Large Brighton music venue hopes to open in March

The Bowery Presents, which runs the Sinclair, said today it hopes to open its 3,500-person Roadrunner on Guest Street in New Balance's Boston Landing complex by March. In fact, it's already selling tickets for shows starting March 17.

The company went before the Mayor's Office of Consumer Affairs and Licensing today to seek the entertainment license it needs to start hosting performances and booking the facility for private events. Company attorney Kristen Scanlon said it hopes to obtain its certificate of occupancy from ISD by the end of the month for the venue, which will be Boston's largest general-admission music hall.

Roadrunner - yes, named for the Jonathan Richman song - will collect 25 cents from every ticket sale for the Shout Syndicate, a Boston-based youth arts program. Scanlon said the venue hopes to work with local musicians as well.

Roadrunner is seeking a 2 a.m. license. Josh Bhatti, The Bower Presents vice president, said most shows will likely get out by 11 p.m., but added that the later time will let the venue host a New Year's party as well as private events that might go later in the evening. Allison Finney, who will oversee Roadrunner on a day-to-day basis, previously worked as general manager at the House of Blues.

Scanlon said the company went to great lengths to ensure not only top-quality sound inside, but minimal sound outside. Three separate sound consultants came up with a system that involves two layers of drywall everywhee, sound-insulating doors, large air gaps everywhere and a suspended ceiling. The air gaps and the suspended ceiling are designed to keep vibration inside the structure, and since "sound is vibration," that should minimize any escaping sound, she said.

At today's hearing, the proposal was praised by aides to City Councilor Liz Breadon and Kevin Honan, both for expanding Allston/Brighton's music scene at a time when numerous venues and practice facilities have shut or are closing because of Covid-19 or development, and for bringing even more life to the growing small-business area surrounding Boston Landing. Owners of several nearby businesses agreed.