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Independent live music and event venue Parish will be moving for the second time in five years, business officials said in a statement on their website. Parish officials said they are looking to land a new location by the end of this year.
Shows will continue at the downtown location through summer and fall 2025, staff said.
What's happening
Parish staff said the move is due to high costs and financial strain from the venue.
“The rent is fair for the building and the neighborhood, but it’s too much for a small independent music venue like us to break even,” Parish officials said.
Ticket costs usually go to bands and performing acts, so the venue has to cover costs with profit from the bar, according to the business’s statement. In the statement, Parish said that while they could raise prices to cover costs, it goes against their mission of supporting the community at an accessible price.
Quote of note
“Independent venues matter,” Parish staff said in a statement. “They are the coral reef of the creative ecosystem that nurtures every artist at the beginning of their professional careers. They are also what makes Austin the Live Music Capital of the World. They are a platform for all the alt, weird, new, and interesting culture that isn’t supported by the mainstream, or at least not yet.”
Also of note
Last year, the Parish management team was able to complete the purchase of Parish’s sister venue, Empire Control Room and Garage, through a standard interest-rate mortgage through Rally Austin.
“We’re grateful for this every day, because we don’t have to worry about moving,” Parish officials said.
