Amos' Owner Buys S.C. Venue 

Amos' Southend owner John Ellison has teamed up with promoter Marshall Lowe to take over Music Farm in Charleston, once one of South Carolina's premier rock venues. Consider this a rescue mission.

The Farm opened in 1991 and moved to its current digs in 1993. For a time, in the '90s, it was considered one of the Carolinas' better venues. But after changing management three times, the club fell into serious disrepair; in a recent interview, Band of Horses' Creighton Barrett, a Mt. Pleasant native, called it a "total shit-hole."

With fewer and fewer name acts willing to play there, Music Farm was slipping from concert-goers' radars. The original building owners were receiving offers from the likes of Starbucks and the Gap, but were committed to maintaining it as a music club. Enter Ellison and Lowe.

"I'd heard about a year ago that the guy (Kurt Papenhausen) who had the Music Farm was looking to get out," said Ellison. "Things had gone downhill. The second time I walked in the place I thought I was going to vomit because it smelled so bad in there."

Ellison and Lowe are already at work to change that perception. Renovation work including painting, cleaning and new floors and bathrooms has been going on since they took over in mid-September. A new P.A. system is also being installed, and the inconveniently located bar is being moved out from the center of the club. The Web site is due for a face-lift as well.

Music Farm is scheduled to re-open on Sunday, Oct. 28, with a performance by The Avett Brothers. Also booked for November's calendar are Mute Math, They Might Be Giants and Galactic.

Ellison has owned and operated Amos' since 1990, while Lowe has promoted concerts for the past 15 years and co-owns All In Entertainment. Amos' Southend underwent a successful facelift last year, which Ellison designed himself, based in part on Tipitina's in New Orleans. If they can just get the toilets to flush at Music Farm, they'll already be ahead of the game.

Lunchbox Fare: The next couple weeks feature a trio of in-store performances at independently owned Lunchbox Records on Central Avenue. On Friday, Oct. 19, three locals – Southside Punx, 25 Minutes to Go and IED – play; on Sunday, Oct. 21, Bridge & Tunnel, a New York punk act on No Idea Records will be joined by fellow label-mates Ringers from Boston and locals Lamda; the next night, Monday, Oct. 22, features The Minor Times (Prosthetic Records) from Pennsylvania, Syracuse's Engineer (Metal Blade/Blackmarket Activities) and Greensboro's Giant.

CarnEVIL's New Haunt: Charlotte's craziest annual Halloween shin-dig has relocated to Amos' Southend this year on Saturday, Oct. 27, for "logistic purposes," according to their Myspace.com site. Plans are to use the adjacent parking lot for the Big Tent, including the usual DJs and fire-breathers, et. al., while the bands (including the Stone Figs, Nitehawk and Drat), burlesque, belly dancers and the rest of the freak show will be housed inside. Tickets are $20 in advance – available at the Common Market and Jeff's Bucket Shop – and $35 at the door, and benefit the Levine Children's Hospital and DrumSTRONG.

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