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Agora Ballroom, West Hartford Music Hall CT
The Agora Ballroom located at 165 Dexter Avenue in West Hartford, CT, was a popular concert venue in the 1970s and 1980s and had a capacity of 1,500 1, 2. The building was originally a typewriter warehouse and was built on top of a landfill. It was later converted into a concert hall but after the building began settling into the landfill, causing the lanes to warp when it was a bowling alley 1, 4. The Agora Ballroom was a warehouse-style room that could hold approximately upto 1,500 people 4, 5.
It had two stages: one at the long end for bigger shows and one on the side in the opposite corner for smaller shows. The room would be half closed off where the larger stage sat for smaller shows. There was also a loft that bisected the room, which was likely used by the lighting crew and some privileged guests 4.
Over the years, the venue has been known by various names, including the Columbia Music Hall, Hard Rock Cafe (not the chain), Stage West, and West Hartford Agora 2, 17. . Despite its humble beginnings, the Agora Ballroom hosted a number of notable acts, including Talking Heads, Elvis Costello & The Attractions, The Clash, and many others 1, 2, 12, 14.
The venue was part of a larger chain of Agora venues, with the most notable one being in Cleveland, OH 1, 13. The West Hartford Agora was known for its large parking lot which could accommodate up to 900 cars and suitable for pre-show tailgating, and the drinking age in Connecticut did not increase to 21 until late 1985, which contributed to the venue's vibrant atmosphere 1.
The Agora Ballroom's concert history includes performances by notable bands such as R.E.M., who played there on July 20, 1984, during their Reckoning Tour 3. The venue has been referred to by various names over the years, including Columbia Music Hall, Hard Rock Cafe (not the chain), Stage West, West Hartford Agora, and others 8, 16.
The building that housed the Agora Ballroom was constructed in 1963 on top of an abandoned town landfill, which sometimes resulted in the smell of methane wafting into the club 10 . Despite its industrial setting and occasional odor issues, the venue was cherished by many for the music and memories it provided. The venue has been closed for nearly two decades and was deemed too decrepit to be renovated, with plans for demolition 17. Today, the Agora Ballroom no longer exists. The site is now home to Agora Recycled Materials, and the building that once housed the concert venue has been demolished
The Agora Ballroom's legacy is remembered by many, including musicians and fans who experienced the venue's unique atmosphere and the wide range of musical talent it showcased 1, 10.
Links
Stage West - Agora Ballroom - West Hartford Music Hall Connecticut Pre-Demolition - YouTube
Agora Theatre and Ballroom - Wikipedia
Agora Ballroom | The Music Museum of New England
Jerry's Brokendown Palaces: Agora, 165 Dexter Ave., West Hartford, CT (Archive PDF),
and Wiki places
Husker Du at the Agora
Jerry's broken down palaces | Youtube
"We're The Clash. And we're from London, England"
Hi - Fabulous site! Wanted to chime in on the question around the Sunday, August 29, 1982 show at The Agora Ballroom in West Hartford, CT and confirm that they did indeed play there that night as Tom says. I was there too.
The Agora capacity was about 6,000 - 6,500 or so and it was packed to the gills. I'm sure they had filled it well beyond capacity. The Agora was also the only venue I've ever been to where you could buy a 6-pack of beer at the bar. A 6-pack! So that's exactly what me and my two buddies did - we each bought a 6 and then walked out to the middle of the floor, straight on Joe's mic.
For reasons lost to time and memory, we didn't arrive in time to see the opening band. Basically we just had enough time to get in, get through the crowd at the bar, get our 6-packs, get out on the floor ... and then the lights went down. And the crowd went nuts as the band walked out onto the stage. The one and only time that I've ever been at a show where the intensity of the audience frightened me. It was both awesome and worrying. only time I ever felt "you know, this might not be safe ..."
If I've told it once, I've told this next bit a million times since: The band walks out, it's pitch black all around us on the floor, and the crowd feels like a living thing. Like a raging animal snarling and pulling at the end of a leash. Scary. Electric. And then Strummer comes to the mic, says hello, and begins talking about how lovely a city Hartford is. How much they enjoyed walking around the city and in the parks that day. And he goes on for a bit ... kind of confusing us. We're tearing at the bit and he's talking about pretty parks and gardens. Then he pauses. Checks that the band is ready. Turns back to the mic and snarls, "We're The Clash. And we're from London, England" and they explode into "London Calling".
To this day, 37 years later, it remains the most electrifying moment I've ever experienced at a show.
Keep up the good work, Mark.
Mark Lamothe <mlamotheatsupportunitedway.org>
Rock Warfare: Dispatches From The Front
82 08 31 Hartford Courant Tue (Agora)
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I saw them in late August at the Agora Ballroom
MTownsend : I am sure that I saw them in late August at the Agora Ballroom in Hartford (West Hartford), Connecticut, but that doesn't show up on the 1982 tour dates. At one time the venue was called Stage West. They were in the area at that time (Hyannis, Providence and NYC are all close by). Is it possible that this was a last-minute schedule change or something?
I think Black Uhuru was the opener
Tom : I saw your website and just wanted to give you the date of the Clash show at the Agora Ballroom in West Hartford, CT. It was on Sunday August 29th, 1982. I think Black Uhuru was the opener. Admission was $10.50 and well worth it. I still have my ticket. Great website. Thanks, Tom
Extensive archive of articles, magazines and other from the Know Your Rights US Tour, August to October 1982
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ARTICLES, POSTERS, CLIPPINGS ... A collection of A collection of articles, interviews, memorabilia from the tour and the period around the tour, August to New Year 1982.
Extensive archive of articles, magazines and other from the Know Your Rights US Tour, August to October 1982
VIDEO AND AUDIO Video and audio footage from the tour including radio interviews.
VIDEO 1 Sept / Joe, Paul Simonon int, PIer 84 on CBS New York News
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