Kevin Bronson on June 21st, 2021

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The Bootleg Theater, the beloved venue on Beverly Boulevard that became known as a hub for independent music and well as the theater and dance that birthed it, is closing its doors, co-owners Jason and Alicia Adams announced today.

In its place will spring a new, still-unnamed performance space run by local owners with ties to the Los Angeles arts community but with a different vision for programming. They are tentatively planning a September launch.

The Adamses, who controlled the space at 2220 Beverly Blvd. since 2000 and built it into a vibrant home for live music, theater, dance, film and special events, said in a message on social media: “Before the pandemic hit, we had reached an impasse of irreconcilable differences with the partner we originally purchased the property with in 1999, despite our earnest efforts to purchase our partner’s share of the real estate.

“The crush of a COVID closure made the situation even more untenable for us. After resisting numerous offers to sell out the Bootleg to conglomerates such as Live Nation, we managed to keep the little-engine-that-could chugging along. It is a gut punch to us that our ultimate demise was an inside job.”

Like the Bootleg, which is a nonprofit, the new space will be home to an eclectic group of L.A. arts groups, including the Poetic Research Bureau, LA Filmforum, the Black Editions events series and the jazz/poetry project Mythscience Archives. A spokesman for the new ownership group, who asked to remain anonymous until formal plans are announced, said:

“Our intention is to continue operating the former Bootleg as a multidisciplinary performing arts venue, with an initial emphasis on music, cinema and literature. We’ll be operating a bit more like an arts cooperative than a concert hall, and hosting some long-standing L.A. concert series and arts non-profits who, like many, found themselves on precarious footing during the pandemic. We’re targeting September for our first events, which we hope to include screenings, readings and concerts.”

The Bootleg is the fourth independent music venue in central L.A. to shutter since the beginning of the pandemic, joining the Satellite, the Blue Whale and the Hi Hat.

A 1930s warehouse and former bra factory, the Bootleg was opened in the early 2000s not as a music venue but as a home to small theater. “Then we thought it would be cool to see if we could do music, too, and it became fantastic,” Alicia Adams said in a phone interview.

She pointed out that the venue was coming off a successful 2019, and thanks to PPP loans, a GoFundMe campaign and various arts grants, they were looking forward to post-pandemic life. “We just couldn’t hold on to the property any longer,” she said.

The Bootleg as a multidisciplinary nonprofit will continue. “We have grants to do more shows, which we will be doing virtually or by renting spaces,” she said.

“There is no question that the best nights of our life (so far) were spent at the Bootleg,” the outgoing owners said in their social media announcement. “Our children grew up in and around the Bootleg, meeting and learning from artists from all walks of life. At its core the Bootleg was a place of intimate celebration for the patrons and a safe space for artists to create and express themselves freely at the highest level.”

Local promoters Sid the Cat Presents joined fans and bands alike in mourning the loss of the Bootleg. “There was truly no place like it. It will be missed. But we will move forward,” they said via social media, adding “While we mourn the loss of the Bootleg Theater, it will live on in lore and legend for Sid The Cat. From the formative shows by Phoebe Bridgers and Big Thief, the illustrious gathering of songwriters for the Swamp Soiree, the 3 phenomenal years of Gxrlschool Festival and all the way up to early 2020 with the celestial Moses Sumney residency. We will cherish the memories and music that were made and celebrated in the space.”

Sid the Cat’s shows at the Bootleg figure to be moved to new venues. They encouraged followers to check back for details.