MOVE TO FIVE POINTS: New Brookland Tavern keeping Midlands music scene alive in new location

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — December was a busy month for popular local music venue New Brookland Tavern.

The long-time West Columbia establishment moved across the river to Five Points right before the new year.

“Slowly started moving some things and kept everything we needed for the last show there. We had a sold out show for our last show there,” said talent buyer and audio engineer Carlin Thompson. “Our first two shows here were also sold out. We moved everything over the first day and got it going.”

The move to a new building in Five Points has provided new opportunities for New Brookland Tavern. 

“The capacity for the new building is double what it used to be,” Thompson said. “The whole building has three bars. Upstairs is all ages where the concerts will happen. Downstairs bars are 21 and up. We can have multiple crowds here at the same time.”

While some things have changed with a move to a new location, many things have stayed the same such as New Brookland’s commitment to local music.

“On Monday’s we have an open mic jam. You bring your guitar, bring friends and play or play with the backing band Sam and Ilia,” Thompson said. “We are also doing a new thing this year where we are taking some bar sales and apply it towards advertising for local bands. It’s to boost their draw and online presence.”

With a different location, the venue hopes to bring in new concert goers while keeping the old fans happy as well. 

“Everything we’ve booked so far is how we did things across the river,” Thompson said. “We’ve got numerous metal shows booked through the rest of the year. We have country shows, indie shows, hip hop shows, everything.”

Money raised from GoFundMe and from t-shirt collaborations with bands who have played New Brookland have allowed the venue to stay alive and well.