RIP half access
u were not gr8, but u were
(in praise of the messy internet)
2017–2024
this is a sad lil processing rant about name recognition, the fast-fading amateur internet, & not letting resources die, plus (scroll down) a set of bookmarks to state pages on the half access database as i back all of it up to the wayback machine.
RIP to half access; i wish your founder had still been around when i tried to help you have a new life, & i rly wish you had handed off your name recognition instead of shutting down, but i get that your core energy source has moved on to powering other things.
[2025-01-31 UPDATE: the half access url has been bought up by a mail order bride company, so i'm replacing all the below links. if you run a website that's important to people, give your community the opportunity to take it over!!!!! also yes if you were wondering, a large part of my distress over this particular case is indeed about identification & feelings of responsibility!!! at least this has inspired some ~end of life~ planning, anyway?? brb, making a will...]
*****
half access was a "nonprofit organization dedicated to making live music accessible" via a database aiming to "[provide] accessibility info on any and all venues"; cassie wilson founded the org in 2017, & it was dissolved in february 2024.
tbh, half access wasn't useful in most of the country –– with the likely exception of portland, oregon, where it maybe should have limited its scope (regional resources are more likely to be accurate: there are MANY THINGS) –– because it lacked adequate data. the majority of profiles were incomplete or inaccurate; it looked like a nationwide database, but twelve states were missing, only eight states had 20+ venue listings, & only california, illinois, new york, & oregon made it over 30. (for perspective, there are plural *hundreds* of venues in brooklyn, & thousands of places where performances occur; by the site's end, half access had 23, several of which had already been closed for years.)
but half access was good at branding & getting people amped about access –– NO SMALL THING!! –– & became known as *the* venue accessibility database, with a board, donors, & high profile; as recently as 2023 the founder was interviewed by teen vogue.
in early '23, i (reasonably) assumed half access would last longer than nyc noise... so after months of sourcing minimal venue access info, i volunteered to help half access with Real Coverage of nyc. unfortunately, they were not able to put any time into the project; i shared all of my venue data anyway, but they never even corrected their database's errors.
(i think things would have gone differently if i'd hit them up when the founder was still involved in the day-to-day –– she appears to have been very scrappily doing sh*t solo for quite a while, & was on the board til dec 2022 –– bc wilson is i think like me a mildly-obsessive zealot who does sh*t... but that's not this timeline ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)
so yeah i was disappointed that they didn't Do More the last year, & on hearing they were done, my first (admittedly unkind!) response was to think "about time tbh"... but then i was weirdly sad.
all over the internet / country, for years, disabled music lovers in hangs & forums & social media have been told to check out half access –– & it was *SOMETHING*, which made many of us feel hopeful, & led to imagining possibilities. (this risks sounding bitchy, but if you've seen my ~design prowess~ you should know it's with love lol:) i think it was also meaningful that it wasn't hard to imagine how half access might be improved; randos like me felt excited & empowered to bring our feedback & offers of help. now half access will never get to be the better version of itself, a thing that could've paired with regional resources like nyc noise or do diy or any of the other sites like this to gain new audiences & comprehensive info & relevance.
we have LOTS of event-listing websites (i might have Feelings about the one you're on right now (if some "you" finds this, which... i guess i will make this public? maybe blog??), but i'm not gonna pretend it's the only thing out there); conversely, we have VERY FEW venue accessibility databases, especially run by Real Organizations, anchored by nonprofit status & actual humans who presumably like to go to shows. those of us who Really Care are often trash at getting funding, & i'm feeling pessimistic about the odds that i'll find the cash to launch a venue accessibility database for nyc; i worry that if something like that does get traction here, it'll be a sleek tech bro aggregation rather than (the dream) something unpretty & idiosyncratic –– like half access, or nyc noise –– that's maybe sure a little awkward, but also a lot more resistant to being folded into the google (etc.) machines, which are here not for culture & people but adspace & hegemony.
tl;dr: i was a little mad at u, half access, but i appreciated your work & am sad you're gone. & to the rest of us: if you've spent years building something people value, plz consider asking around for who else might care for it rather than walking away. (this holds true for pretty much anything i can think of, from the lease to a rent-stabilized home to a website!) (&& yeah i wrote out this long fuss as a reminder that i may someday need to do the same.)
