The Murray Attic, a local music venue, announced its closing earlier this month after 3 ½ years of house shows due to building renovations making it impossible to host shows.
The Murray Attic has played a major role in Milwaukee’s East Side music scene since it opened for an impromptu show in December 2016. To date, the tenants have held 22 shows, representing up and coming musicians from all over the city.
A longtime resident of the house, Anthony Masanz, said that their presence on the East Side was mostly accidental. What started as using their attic to showcase their friends’ music had quickly grown to a widely recognized venue.
Photos courtesy of Mckayla Heuer
“People knew what they were getting,” Masanz said. “There’s a sense of community.”
“Every show was great,” Isaac Repinski, another resident, said, “every show was unique.”
But after years of doing shows under a hands-off landlord, the property was sold and their new owners had different plans.
While Masanz has stated that the new landlords are very professional and understanding, they have been unable to hold shows at the house. Since January, the house has been under constant renovations, focusing largely on structural damage in the attic, making their usual operation impossible.
When faced with the possibility of having to cancel shows they had already advertised and organized, other venues stepped in to offer space. Shows like their Valentine’s Day event were moved to Fat Charlie’s, another local house venue.
According to Masanz, however, all hope is not lost. With the attic closed off for the time being, the residents are looking at transforming the previously unused basement into a new showroom.
“Whatever means there is to show live music,” Masanz said, “we’re gonna do it.”
In the meantime, Masanz urges music fans to get involved with the music scene by going to other venues and supporting local artists in any way they can.