What a year!

Our first year in business exceeded even our expectations. Big Sam’s Funky Nation passed the baton on NYE ’07/’08 being the last band to play Lion’s Den and first band to play Sullivan Hall. Then about 15 hours lafter on our opening night, we were very lucky to host a very special evening with SF’s Tea Leaf Green and NYC’s U-Melt. We kept up the momentum in January with an incredible 5-night residency with piano phenom Marco Benevento featuring many other standout musicians that performed with him including Duo partner Joe Russo, MMW’s Billy Martin, Kaki King, Sonya Kitchell, all 3 members of The Slip, Galactic’s Stanton Moore, and many more. This quickly helped establish Sullivan Hall as one of the premier music venues in the city.

We also hosted many other incredible bands and performers including American Babies, Anders Osborne, Australia’s Blue King Brown, Bonerama, Charlie Hunter, Christian Scott, SF’s The Devil Makes Three, DJ Logic, Lee Scratch Perry’s backing band Dub Is A Weapon, The Dynamites feat. Charles Walker, English Beat, EOTO feat. Travis and Jason of String Cheese Incident, Eric Lindell, 2 very sold out night’s with moe. side project Ha Ha The Moose, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes, 2 nights of Lettuce, Marc Ribot!!!, Mocean Worker, Mos Def, 3 shows with The New Mastersounds, Reid Genauer, Ryan Montbleau Band, Skerik, SOJA , Steven Bernstein, Theresa Andersson…

Warren Haynes appeared on our stage twice this year, with the Lee Boys and Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk. The Lee Boys played the venue 3x, including once this month after an appearance on the Conan O’Brien show. Eric Krasno of Soulive and Lettuce probably appeared on our stage more than anyone else, with 2 nights of Lettuce, one night of Dr. Claw, one night of Chapter 2, and sit-ins with the Lee Boys, Ivan Neville, Big Sam’s Funky Nation and more. Derek Trucks sat in with Eric Krasno & Chapter 2, and Matisyahu sat in with DC reggae-favorites SOJA.

We’ll close out 2008 with 2 nights of one of our favorite’s: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue!

2009 is getting off to an incredible start with performers like the return of Big Sam, Chris Michetti and Jay Burwick of RAQ, Christian Scott, Joe Russo Quartet, John Boutte w/ Paul Sanchez, Jonathan Batiste, K3 feat. Krantz Carlock and Lefebvre, Kirk Joseph’s Backyard Groove w/ Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Robert Glasper, Sarah Morrow, Toshi Reagon, Will Calhoun. Look for many more exciting announcements to come!

We want to thank all of the fans, performers, agents, managers, and other Sullivan Hall supporters for a great year! Thank you.

Sullivan Hall