––– HALF ACCESS's U.S. LISTINGS –––
...lol yes, i'm specifying U.S. bc they started including international locations before even hitting every state... no idk why, & it wasn't like a ~berlin / paris / london~ kinda thing: they did stuff like include 1 space in all of belgium or greece, & then started listing those countries in the drop-down??? bless u weirdos
Alabama (1): The Alabama Theater
Arizona (10): 191 Toole • Chandler Center for the Arts • Crescent Ballroom • Groundworks • The Rebel Lounge • The Rialto Theatre • The Rock • The Underground at the Nile Theater • The Van Buren • Valley Bar
California (34): 1720 • 2220 Arts • 924 Gilman Street • Ace of Spades • Bill Graham Civic Auditorium • Bottom of the Hill (San Francisco) • Cafe Du Nord • California Center for the Arts, Escondido • Center Stage Theater • City National Grove of Anaheim • El Rey Theatre • Fremont Theater • Lewis Family Playhouse at Victoria Gardens Cultural Center • Lodge Room • Observatory – Santa Ana • Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo • Pomeroy Recreation & Rehabilitation Center • Regent Theatre • Rickshaw Stop • Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, UC Davis • Sofi Stadium • SOMA San Diego • Sweetwater Music Hall • The Center for the Arts • The Depot • The Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse • The Glass House • The Observatory North Park • The Octopus Literary Salon • The Peppermint Club • The Regency Ballroom • The Roxy • Voodoo Room at House of Blues • Whisky a Go-Go
Colorado (14): 7th Circle Music Collective • Aggie Theatre • Community Concert Hall At Fort Lewis College • Copper Mountain • D3 Arts • Empower Field at Mile High • Gothic Theatre • Marquis Theater • Summit Music Hall • The Black Sheep • The Bluebird Theater • The Ogden Theater • Ute Theater
Connecticut (4): College Street Music Hall • Space Ballroom • The Cave • Webster Theater
Delaware (1): The Queen
Florida (27): Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts • Bo Diddley Plaza • Churchill’s Pub • Civic Media Center • Crowbar • Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts • Fox Lounge • Gramps Wynwood • Hardback Cafe • Heartwood Soundstage • House of Blues Orlando • Justice Pub • Loosey’s • Lucky You Tattoo • O’Malley’s Sports Bar and Venue • Orlando Amphitheater • Respectable Street • Revolution Live • SoundBar Orlando • Subculture Coffee • The Abbey • The Backyard at Boca Fiesta & Palomino • The Ritz Ybor • The Social • The Wooly • Underbelly • Will’s Pub
Georgia (9): 40 watt Club • Buckhead Theatre • Coca-Cola Roxy • Drunken Unicorn • The Bakery • The Eastern • The Masquerade (Heaven) • The Masquerade (Hell) • The Masquerade (Purgatory)
Hawaii (1): ProArts Playhouse Maui
Illinois (33): Aragon Ballroom • Beat Kitchen • Bottom Lounge • Burlington Bar • Chicago Theatre • Cobra Lounge • Concord Music Hall • Durty Nellies • Egyptian Theatre • Evolution Music Downers Grove • Gman Tavern • Harris Theater for Music and Dance • Hollywood Casino Amphitheater • House of Blues Chicago • Kitchen 17 • Lincoln Hall • Metro • Penny Road Pub • Radius • Reggies • Schubas Tavern • Sleeping Village • Subterranean • Thalia Hall • The Forge • The Riviera Theatre • The Vic Theatre • The Whistler • The Wire • Toyota Park • UIC Pavilion • United Center
Indiana (7): Buskirk-Chumley Theater • Clyde Theatre • Hoosier Dome • Old National Centre • Piere’s Entertainment Center • TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park • The Citadel Music Hall
Iowa (5): Lefty’s • Seven Flags Event Center • The Englert Theatre • The Ox (House Venue) • Wooly’s
Kansas (4): Cotillion Ballroom • The Bottleneck • The Granada • Wichita Oasis
Kentucky (8): Diamonds Pub & Billiards Concert Hall • Iroquois Amphitheatre • KFC Yum Center • Mercury Ballroom • Old Forester’s Paristown Hall • Renfro Valley Entertainment Center • The Louisville Palace • The Warehouse at Mt. Victor
