Live Lounge to open in Blackburn

2nd June 2009

 A NEW bar dedicated to live music in Blackburn town centre is opening at the end of May.

 The owners of Live Lounge, which will be based in the former Moist Bar, Northgate, believe the new venue could help reinvigorate town centre night life.

Paul McGurty, of Feniscowles, is one of the men behind the plan and he is confident the bar can be a success.  Mr McGurty is being joined in the venture by business partners Julian Clayton and Curtis McKenna, all of whom are involved in Little Caesar Promotions, which organises gigs across the area. 

Little Caesar has recently been running live gigs at the Hordens pub, Feniscowles, and at the Attic, Accrington, and is looking to build on this success with the new bar.

Live Lounge is scheduled to open on May 29, and Mr McGurty, who runs Atlas Alarms, Darwen, has top DJ and former Smiths drummer Mike Joyce lined up the opening weekend, as well as some other bands such as Sergeant.

He added: “The ethos is to work with hard-working local bands because they often don’t get treated well by the owners of venues.”

Blackburn town centre’s night life has seen a lot of changes in recent years with bars such as Cubes, Marley’s, Bentley’s and the Heaven and Hell night club all closing.

Recently, however, the former White Bull, Church Street, has been refurbished as Snug Club, while The Grapes, Northgate, has become the Residence.

Blakey’s is also undergoing an overhaul as it tries to compete.