The Back Room lives!

"The Great Recession, and then the pandemic, did in some of the last holdouts. But not Berkeley's Back Room, which celebrates its 10-year anniversary this month. The Back Room's survival is due to the passion of its founder, Sam Rudin, the musicians who love it and come back time after time to play there, and the commitment of audience members who know the experiences they have there are truly memorable."

"I didn't like playing at bars. So, I thought, 'What if I put something together?' He envisioned an intimate venue where audiences came to hear the music. Luckily, he said, he had been very successful as a piano teacher and had amassed enough of a fund to at least give it a go."

"In 2014, his real estate agent called and said the building was still vacant, and the asking rent had dropped. He gulped a little-and signed a 10-year lease. On April 16, 2016, The Back Room opened, a cozy, 100-person, welcoming space filled with thrift-store couches and a 'musician's musician' vibe."

The Back Room in Berkeley marks its 10-year anniversary, surviving challenges that led to the decline of many small music venues. Founder Sam Rudin, a passionate musician, created the venue to provide an intimate space for music lovers. After struggling to find a suitable location, he signed a lease in 2014 for a cozy venue that accommodates 100 people. The Back Room features eclectic music bookings and has become a cherished spot for both musicians and audiences, fostering memorable experiences in a welcoming environment.

Read at East Bay Express | Oakland, Berkeley & Alameda