Louisiana (3): Gasa Gasa • Nic’s Bar • Orpheum Theatre
Maine (1): St. Lawrence Arts
Maryland (8): Arch Social Club • Baltimore Soundstage • Grateful Acres (House Venue) • Metro Gallery • Ottobar • Rams Head Live! • The Fillmore Silver Spring • The Undercroft
Massachusetts (15): Big Night Live • Brighton Music Hall • City Winery • Faces Brewing • Great Scott • House of Blues – Boston • Indian Ranch • Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center • Paradise Rock Club • Roadrunner Boston • Royale Boston • Sounds and Tones Records – Design Lab • The Palladium • The Red Room at Cafe 939 • The Sinclair
Michigan (20): 20 Monroe Live • Blind Pig • Calvin University Van Noord Arena • Division Avenue Arts Collective • Fox Theatre • Mac’s Bar • Masonic Temple • Royal Oak Music Theatre • Small’s Bar • St. Andrew’s Hall • The Crofoot Ballroom • The Fillmore – Detroit • The Intersection • The Loft • The Loving Touch • The Magic Bag • The Pyramid Scheme • The Sanctuary • Wharton Center for Performing Arts • Ypsilanti Performance Space
Minnesota (11): 7th St Entry • Fine Line • First Avenue Mainroom • Fitzgerald Theater • Palace Theatre • Skyway Theatre • The Fillmore – Minneapolis • The Garage • Turf Club • Varsity Theater • Verizon Center
Mississippi (1): The Lyric Oxford
Missouri (14): Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland • Atkins Auditorium at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art • Ballpark Village St. Louis • Cafe Berlin • Fubar • Ready Room • Red Flag • Sk8Bar • The Blue Note • The Lyric Oxford • The Pageant & Delmar Hall • The Rino • The Truman • Uptown Theater
Montana (3): KettleHouse Amphitheater • The ELM • The Wilma
Nebraska (4): Duffy’s Tavern • Sokol Underground & Auditorium • The Bourbon • The Waiting Room
Nevada (3): Eagle Aerie Hall • Fremont Country Club • The Holland Project
New Jersey (15): Anchor Rock Club • Asbury Lanes • Asbury Park Brewery • Bergen Performing Arts Center • Boontunes • Flemington DIY • Hopewell Theater • House of Independents • Metlife Stadium • Starland Ballroom • The Clubhouse of Toms River • The Meatlocker • The Stone Pony – Summer Stage • The Wellmont Theater • White Eagle Hall
New Mexico (2): Launchpad • Taos Community Auditorium
New York (62): Amityville Music Hall • Anthology • Babeville / Asbury Arts Center • Bar Frida • Beacon Theater • Berlin • Blue Note • Bowery Ballroom • Brooklyn Academy of Music Fisher Building • Brooklyn Bazaar • Brooklyn Steel • Buffalo Riverworks • Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts • Citi Field • David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center for Performing Arts • Elsewhere (Zone One) • Empire Live/Empire Underground • Gramercy Theatre • Great South Bay Music Festival • Hart Bar • Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden • Irving Plaza • Jones Beach Theater • Kings Theatre • Kingsland • Knitting Factory – Brooklyn • Liberty Belle Rocks Off Concert Cruise • Manhattan Center Hammerstein Ballroom • Map Room at The Bowery Electric • Market Hotel • Mercury Lounge • Metropolitan • Montage Music Hall • Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall • Music Hall of Williamsburg • My Father’s Place (at the Roslyn Hotel) • Our Wicked Lady • Pier 17 • Playstation Theater • Project Reach • Purgatory • Rec Room • Revolution Bar & Music Hall • Rough Trade NYC/Brooklyn • Saint Vitus Bar • Sharkey’s Bar and Grill • Sleepwalk • SOB’s • Spark Contemporary Art Space • SummerStage in Central Park • Terminal 5 • The Iridium • The Paramount • The Song and Dance • Town Ballroom • Town Hall • Trans-Pecos • TV Eye • UPSTATE CONCERT HALL • Warsaw • Webster Hall • Wet Spot
North Carolina (10): Fillmore Charlotte • Local 506 • Motorco Music Hall • QCS • Skylark Social Club • The Grey Eagle Music Hall and Pub • The Orange Peel • The Pour House Music Hall • The Ritz • World
