A slew of concerts that had been booked for Blueberry Hill’s Duck Room this summer and fall have relocated to other venues around town, even as the people involved aren’t saying much about why.
Garage-rock outfit The Breakdowns were to play the Duck Room two Saturdays ago, followed by rockers Southern Culture on the Skids performing this past Thursday. But those shows were moved to The Golden Record (2720 Cherokee) and Off Broadway (3509 Lemp), respectively. The announcement of the moves cited only “unforeseen circumstances.”
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At least nine other Duck Room shows have moved venues and dozens of others appear to be either cancelled or in the process of being rebooked—including some with dates as distant as October. The only concert currently on the venue’s calendar is a night of music on July 17 hosted by The Charlie Berry Project, a band fronted by Chuck Berry’s grandson.
A representative from Consort Productions, who had been booking The Duck Room, declined comment.
Julie Lally, a spokesperson for owner Joe Edwards, says that Edwards has indicated The Duck Room space is being renovated with a new lighting system, a new bar made of walnut, and new blue paint on the walls. The venue “will reopen in a few weeks when the project is done,” she says, adding, “In the meantime bands are encouraged to send their info over for booking consideration.”
However, when asked why shows as far away as October have moved venues if the space will reopen in a few weeks, Lally said she wasn’t sure. “Maybe they just moved everything for a clean slate in anticipation? Sorry wish I had more info,” she texted.
The Duck Room has occupied the basement of Blueberry Hill since 1997 (the restaurant opened in 1972). The room has a capacity of 340, and as Edwards tells it, was directly inspired by rock-and-roll legend Chuck Berry, who played its first show. “One night in 1996, he was reminiscing about the smaller clubs he used to play when he was just starting out and how much he would love to play an intimate club again in contrast to large stadiums,” Edwards recalled in a story posted to Blueberry Hill’s website. “There was a split-second pause. We looked at each other and said, ‘Let’s do it.’” The venue was named after Berry’s famous duck walk, and Berry played opening night, ultimately playing 209 consecutive monthly shows. The last show Berry ever played, the week he turned 88, was at The Duck Room.
But Edwards, who once owned most of the Loop, has offloaded quite a few properties in recent years. In 2021, he sold the Tivoli Theatre to a church; two years later, he sold six buildings to Washington University, including the home of Pin-Up Bowl (which he continues to operate). In January, his Peacock Diner closed.
Nashville-based pop rock trio Winona Fighter was slated to play The Duck Room tonight. That show is now happening at the Old Rock House.
