Live Music Is Back At Township

By Katie Karpowicz in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 9, 2015 8:00PM

Photo courtesy of Township and Cramer PR

Logan Square's Township never closed its doors following owner Tamiz Haiderali's abrupt split with business partner Brian Peterson in November, but it's been awfully quiet in there ever since. With Peterson went the venue-slash-restaurant's booking connection through MP Shows.

Nearly half a year later, live music is making its comeback in the 150-person capacity performance space.

Haiderali has found a new co-owner in Max Brumbach. A former contractor, Brumbach first made a name for himself when he opened Smoke Daddy Bar-B-Que in 1994. Four years later, he purchased and revamped The California Clipper in Humboldt Park. During the last few months, he's applied the same type of restoration to Township. It now features a brand new stage, a high-end sound system and lighting rig. Brumbach told us he essentially "brought [Township] up to a higher level."

Township's programming in recent years became somewhat single-minded, gearing towards punk and other underground rock acts more often than not. However, that's about to change.

A weekly jazz residency and a bi-monthly blues matinee are already on Township's calendar this month. Brumbach promises rock won't disappear from the stage but he's ready to bring in a different variety of genres including samba and house, plus other performance arts like live lit readings. With the help of manager and primary booker Erica Corniel (whom you may have caught DJ-ing around town or playing with OFFICE in the late aughts), Township will eventually feature live entertainment six to seven nights a week.