Press for the Side Door

The Side Door got a write-up in the Roanoke Times.
Remember, y'all -we're back at the Side Door this Saturday night!

RADFORD -- Through an inconspicuous door on the side of a building, up the stairs and following an arrow and a sign that says "Meetings held here since 1900," New River Valley music lovers gather for an informal concert.

The Side Door in Radford is an old union meeting room that is now rental space for parties and meetings. Last year, music lover Chris Burgoyne decided the space could be that and more. He said Radford needed another music venue -- even if it wasn't full time.

Burgoyne said he had been mulling over the idea of a music club where members could pay about $10 to attend performances or play each month or so.

"There's not a lot of places around to hear live music," he said. "I'd heard about this place, and I thought it was a place people could come to enjoy themselves."

The Side Door concerts were born in October 2007. Every six weeks or so, Burgoyne rents the Side Door and books three or four local, mostly nonprofessional musicians to play. There is no cover charge, but a $5 donation is appreciated, he said.

"It's a wonderful place to play because for years I played in bands in beer joints, and they were always smoke-filled and people weren't listening," said Doug Conner of Christiansburg, who was one of four performers Sept. 20.

Conner first performed at the Side Door in February.

There is an unspoken rule that once the music starts, most of the talking stops, so musicians have the audience's full attention. Most of the music is bluegrass or folk.

"It's just a really nice environment and people come to have fun," Conner said. "You get 30 minutes to do whatever you want. Now, the crowd may not like you and you won't get asked back, but you get that time to perform."

The idea isn't to make it the biggest event in Radford, but to have a good time listening to music, Burgoyne said.

"We get advice on how to make it bigger, but that's not what I'm looking for," he said. "I'm just putting together acts because I saw a need in Radford."

Music notes is a feature series written by Amy Matzke that showcases places to hear music in the New River Valley. Have a favorite stage you'd like to see featured? Contact Matzke at amy.matzke@roanoke.com or 381-1674.