Lansdale Music Factory Kicking Out the Jams

The arts and music venue opened in the old PEAK Center location on West Main Street in Lansdale in April. It is owned by Rocky Dean and Cathy Griffo, owners of The Attic secondhand store on the same block.

While Lansdale Borough works toward reviving a former arts center at 311 W. Main St., an arts and music revival is already underway next door at the former PEAK Center location. The Griffo family has pressed play on the Lansdale Music Factory at 315 W. Main St. and, so far, what it offers is music to the public's ears. A stroll through the doors at Lansdale Music Factory—located between 311 W. Main St. and the Dresher Arcade—shows off everything for the local music fan: an agenda of upcoming concerts, a room stuffed with vinyl and CDs, and a stage with cafe. Even the hallway leading from the lobby to the theater is lined with vinyl.  Unfortunately, the vintage 1983 Atari "Star Wars" arcade coin-op in the back is not working right now. …

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Two Murals Set for Lansdale Mural Arts Program

The facades of McQuillin Studio at Main and Broad streets and Tabora Farms next to Railroad Plaza will be the first locations for future murals in Lansdale. The mural arts program was the talk of Lansdale's town hall session Tuesday.

Artists will soon paint the town red. And blue. And yellow. And possibly any other color under the sun. The owners of two buildings on West Main Street in Lansdale—Joe and Patricia McQuillin, owners of 1 W. Main St.,  and William and Dorothy Ross, owners of 209 W. Main St.—have signed on to work in conjunction with the Lansdale Mural Arts Program to host the first two murals in town. The murals are proposed to be painted on the side of McQuillin Studios at Main and Broad streets, and on the side of Tabora Cafe, next to Railroad Plaza. The first mural has a completion date of August 2013. The Lansdale Mural Arts Program was the talk of the town hall meeting in Lansdale on Tuesday night.  Lansdale Business Association President and town hall…

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Ladder Devils, Carved Up Rock Siren Records

Philadelphia brutalcore band Ladder Devils played a small show in Doylestown Saturday night with Carved Up, Psychic Teens and Heathen Reign.

It was a unique music experience Saturday night inside Siren Records in Doylestown, when four local bands played a small show inside the store.  On the bill were Ladder Devils, from Philadelphia; Psychic Teens, from Philadelphia; Heathen Reign, from Philadelphia; and Carved Up, from Doylestown. Ladder Devils are signed to Brutal Panda Records. Psychic Teens are on the Golden Voyage Records label. Heathen Reign is comprised of members of Creepoid, Transistor Transistor, Orchid, Distress Signal, KTMWQ and BrainDead. Carved Up recently recently its album "Lights Out."

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Women Against Abuse Benefit Show Tonight

The concert at the Lansdale VFW on Second Street features Hysterian, Bottomfeeder, Steel Nation and Knuckle Up. Pay $10 at the door.

Get This Right Records in Lansdale hosts a benefit show at 7 p.m. at the Lansdale VFW for nonprofit agency Women Against Abuse. Women Against Abuse provides comprehensive services for victims of domestic violence in the Philadelphia and surrounding region. The show features bands Bottomfeeder, Hysterian, Knuckle Up and Steel Nation. Entry fee is $10 at the door, and $8 before 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Lansdale VFW is at 805 W. Second St., Lansdale.

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Discover Lansdale Wants You for First Friday

The Lansdale nonprofit organization invited businesses and nonprofits to a First Friday kickoff event Monday night, where individuals learned the benefits of boosting their commerce and awareness through vending and sponsoring First Fridays

First Friday comes back to Lansdale in April — and the Lansdale nonprofit Discover Lansdale wants you. On Monday night at the Lansdale Parks and Recreation Building, Discover Lansdale held a First Friday kickoff and informational session for business owners and nonprofits interested in becoming vendors or sponsors at the monthly seasonal event, which runs through December. Food and refreshments were provided by Margarita's Restaurant, Molly Maguire's, Shell.Fish.Sue, Tabora Farms, Virago Baking Co., Not Just Sandwiches, Main Street Pizzeria, Zeigler's and Round Guys Brewery. "You all came to hear the answer to the question posed on the invite: How can Lansdale First Friday help grow your business or organization?" said Discover Lansdale …

