On the third floor of the Decatur Area Arts Council, there’s
an all-purpose space that is used for various events such as ballroom dance
classes, graduation parties, Municipal Band rehearsals, and a lot more. But
every so often, this space transforms into a live music venue we like to call THE
LOFT. The Loft is a DIY music venue focusing on highlighting original musical
artists from the Decatur area and beyond. The origins and goals of The Loft
aren’t unlike many other artistic driven endeavors, but the format of The
Loft’s events may come off as a bit unorthodox.
The seed idea for The Loft came after traveling around the
Midwest, seeing various shows in some rather interesting places. Of course,
when you travel to places and experience new things, there’s always the thought
of, “Man, I wish we had this in Decatur!” That thought lingered on a bit longer
than usual. There were some conversations amongst like-minded individuals in
town about the prospects of starting a new venue and what that would entail. I
even took my dog for a walk downtown to look at various properties just to
daydream what they would look like as a space for live music. Not long after, I
had that rare lightbulb moment. What about the Decatur Area Arts Council? I
already operate a recording and teaching studio inside the Madden Arts Center
called Zo Audio. I walk off the elevator onto the third floor nearly every day
and somehow never thought to ask about the possibilities of holding shows
there. After conversations with Jerry Johnson, Executive Director of the Arts
Council, we got the ball rolling on our first event.
The format for The Loft might come off as a little different
from a typical show you might see in establishments in the area. Our shows
usually feature three acts with full PA and lights. That’s not all that
different. What is different is we operate entirely off donations. Each show has
a suggested donation of $10. If times are a bit hard and that’s a steep cover,
give what you can. We still want you here, regardless. If you want to throw in
a bit more to help support The Loft and the bands playing that evening, you’re
a treasure and we love you. Another difference you may notice is we operate on
BYOB rules. You can bring your own beverages! We do have a BYOB bartender on
hand to keep an eye out on what you bring. We’ll tag it and set it back so you
don’t have to carry around your drinks all evening. We also keep some ice,
soda, and water on hand just in case. While you’re gearing up for a full night
of music by the area’s finest musicians, you can also walk through the room and
notice we often have physical art on display and for sale by local artists. You
can pick up prints, jewelry, sculptures, paintings, and various other things
depending on the night. We’ve even been known to have live painters and on-site
screen printing while the bands are plowing through their sets.
The overall goal is simple. We just want more cool stuff in
Decatur. As a musician and appreciator of the arts, I really wanted someone to
start up something that features our deep well of talent here in Decatur and
the rest of Central Illinois. With the help of friends and the support of the
community, The Loft will thrive. It is a true DIY, grassroots movement. While
The Loft is doing its thing, I hope it inspires others to get involved with
things they want in the community or things that are already happening in the
community.
The Loft is currently looking forward to booking 2023’s
season. We hope to see you up here for a show soon! Come experience something
just a little bit different and support the arts!
Follow The Loft on Facebook.
Braun Sheets - Director of The Loft, Events & Marketing Coordinator for Decatur Area Arts Council
