Login / RegisterDick's on Dicks death causes chaos
Local music promoters have been scrambling to reschedule more than a dozen concerts after the Aquilini Investment Group gave Richard's on Richards until July 21 to vacate the premises. For years, rumours have swirled that the long-running venue was about to close, but when the official word finally came, it caught promoters off guard.
“It has been a source of stress for sure,” said Malcolm Croome of Sealed With a Kiss, who was forced to reschedule five concerts at the last minute—and in a city with few options. “We thought we had at least a few more months there.” SWAK has moved Bonobo (July 20), Three Mile Pilot (July 21), A-Trak (July 22), and Blitzen Trapper (July 30) to Venue (formerly the Plaza Club). Japandroids' August 7 show will take place at the new Rickshaw Theatre (254 East Hastings Street). Timbre Productions has had to relocate Alejandro Escovedo (August 1) to the Red Room and Maximo Park (September 7) to Venue.
Vancouver's Five Alarm Funk and Star Captains will play the last ever show at Richard's on Richards at the club's official closing party on July 19. Tickets are $15 and are available at Zulu, Highlife, Red Cat, Scratch, and Beatstreet Records. The venue's liquor licence has been transferred to 556 Seymour Street (formerly A & B Sound), where a new nightclub—featuring four lounges, a 5,000-square-foot dance floor, two art galleries, and more—is expected to open soon.
The old Richard's on Richards building will be demolished in late July.
