Rock Reborn: Downtown Tucson Theaters Receive Federal Grants and Reopen with Plenty of Live Music | Music function
Downtown Rialto and Fox theaters have received large grants from federal government aid programs and will soon reopen with a number of shows on the horizon. The Fox received a Shuttered Venue Operator’s Grant of $ 1,448,389 from the Small Business Administration program.
“Having just revealed our return to the Fox 2021-2022 season of 50+ shows, this comes at a time when long-awaited relief is desperately needed,” said Bonnie Schock, Executive Director of the Fox Tucson Theater. “With our first live appearance since March 2020, just months away, these funds allow us to boldly move toward full recovery and a triumphant return to the Fox.”
Congressman Raul Grijalva cheered the news.
“Live venues are an integral part of Tucson’s vibrant culture and economy, and I am delighted that the SBA has finally awarded the Fox Theater an SVOG grant,” said Grijalva in a prepared statement. “The need for this funding has been clear for some time, and that’s why I pushed so much for this program from the start. I am delighted that the results are bearing fruit and that our local businesses are getting the help they need and deserve. With the funding provided by Congress, they can now hire, book talent, start marketing and eventually get back up and running stronger than before. Our small venues have waited long enough for relief and I will continue to fight for all the resources they need to ensure a full economic recovery from the pandemic. “
The Rialto was also approved for a scholarship, although the director of the Rialto Theater Cathy Rivers refused to give the exact amount. Rivers said the Rialto “got enough to repay our creditors, hire staff, fix things and open the theater”.
The grants come after an initial disastrous rollout of the program in April when a rush to file applications from venue owners crashed the online system. The SBA reported that as of July 12, the agency had granted 6,610 grants totaling $ 5 billion, with an average grant of $ 758,000. A total of $ 3.3 billion was paid out. In Arizona, the SBA had awarded just under $ 118 million in grants.
The venues were eligible for grants based on 45% of the organization’s 2019 revenue, and the funds can be used for business expenses since March 2020 and to cover expenses through the end of this year.
Both Fox and Rialto have already started booking shows for the coming year.
The Fox program includes The Mavericks on August 19th, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on September 11th, Chris Issak on September 25th, Rickie Lee Jones on September 26th, Pat Metheny with James Francies & Joe Dyson on October 5th, Sleeping around the Wheel on October 8th, Amy Grant on October 24th, Paula Poundstone on October 28th, Atlanta Rhythm Section and Firefall on November 5th, Tommy Emmanuel on November 6th, and Boney James on November 7th.
The Rialto will host an amateur kickboxing event, Rise of the Prospects, featuring local fighters on July 31st, before an 18+ DJ-based Electric Feels dance party on Friday August 6th and Saturday August , hosting a Gasolina reggaeton dance party 7. Live music returns with Andrew Schulz on Wednesday August 18, followed by Amigo the Devil on Friday August 20. On Saturday, August 21st, the Rialto will be hosting Dia de las Luchas, a wrestling extravaganza that will also feature Los Nawdy Dogs. Neko Case will perform on Monday, August 23; the Flaming Lips are scheduled for Tuesday, August 24th; Old Blind Dogs play Friday September 4th; Gogol Bordello returns on Saturday 4th September; Modest Mouse is coming to town on Monday, September 20; Jack Russell’s Great White is scheduled for Friday, September 24th; and hometown favorite Calexico will perform on Saturday September 25th.
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The Rialto will also reopen its sister venue 191 Toole, with performances by Ramirez (August 3), Your Money’s Worth (August 7), Miss Olivia and the Interlopers (August 14), Black Joe Lewis and Lewis the Honey Bears ( August 20), Sian (August 21), Nanpa Básico (August 27) and the residents (September 14).
For more information about these shows and more, please visit rialtotheatre.com and foxtucson.com.
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