State Theatre plans live, virtual concert

Five months after they – and every other music venue in the state – were forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kalamazoo State Theatre has been exploring ways of bringing music back to town.

On Thursday, they’ll show off that effort with a live-streamed concert by nationally-known folk-rock band the Michigan Rattlers.

It’s the first live, paid event the venue will have held since March 7. Tickets are $10 or $30 with a shirt and signed poster.

Harry Phillips is the marketing director for the State Theatre. He said the pandemic didn’t stop the theater’s need to pay rent and other bills.

“We’re in probably the toughest position of all of the businesses out there by the category we’re put in,” he said in an interview with MLive, “because live performance venues have the most strict restrictions as far as how many people you can have in the venue at a time.”

The theater is still hoping to welcome real audiences again in the near future. The current plans are to reopen in two months pending a green light from state officials.

In the meantime, there may be other virtual shows on the horizon. The theater has held events featuring regional and local musicians over the past few months.

You can see more information and buy tickets here.

You can read more at MLive.