As the pandemic dims the light of yet another once-brimming business, live music venue Route 196 sets the date of its swan song on September 12 through an online concert. This comes after its heart-rending announcement that, after almost 15 years of giving unsung musical talents a home, it will close its doors to their Katipunan customers for good. regular
Route 196 bowed to the grim circumstances, and so local artists and home-grown musicians bowed back, but in gratitude to the venue for being a setting where great local acts and even greater independent music fans can co-mingle and find themselves. Musicians like Ebe Dancel, Moira Dela Torre, Blaster Silonga, Raymund Marasigan, Cheats vocalist Saab Magalona, Autotelic, Lola Amour, and December Avenue took to Twitter to express their grief over the venue’s closing. Independent event photographers, gig producers, gig poster artists, and of course, long-time patrons also shared their fond memories inside the modest space along Katipunan Extension with the hashtags #ThankYouRoute196 and #AllRoadsLeadToRoute.
To give its loyal fans something to remember them by, Route 196 also put up the Farewell T-Shirt for sale. Designed by Rob Cham, the memorabilia costs PhP850 a piece and is available through https://www.manilatakeout.com.
Indeed, Route 196’s exit is a punch to the gut and speaks volumes about what the pandemic has so far done to the live music business.
Here’s hoping that Route 196 comes back in another shape, time, or setting and that everyone who has ever reveled under its roof come together for its encore on September 12.
What was the last act you managed to catch in Route 196? One For The Road: Route 196 bows, sets the date for its final send-off show
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