jersey was in doubt thanks to a legal dispute between promoter Bowery Presents and the venue’s owner. As Bowery Presents prepares to throw its final rock show (for now) at the Wellmont on Thursday featuring MGMT, comes word – via Barista.net – that Live Nation has signed an exclusive agreement to book shows at the Montclair venue.

[Photo via Wellmont Theatre Facebook]

We give Bowery Presents high marks for the impressive and eclectic mix of shows they presented at the historic theater and wonder what the “Live Nation Club And Theatre Team” has in store. We’d think renovations will be part of the deal, but there’s no confirmation of that at the moment.

Bowery Presents has penned a lovely farewell letter to the Montclair Community…

To the Montclair Community,

When The Bowery Presents was given the opportunity to bring live entertainment back to the historic Wellmont Theater, we could not have been more excited.  Working through renovations, sound systems, getting to know our neighbors and the local scene has been a joy over the last four years. We took the responsibility and charge seriously and have worked really hard to bring the best of the best – from Stephen Colbert and Chelsea Handler to George Clinton, Richard Lewis and Susie Essman, to LCD Soundsystem, Wilco, Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, to Yo Gabba Gabba!, The Decemberists, Jane’s Addiction, to Tony Bennett and the Moody Blues — to The Wellmont Theatre. We were even lucky enough to host local fundraisers for the Montclair Film Festival and REED Academy, always with our Essex County neighbors in mind. It’s how we run our business. It is part of our DNA. From the State Theatre in Portland to Union Transfer in Philadelphia to venues along the East Coast, we understand local communities and their sensibilities. And we are extremely proud of what we have accomplished at The Wellmont Theatre.

All too often big business doesn’t understand the needs of a thriving, growing community like Montclair. We tried to become one of you – we were your neighbor, and we liked to think that we were able to help the restaurants, bars and stores grow and prosper.

We look forward to more opportunities to work in Montclair and North Jersey and bring more up and coming artists, amazing comedians and great concert experiences to an audience that appreciates it. We wish our friends in Montclair nothing but the best.

Sincerely,
The Bowery Presents

[via Barista.net]

As of now the MGMT gig is the only performance on the schedule for the Wellmont. We’ll see how soon Live Nation announces its first set of Montclair shows.