No bitter end For The Bitter End

When Wavy Gravy opened up for Peter, Paul and Mary in 1960, no one could have known that The Bitter End would still be presenting live music 60 years later! Launching careers in music, comedy, and spoken word, the club has been a mainstay in the entertainment industry and has come to be an important part of the fabric that makes Greenwich Village such a vital part of NYC lore and history. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Bitter End, like many live venues in NYC, is facing tremendous financial struggle as we try to reopen our doors. We are now reaching out to the world to help us keep this iconic music club alive. We have provided the stage and environment that has helped countless entertainers hone their crafts. From Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, John Prine and Lady Gaga, to Billy Crystal, George Carlin, and Jon Stewart, we have had countless entertainers begin their careers with us who have then gone on to become great performers and pillars in their fields. Thousands of artists have graced our stage over the past six decades. Nurturing the entertainment community has always been our goal and we hope to continue this tradition and add to this long list of successes. The rich history contained within her walls is unparalleled, and to see the doors shut forever would be a shame and a tragedy. Make no mistake, The Bitter End is still a NYC music Mecca. It’s a place where new and established artists alike nurture, develop, and showcase their acts. It’s a place where top national musicians can hold weekly jams, and where up and coming musicians are discovered. It’s a place where singers, songwriters, comedians, rappers, and poets can enjoy a weekly open mic. It’s a gathering place for NYC’s top working artists to hang out before or after a gig for a drink, as well as watch their colleagues perform. It’s a place where you, music lovers, are invited to witness this magic. It’s a place that has survived decades of change and disaster because it deserved to, and still deserves to, just as much today as it ever did. We all want to return to a world as close to normal as it was before. A world without the Bitter End just doesn’t seem normal at all to us who have been lucky enough to work here. We hope it doesn’t seem normal to you, either. Most of you have spent the past months giving while you weren’t getting, and it isn't easy to ask for help like this in any circumstance. We do thank you all for contributing to our earlier GoFundMe page that asked to help our dedicated staff. We pray you are able to help out one more time. Please help preserve The Bitter End, a precious treasure of a music landmark that has influenced and contributed to the culture of music and the arts all over the world. We would love nothing more than to continue this long standing tradition.