Heading Out: Headliners, Columbia’s largest non-arena live music venue, is changing hands again, with the club likely closing for good this time.

Josh Lehew, who held the business licenses for Headliners and Element Nightlife, both located at 700 Gervais St., says that The Arnold Cos., a Columbia-based commercial development firm, had been shopping the building around to clients after the lease he signed expired; Lehew says he “wasn’t willing” to re-sign the lease.

Lehew says he had contact with one potential buyer who wanted to keep Headliners intact. But the money never showed up.

“After weeks of waiting, Ben Arnold went with another tenant,” Lehew says.

That tenant: Former Carolina Panthers star Stephen Davis. Davis plans to develop the space that housed Headliners and Element, which shared a wall space on Gervais Street, into one large entertainment complex. Davis also owns Tabu, which also resides in the complex at 700 Gervais St.

From what Lehew understands, there will be live music at the venue; he says Davis plans on keeping Headliners’ recently installed and upgraded sound system.

“Whether he’s calling it Headliners or not, I’m not sure,” Lehew says.

This is the fourth time Headliners has changed hands in three years: All-In Entertainment took over the club in 2006 to prevent the cancellation of several dozen shows. Jay Beneventano took over in early 2008; a few months later, Lehew took over.

All-In Entertainment, which booked a majority of the shows at Headliners, has moved all of its offerings: Last week’s Corey Smith shows were moved to Club 1800, which will host Anberlin in November. This week’s The White Tie Affair show (see page 47) will move to the New Brookland Tavern, as will November’s NeverShoutNever show; Jillian’s takes in Halestorm in November.

No details have been released on Davis’ planned developments. But given Davis’ other clubs — Tabu and Pure Ultra Lounge on Berryhill Road — The Playlist speculates an urban music-oriented club will fill the space.

Moving In: The recent eviction of bands from the Sumter Street Storage facility has left a sizable chunk of Columbia’s musical populace without a place in which to practice its craft.
Enter The Mill. Or so Jack Beasley hopes.

The brainchild of the 26-year-old University of South Carolina graduate, Beasley had been kicking around the idea of a time-share practice space after seeing it in practice during his time in Miami. The model’s simple: Bands would rent practice rooms in The Mill for a few hours on end. Such a model is commonplace in major metropolises such as New York and Los Angeles and is used at popular Charleston practice spot The Hinge, but is untested in Columbia.

When Beasley read of the impending death of The Sheds, he knew he needed to “get [his] ass in gear.”

“I said: Why hasn’t someone done something like this in Columbia?” he says.

And even though Beasley’s yet to sign a lease on a property — though he says he’s “very close” to signing one — he already has folks beating down his door.

“The response has been overwhelming,” Beasley says. “I already have people calling me and asking, ‘Hey, when can we move in?’”

That’s perhaps because he’s built his plans with input from musicians. Beasley polled Columbia musicians on what they wanted in a practice facility. As such, The Mill plans to offer some plush amenities: two practice rooms; PA systems in each room; air-conditioning; sound dampening; storage lockers; flexible monthly and hourly rates; bathrooms; and bare-bones recording equipment for recording practices.

He’s also asked city, county and state officials for advice on how to avoid the pitfalls of The Sheds. Beasley says The Mill will be located in an area zoned for industrial, which will alleviate noise and zoning issues. He’s spoken with the Richland County Fire Marshal’s office, Mayor Bob Coble and even South Carolina State Fire Marshal John Reich.

“[Reich] loved the plan,” Beasley says. “He said, ‘This is great. My office is open. When you get some basic designs done, we’ll have our engineers look at everything and make sure you’re looking good.’”

Beasley estimates his two-room facility will be ready in roughly three months. And while his evmtual plans call for a much grander vision, Beasley says The Mill will start with just more than 1,000 square feet of space. Starting small will help the project start quickly, he says, and ensure that everything is done to the letter.

“That’s what I want to do: Do it right,” he says. “But still in a way that’s affordable to most musicians.”

Check out themillsc.com for more.


The Playlist is a discussion of life, the universe and every-thing — but mostly music. Let us know what you think: Email music@free-times.com.