Bradfordville Blues Club hopes to reopen in July

Kati Schardl | Democrat correspondent

Show Caption Hide Caption Bradfordville Blues Club: 'Wounded hearts' as Alberto damages club Gary Anton talks about finding his club after a 250-year-old oak crashed through the roof

We could all use some glad tidings and good news right about now, so allow me to update you folks on the phoenix-like rise of Bradfordville Blues Club from the rubble left when half a massive live oak smashed down on the roof during Tropical Storm Alberto.

In fact, I’ll let Gary Anton, grand impresario, proprietor and master of revels at BBC, tell you himself:

“Most of the debris has been cleaned up thanks to platoons of volunteers (with Subway via Mike Lanigan and Blu Halo providing food [and] customers providing desserts and adult beverages we can't sell at the club). Repair materials for the roof are on site with major repairs starting this week if the weather and Murphy's Law permit. We are not going to change anything about the building or interior — it wouldn't be fittin'!

"However, we plan to add central air and heat (but leave up the oldest and dirtiest AC's for ambiance), upgrade to a digital sound system with upgraded speakers throughout, paint and clean the bathrooms, clean, fix and stain the floors, repair Ms. Ernestine's fry shack, and fix the roads.

“We'll break a case of beer, smoke a box of cigars and scratch up the walls to keep the juke joint fragrance and appearance. We've rejected suggestions to expand, to leave the roof trusses open (and) enlarge the stage, to add stained glass windows, ferns, brass (and) TVs, and to tear down the club, disassemble The Warehouse and reassemble it at the (site). Hey, it's a juke!

“Unfortunately, the remaining part of the big oak must come down; however, we met with (chainsaw artist) John Birch about sculpture possibilities with the trunk or some of the tree remnants.

“We hope to reopen sometime in July.”

More: A tree through the roof, a near miss, and a scary lesson for life in tree town Tallahassee

More: Even 'minor' storms can cause major hassle | Our opinion

Anton said that response to a GoFundMe appeal exceeded its goal of $25,000 and that the response has been so generous that he has turned down offers to host benefit concerts at The Junction at Monroe, Northside Stage, All Saints Culture Club, The Edison, Goodwood Museum & Gardens and Skippers Smokehouse in Tampa.

“That says a whole lot about our local venues,” he said.

“(Wife) Kim and I can't say enough about the response from and support of the Tallahassee community — from individuals to businesses to volunteers, and to the local and national music and blues communities,” Anton said. “We are excited and re-energized!”

There will be one big benefit July 7 at The Moon, where folks can gather to celebrate the club’s new lease on life and party down with fellow volunteers, contributors and well-wishers. Performers will include some BBC favorites and musicians that got their starts on the tiny corner stage — Rick Lollar, Johnnie Marshall, Brett Wellman & the Stone Cold Blues Band, the Frank Jones Band and Revival. Mural artist Kollet Nichole Probst will work her magic live onstage on a piece that will be auctioned. Admission is $10. Stay tuned for more details as the date approaches.