Rough Trade NYC

On January 19th, 2021, Rough Trade Records announced that it was leaving its Williamsburg location in the spring. Rough Trade is located on 64 North 9th Street, Brooklyn, between...
Rough Trade NYC RIP

Rough Trade NYC RIP

Jagwar Ma

On January 19th, 2021, Rough Trade Records announced that it was leaving its Williamsburg location in the spring.

Rough Trade is located on 64 North 9th Street, Brooklyn, between Kent and Wythe Avenues, less than a block away from the old Williamsburg Waterfront, two blocks south of Brooklyn Bowl, three blocks south of 50 Kent, and three blocks north of Music Hall of Williamsburg.  It is part of the ‘Bowery Presents’ circle of venues, along with Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn Steel, and Terminal 5; from noon to six PM, Monday-Saturday, PlayStation Theater serves as the box office for all four places. It is a relatively new venue, having opened in late November 2013, though the venue then closed shortly afterwards due to neighborhood noise complaints, only to reopen in March 2014.  It is also the American store of London’s Rough Trade record label & record store.

The front part of Rough Trade NYC is a record store (which was open when the venue portion was closed in 2013-2014), which is usually closes down (merchandise moved to the side and blocked off) during a show.  The venue entrance and box office is direct from the store entrance, placing it deeper in the building.  A long bar is to the left upon entering the venue, with bathrooms to the immediate right of the entrance.  There is a balcony with stairwells on either side; the balcony contains both seats by the railings on both wings, and ping-pong tables (when not a VIP area, the seats are usually unreserved, so get occupied fast; the ping-pong tables are thankfully sturdy enough for people to sit on).  The actual stage area isn’t that large a space, with the stage itself jutting out into the space, rather than being recessed into a wall (the floor spaces to the sides of the stage are usually used for extra opener equipment to the house-left, route to backstage house-right).

Smaller than Bowery Ballroom or Music Hall of Williamsburg, though larger than Mercury Lounge, Rough Trade NYC certainly more aspires to the Bowery-Music Hall level – regardless, it bats above its weight thanks to the Bowery Presents hook (not to mention Rough Trade Records); it was still booking shows during its time closed, only for them to move (usually to Music Hall of Williamsburg).  And it can serve as a spot for a second NYC date after playing Bowery or Mercury.  The sound is good despite the high ceiling, though the lighting is a little less than you’d expect.  The stage floor is particularly easier place to get a drink than at Bowery or Music Hall (though there is no second bar in the balcony).  Though 2014 saw Bowery Presents losing booking at Webster Hall, the premiere NYC concert operator continues to grow.

 

Capacity: 250

Address:

64 North 9th Street (Between Kent and Wythe Avenues)

By Subway:

L to Bedford Avenue – walk two blocks north on Bedford, three-and-a-half blocks west on South side of North 9th Street

 

QRO Coverage:

-Your Smith, January 29th, 2020 – photos

-The Joy Formidable, with TWEN, December 6th, 2019 – The Joy Formidable live review, The Joy Formidable photos, TWEN photos

-The Joy Formidable, with TWEN, December 5th, 2019 – The Joy Formidable live review, The Joy Formidable photos, TWEN photos

-Yeasayer, April 17th, 2019 – live review, photos

-Astrid S, with Charlie Puth and Vivien Goldenman & Lenny Kaye (Q&A and DJ set), February 28th, 2019 – Astrid S photos, Charlie Puth photos, Vivien Goldenman & Lenny Kaye photos

-Okkervil River, April 27th, 2018 – live review, photos

-Superchunk, February 16th, 2018 – photos

-Modern English, with The Veldt, November 22nd, 2017 – Modern English photos, The Veldt photos

-Stars, November 18th, 2017 – live review, photos

-Yelle, September 29th, 2017 – photos

-Elliot & The Ghost, with A Shadow of Jaguar and The Last Internationale, June 24th, 2017 – Elliot & The Ghost photos, A Shadow of Jaguar photos, The Last Internationale photos

-Operators, with Charly Bliss, April 4th, 2017 – Operators photos, Charly Bliss photos

-Slaves, March 12th, 2017 – photos

-Paper Route, November 10th, 2016 – live review, photos

-Bear’s Den, with Liza Anne, September 13th, 2016 – Bear’s Den photos, Liza Anne photos

-GØGGS, July 22nd, 2016 – photos

-Fruit Bats, May 12th, 2016 – photos

-Asaf Avidan, April 10th, 2016 – photos

-HINDS, March 7th, 2016 – photos

-Miniboone, with Bunny’s a Swine, Robot Princess, and Bully Mammoth, March 5th, 2016 (final Miniboone show) – live review, Miniboone photos, Bunny’s a Swine photos, Robot Princess photos, Bully Mammoth photos

-Ra Ra Riot, February 18th, 2016 – photos

-Benjamin Clementine, February 17th, 2016 – photos

-Givers, with Doe Paoro, November 12th, 2015 – Givers photos, Doe Paoro photos

-Mothers, with Car Seat Headrest, October 16th, 2015 (CMJ) – Mothers photos, Car Seat Headrest photos

-Tokyo Police Club, with The Kickback, October 14th, 2015 (CMJ) – CMJ coverage, Tokyo Police Club photos, The Kickback photos

-The Vaccines, September 2nd, 2015 – photos

-Reptar, July 17th, 2015 – photos

-Mini Mansions, June 8th, 2015 – photos

-Those Darlins, May 15th, 2015 – photos

-Nick Mulvey, May 6th, 2015 – photos

-AlunaGeorge, April 28th, 2015 – photos

-River City Extension, April 19th, 2015 – photos

-Record Store Day Panel (Todd Barry, Sam Calagione, Annie Clark, Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider, and Kozmo Vinyl), March 10th, 2015 – recap, photos

-The Wombats, with Wardell, January 19th, 2015 – The Wombats photos, Wardell photos

-The Stationary Set, January 17th, 2015 – photos

-Civil Twilight, January 14th, 2015 – photos

-A Sunny Day In Glasgow, December 27th, 2014 – photos

-Twin Peaks, with Happyness, The Wytches and Spring King, October 23rd, 2014 (CMJ) – Twin Peaks photos, Happyness photos, The Wytches photos, Spring King photos

-Augustines, with The Bots, October 3rd, 2014 – Augustines photos, The Bots photos

-X Ambassadors, September 30th, 2014 – photos

-Goldroom, with Brett, June 25th, 2014 – Goldroom photos, Brett photos

-Fanfarlo, April 23rd, 2014 – live review, photos

-Jagwar Ma, with Fascinator, December 2nd, 2013 – Jagwar Ma live review, Jagwar Ma photos, Fascinator photos

Fascinator

Rough Trade NYC

Click here for venue’s website

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