Venue of the Month-The Walnut Room
by Ryan Edwards
It’s hard to miss, but if you’ve never been there before and you’re driving down Walnut Street to find it and you’re wondering where the hell it is, don’t worry, you’ll find it. It stands out this time of year from all the other bleak buildings in that area of downtown, with a thousand Christmas lights strung all over. The Walnut Room has been one of Denver’s smaller, premiere music venues that has established a name for itself in the last seven years. At first glance, the inside looks like any bar, and with no stage to be seen, I didn’t know what all of the fuss was about. But like some scene out of the Chronicles of Narnia I was directed to a large, random black door towards the back. Once I walked through, I found a whole other world with a large stage and a concert going on. Flabbergasted, I sat down and watched the local folk/blue grass band Whiskey Tango.
Owner, John Burr, a talented musician on his own, has spent years trying to make the Walnut Room an epicenter for local musicians and music lovers to come and enjoy music of all genres from all over the country.
“This one to me is the best, one of my favorite places to play to be honest,” said Alan Brooks, A.K.A Soul Daddy, a local musician and regular at the Walnut Room.
Brooks, a native from Atlanta, has lived in Denver for six years and has played many shows at the Walnut Room. He had solid opinions when I asked him to rate the stage, staff, drink specials, and overall venue on a scale of one to ten. He gave the stage a ten, for sound, and the staff a ten as well, because they really help with the set-up. “I’ve only had a good experience,” said Brooks, speaking about the staff.
Brooks gave a nine on drink specials, and overall gave the Walnut Room a nine out of ten. “This event [open-mic night on Wednesdays] is about creating a space that makes people feel comfortable about playing music,” said Brooks.
I asked the same questions of the blues/rock band Whiskey King Coalition, an eclectic group of locals and band members from Arkansas; they’ve been playing together for the last two years, and have an out-of-state mindset on the Walnut Room. Amita Fukui, lead vocalist, rated the stage as a nine, “Top three acoustics in town,” he said, mentioning that the band members could hear each other as they played.
The staff he gave a nine and the drinking specials a seven. Overall he gave the Walnut Room a solid nine out of ten. “I’m always excited to play here, this place is great.” Fukui said.
The Walnut Room is located at 3131 Walnut St, Denver, CO, 80205
www.reverbnation.com/whiskeykingcoalition
Category: The Post
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