North Dakota (1): Fargo Brewing Company
Ohio (15): Agora Theater and Ballroom • Bogart’s • EXPRESS LIVE! • Grog Shop • Happy Dog • House of Blues Cleveland • Jilly’s Music Room • Mahall’s • Memorial Hall OTR • Newport Music Hall • Rumba Cafe • The Basement • The Bluestone • The Rose Music Center • The Summit Shack
Oklahoma (2): 89th Street OKC • The Auditorium at The Douglass
Oregon (43): 45 East • ADX Portland • Al’s Den • Aladdin Theater • Alberta Rose Theater • Alberta Street Pub • American Legion Post 134 • Anarres Infoshop & Community Space • Black Water Bar • Bossanova Ballroom • Cottage Theatre • Cruzroom Annex • Crystal Ballroom & Lola’s Room • Disjecta • Doug Fir Lounge • Eaden Ballroom • Hawthorne Hideaway • Hawthorne Theatre • Holocene • Mano Oculta • McDonald Theater • McMenamins Edgefield • McMenamins Mission Theater • Mississippi Studios • Moda Center • Paris Theatre • Pioneer Courthouse Square • Polaris Hall • Roseland Theater • Sessions Music Hall • Star Theater • Tardis Room • The Big Legrowlski • The Old Church • The Pikey • The Shedd (The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts) • The Vault Theater • The Waypost • Veterans Memorial Coliseum • VFW Post 1383 • Watershed PDX • Wonder Ballroom • WOW Hall
Pennsylvania (27): Black Forge Coffee House • Foundry • Fowler Blast Furnace Room • Franklin Music Hall • JB Lovedrafts • Keybank Pavilion • Kung Fu Necktie • Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks • Luigi’s Mansion • Mann Center for the Performing Arts • Musikfest Cafe Presented by Yuengling • PACA • Puck Live • Rex Theater • Roxian Theatre • Ruba Club • Sherman Theater • Spirit • Stage AE • Station One Center for the Arts • The Colonial Theatre • The Crafthouse Stage & Grill • The Fillmore – Philadelphia • The Ukie Club • Theatre of the Living Arts (TLA) • Trocadero Theater • Union Transfer
Rhode Island (1): Fete Music Hall
South Carolina (4): House Of Blues – Myrtle Beach • Music Farm • New Brookland Tavern • The Royal American
Tennessee (10): Bridgestone Arena • Brooklyn Bowl • Cannery Ballroom • Folk All Y’all Listening Room Series • Marathon Music Works • Mercy Lounge • Paramount Center for the Arts • Ryman Auditorium • The Basement East • The Signal
Texas (25): Alamo City Music Hall • AT&T Stadium • Barracuda Austin • Cactus House • Canton Hall • Cine El Rey • Club Dada • Emo’s • Empire Control Room and Garage • Gas Monkey Live! • House Of Blues Houston • Paper Tiger • Princess Pass • Reno’s Chop Shop • Rise Rooftop • Ruins • Southside Music Hall • State Farm Arena • Stubbs BBQ • The Factory in Deep Ellum • The Parish • Vibes Event Center • Warehouse Live • White Oak Music Hall • YOUR HOUSE (house venue)
Utah (3): Kilby Court • The Complex Salt Lake City • Urban Lounge
Vermont (1): Higher Ground
Virginia (9): Banditos Burrito Lounge • Harvester Performance Center • Jammin Java • The Camel • The Canal Club • The Golden Pony • The National • The State Theatre • Waterside District
Washington (17): 415 Westlake • Barboza • Chop Suey • El Corazon • Lake Meridian Park • Lincoln Theatre • Make.Shift Art Space • Neptune • Neumos • Old Skool’s Records • Paramount Theater • Real Art Tacoma • Showbox SoDo • Tacoma Dome • The Moore Theatre • The Shakedown • Tractor Tavern
Washington, D.C. (10): 9:30 Club • Comet Ping Pong • DC9 Nightclub • Echostage • Pie Shop • Rock & Roll Hotel • Slash Run • Songbyrd Music House • The Anthem • Union Stage
West Virginia (1): The Bakery
Wisconsin (13): Bradley Symphony Center • Crucible • Gibson Community Music Hall • Marcus Performing Arts Center • Pabst Theater • Quadracci Powerhouse • Riverside Theater • Stackner Cabaret • Stiemke Studio • The Bur Oak • The Rigby • The Sylvee • Turner Hall Ballroom
[written 2024-02-26, some content cuts in 2025]