The651.com

The local music scene was all a-twitter this weekend due to the impromptu closing of the Turf Club right before a big show. But on Sunday, details emerged from Turf Club owner Tom Scanlon that the bar is simply changing management. 15-year Turf vet and now former manager Dave Wiegardt had a heavy hand in turning the Midway bar

photo from turfclub.net

into one Twin Cities most iconic music venues (even Lady Gaga stopped in when she was in town!) Reasons behind Wirgardt’s departure were not officially released, but word has it that a number of other staffers were let go as well to make way for a “new direction.” Taking the reigns when the club re-opens on January 11th is Josh James, a long-time Turf employee.

In an interview with City Pages’ music editor, Andrea Swensson today, James assured the local music community that the club will remain a mainstay for local music, and while changes are afoot, that the Turf we know and love is not going anywhere. Hopefully his words ring true and the beloved venue is spared from too many huge changes.

One sad development that is already in motion is the announcement that the club will now be closed on Sundays and Mondays, displacing longtime Turf staples like the monthly Riot Act Reading Series and the weekly 12-year-running jam session, Jazz Implosion.
Re-booking of displaced shows is currently being hashed out. Most notably, next Saturday’s big MC/VL goodbye show, which was re-booked today at the 501 Club for Saturday, January 8th, which ironically is the same date the Minneapolis music haven is set to close its own doors.

Read more about the Turf’s temporary closing on City Pages here; read Andrea Swensson’s interview with new manager Josh James here.