Camel wins late-night live music approval

It just needs the final approval of City Council.

October 14, 2014; 10:16 AM • by RVANews staff

Update #2 — October 14, 2014; 10:09 AM

In last night’s City Council session the council approved a request to allow the Camel to let bands play later into the evening. According to RTD the music can now play until 2:00 AM any day of the week. Previously music had to stop at 11:00 PM on weekdays (Sunday -Thursday) and 1:00 AM on weekends (Friday and Saturday). Rock on Camel, rock on.

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Update #1 — July 8, 2014; 9:18 AM

The Camel is one step closer to allowing bands to play until 2:00 AM. The City’s Planning Commission yesterday approved The Camel’s petition to allow late-night live music. All that stands in The Camel’s way is final approval from City Council.

Ned Oliver of Style Weekly has a recap of yesterday’s meeting:

Twenty supporters spoke at a public hearing, including musicians, fans and staff members at the bar and restaurant, which currently must stop music at 11 p.m. from Monday to Thursday and 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

“It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but for someone who is a professional musician, … this extra hour, I’ve seen how it can effect how much money I can make there as a business, and I’m one person,” said Adrianne Ciucci, a member of the Southern Belles, which plays shows at the venue.

Owner Rand Burgess says that the limited hours have prevented him from booking certain acts because headlining bands typically want to start their set between 11 p.m. and midnight. Earlier shows don’t bring in as much revenue, he says.

Supporters say the Camel has served as an incubator for the city’s growing music scene, and more than that is just a great place to hang out. “I don’t like seeing drunken buffoons falling all over the place,” one patron told the commission. “It’s a place where I can go have one or two beers and not feel like I’m in a room full of debauchery.”

But not everyone is on board.

Two residents and one lawyer spoke against approving the request. The primary objections came from Dan Shorkey, who owns and lives in the apartment above the tanning salon next door.

Likewise, city staff members who reviewed Burgess’ application recommended the commission deny the request. The staff members wrote that under the new rules, the Camel would qualify as a night club, a use that’s not permitted on the block under the city’s master plan.

City Council next meets on July 14th.

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Original — July 07, 2014

After nearly a year of trying to get city rules amended so that the music at The Camel can play later it looks like there will finally be a decision tonight. Currently shows at The Camel must stop by 11:00 PM Sunday through Thursday and by 1:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. The hope is to get that time changed to 2:00 AM for all seven days of the week.

Owner of The Camel Rand Burgess posted the following on the online petition that now has over 3,000 signatures in support of the change..

Seven months since we originally filed to amend our Special Use Permit we will finally get in front of the planning commission this Monday, July 7th at 1:30pm. The meeting will be held on the fifth floor of city hall.

If you are able to make it to this meeting it would be greatly appreciated. If transportation is an issue we will have a shuttle van to shuttle people down to city hall. We will be hosting lunch for any supporters which will be served at noon, with the first shuttle leaving around 1pm.

Again, I appreciate all of your support and hope to see y’all on Monday.

Have a safe and happy independence day.

Sincerely,

Rand Burgess
owner
The Camel

RTD also has a mention of the meeting.

Photo of Cardinal Compass playing The Camel by Eli Christman