Pat MacIntyre, the owner of Calgary's favourite Roots (& more) music venue is looking kinda like Merle these days - Haggard that is - but inside he's positively beaming!
Pat recently gave me a tour of the NEW Ironwood Stage & Grill which should be open fairly soon. The popular club is staying in Inglewood, but is moving a couple of blocks west into the Historic Garry Theatre location.
It's a distinctive building on the outside, & as you walk in you'll be able to order some food & drink without going any farther into the club. Obviously that just won't do for most NIGHT MIX listeners as you'll be wanting to head into the main part of the historic theatre to catch whoever is playing there. BUT... you'll always be able to grab a bite and a drink if you're just passing by.
Being the shrewd business guy that he is, Pat has managed to gather bits and pieces from some of Calgarys past music venues, and from the theatre itself, that will adorn various parts of the club. He's also an avid auction-goer and evidently has the stacked garage to prove it.
Music is THE THING at The Ironwood though, & there will be no recycling or bargain-hunting there. Not being a tech-gal myself, the make & model number etc of the yet-to-be-installed brand new sound system went in one ear and out the other, but the room already feels warm and fuzzy. Add in the new capacity of about 200 bodies, a great looking (& pretty inviting) bar and... you get the picture.
Watch for the grand opening of The Ironwood Stage & Grill in the Historic Garry Theatre. If all goes to Pat's plan, if you're at the current location on closing night you will be asked to pick up your chair and carry it down the street and be one of the first patrons of the NEW location. Not many times you can say you did that!
