Sunday, June 5, 2016
The Masquerade has been an Atlanta icon in the music scene for decades. Personally I have seen numerous shows on the multiple stages that make up Heaven, Hell and Purgatory as well as the outdoor music park attached to the outside of the property.
I have been to raves. I have seen Ween, The Geeks, Ume, Helmet, even Vanilla Ice and so many more musicians rock those four stages. I have been to foam party dance nights. I have stayed up way too late and partied way too hard. All within the confines of the historic mill building turned music venue off of North Ave.
But times are changing. With the introduction of Ponce City Market and Fourth Ward Park and the influx of apartment buildings surrounding the neighborhood, The Masquerade takes up valuable real estate. There have been rumors and innuendos for the past two years about what was to happen to the historic landmark. It was announced a while ago that the land had been sold and that the venue will be turned into another multi use project to rival PCM. But over the last week, innuendo and rumor became fact as the demo of the music park finally started. The building itself, that once held titans like Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day and the Dave Matthews Band, is protected and will be still standing as part of the new facade. The music venue promises that it’s not going anywhere and shows are still scheduled through August but what that means exactly is up in the air to the masses.
The Masquerade has been an Atlanta music staple for decades. Demo has begun on the outside music park.
The Masquerade has been an Atlanta music staple for decades. Demo has begun on the outside music park.
The Masquerade’s ticket booths off of North Ave.
Piles of rubble from the stage and out buildings in the music park part of The Masquerade.
Heavy machinery and rubble from the out buildings in the music park part of The Masquerade.
Scaffolding and fencing have been set up around the outside of The Masquerade off of N. Angier Ave.
Fencing has been set up around the outside of The Masquerade off of N. Angier Ave. Heavy machinery and the remains of the green booths that once held food, beverages and merchandise during concerts are all that remain of that section of the venue.
The remains of the green booths that once held food, beverages and merchandise during concerts are all that remain of that section of the venue.
Dirt and rubble are all that remain of the stage used as The Masquerade’s outdoor music park.
Trees and underbrush are removed at The Masquerade’s outdoor music park.