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Horns of Hanukkah Premiere at Menorah Lighting

The brass ensemble will add some flair to Lansdale's annual Menorah lighting at Railroad Plaza

It was the inspiration of one fantastic musical event in Lansdale that lead to the creation of a brand new one, set to premiere Saturday evening. "When the Montgomery County Concert Band brought TubaChristmas to Lansdale, which is a national thing, I turned to a fellow horn layer and said, 'Let's do Horns of Hanukkah.' That was 12 years ago," said Lansdale resident and Montgomery County Concert Band member Kim Newell. "This year, we have a new guy in the band, Neil Goldberg, and he said, 'We're doing it. We keep talking about it, we're doing it.' Diane Frank made a logo. We are working on music and we have our inaugural performance tonight," Newell said. Horns of Hanukkah will play Hanukkah songs at 6 p.m., prior to the 6:30 p.m. …

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Local Halloween Show Resurrects for Sixth-Straight Year

"The Graveyard Smash" is a free concert and promotion by West Point resident and promoter Derek Calhoun of Lansdale Local Productions

There's another maelstrom about to blow into town, and it's not Sandra. "The Graveyard Smash" returns to Lansdale for the sixth year tonight, complete with some familiar names and some odd debuts. This year's show is in the upstairs ballroom of Third and Walnut Lounge. The event is promoted by Lansdale Local. You must be 21 or older to enter — and there's no smoking. And it's free Check out more at its public Facebook event listing. The night of mayhem and drunken-costumed debauchery begins with Allentown punks The American Myth at 7 p.m. Touring Detroit punk The Handme Downs follows at 7:30 p.m. Local favorite Friends With Murder bring their depraved "Lansdale thunderstomp" to Third and Walnut at 8 p.m. If you love pro wrestling entrance …

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311 W. Main Renovation Moves Ahead in 6-3 Vote

Council accepted the recommendation from the 311 W. Main Task Force to move toward a single phase of construction, as long as specific criteria are met

Renovation of the eyesore at 311 W. Main St. in Lansdale is a go. After 90 minutes of presentations and civil discussions, Lansdale Borough Council Wednesday night voted 6-3 toapprove the recommendation from the 311 W. Main Task Force to pursue the framework for the vision of renovating the former arts center in one complete, full phase into a mixed-use arts and cultural center. However, along the way, council must seek the guidance of an architect and arts consultant to fulfill other specific requirements of the recommendation, such as: Borough Manager Timi Kirchner revealed Wednesday that the borough will have a dedicated county grant writer aiding in its process. The vote last night did not commit Lansdale Borough to spending any money …

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Letter to the Editor

Mayor: 311 W. Main Focus Should Be Arts, Not Building

Lansdale Mayor Andy Szekely disagrees with 311 W. Main recommendation in a letter to the editor

Dear Lansdale Resident: As Wednesday’s Council meeting approaches, there is a motion on the agenda to recommend the acceptance of the 311 Task Force’s recommendation to move forward with a single phase renovation of the building. While I support the arts and I am in favor of some sort of venue for the arts in Lansdale, I am writing this letter stating my disagreement with the single phase proposal put forth by the 311 Task Force for the following reasons: There is a desire to further rehabilitate 311 West Main Street into an arts center, which is admirable, but I firmly believe—as do the most experienced members of the Task Force INCLUDING THE CONSULTANT — that a PHASED, CONSERVATIVE, ORGANIC, GRASSROOTS approach to rehabilitating 311 West…

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Denton Burnell

10:13 am on Friday, October 19, 2012

Thanks Drew -- I did feel as the night wore on that we were tilting at windmills a bit, since my sentiments above are exactly what we've tried to convey. I recognize that there is a difference of opinion on whether we should plan based on a partial vs. complete renovation, but the assurances above remain intact from my perspective.   more ›