Bamboo Room Closing for Summer

With painful regret we learned this weekend that the best live music venue in south Florida is closing for the summer. The Bamboo Room, located in downtown Lake Worth was a mecca for national blues, roots and Americana acts . For example, in one two week period the venue hosted The Bastard Sons Of Johnny Cash, The Gourds, the Asylum Street Spankers, and Chris Cain. Since the venue is somewhat isolated from the rest of the southeast, national acts have been reluctant to visit south Florida because of the higher gas prices. In fact, members of the Asylum Street Spankers noted the high costs of touring due to gas prices when we last saw them. Then add the seasonal fluctuations in summer attendance and its not difficult to foresee the financial squeeze facing the venue. Thus, last week owner, Russell Hibbard, announced that the venue will go dark starting June 1st for an indeterminate period. See the news release here. Let's hope that by the winter season the economy has rebounded and gas prices stabilized so that the Bamboo Room can reopen. We hope to be able to schedule an "emergency" trip to the Pam Beach area by May 31st. For those readers living in south Florida or planning a trip there for Memorial weekend plan a visit - they host blues artist Debbie Davies Friday night and guitarist Andy Stein's CD Release Party Saturday night.