Iron Horse Music Hall facts for kids
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| Address | 20 Center St. Northampton, Massachusetts United States |
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| Coordinates | 42°19′8.7″N 72°37′54″W / 42.319083°N 72.63167°W |
| Owner | Iron Horse Entertainment Group |
| Type | Club |
| Opened | February 24, 1979 |
The Iron Horse Music Hall is a popular spot for live music located in Northampton, Massachusetts. This city is west of Boston and north of Springfield, Massachusetts. The hall's motto is Music Alone Shall Live, which means music is very important there. Over the years, many different kinds of music and artists have performed at the Iron Horse. Some famous names include Richie Havens, Leo Kottke, Janis Ian, Livingston Taylor, and Tracy Chapman.
The History of the Iron Horse
The Iron Horse Music Hall first opened its doors on February 24, 1979. It was started by Jordi Herold and John Riley. Back then, it was a cozy cafe with 85 seats.
In the early years, music was a nice extra, not the main focus. Live music was usually classical chamber music (small groups of classical musicians), jazz, or folk music. Most of the performers were local artists from the area.
The club started to become more well-known when national acts like Dave Van Ronk and the Heath Brothers played there in its first year.
Growing into a Music Hub
By 1982, the Iron Horse was regularly hosting musical performers. Many of these artists were already famous or getting great reviews. Some musicians who became very well-known later on performed at the Iron Horse when they were just starting out. These include Suzanne Vega, Stanley Jordan, George Winston, Michelle Shocked, Tracy Chapman, Dar Williams, and local artist Sonya Kitchell. Even comedian Steven Wright performed there before he became famous!
The Iron Horse has also welcomed many legendary artists. These include reggae group Toots & the Maytals, pop-rock star John Mayer, and amazing guitarist Jorma Kaukonen from Jefferson Airplane. Other notable performers include jazz pianist Cecil Taylor, blues legend Taj Mahal, and alternative-rock band They Might Be Giants. Children's musician Mister G and rapper George Watsky have also played at the hall.
The Iron Horse closed for a short time in the 1990s, but it soon reopened its doors to music lovers.
What's Happening Now
Today, the Iron Horse Music Hall is still a busy place for live music. You can also enjoy food and drinks while you watch the shows. The Iron Horse Entertainment Group owns and manages the music hall, making sure it continues to be a great spot for artists and fans.
