In late May, Jai Alai IPA, the flagship beer from Cigar City Brewing debuted the Raise The Stage series in partnership with the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA). Each episode will focus on a particular club through the lens of a renowned musician as well as someone connected with the venue. In the first Raise The Stage video Marco Benevento and Karina Rykman shared their thoughts on the Bearsville Theater with the venue’s Director of Operations Jenn Glickman.

The second installment of Raise the Stage moves to Ardmore, PA and the Ardmore Music Hall. The Ardmore is an independent venue located three miles west of Philadelphia on the Main Line where it has been owned and booked by Chris Perella since 2014. The room has hosted rock club for over 40 years, first as 23 East Cabaret (1980-1994), then Brownies 23 East (1995-2012) before becoming Ardmore Music Hall in 2013.

In the video, Perella shares his perspective as a live music fan who attended shows at the venue during its Brownies 23 East days.

Tom Hamilton, who is in conversation with WXPN Music Director Dan Reed, observes, “Once it gets to the point where there’s 20 feet between you and the crowd, it’s a different sport. What you can do in a room like this, that’s a magic trick…because it’s independent there’s not a corporate feel. You come to Ardmore, everybody’s pushing the rock in the same direction…This a place people come to make art and to digest and be part of the community.”

Photos in video: Alyssa Kriner