Raleigh live music venue closes its doors

The Maywood has been open for eight years at 658 Maywood Ave. in Raleigh. Prior to that, the space was known for six years as Volume 11 Tavern.

"I put everything into it, I built the club from the ground up," said owner Keith Fairweather.

"I held on as long as I could, but I just don't see the light. I want to thank everyone that has contributed to our music scene over the years as in bands, patrons, promoters and of course the staff," Fairweather posted on the venue's Facebook page.

"The Maywood is where we played our first show and a lot of bands played their first show," said Joseph Bursey, who plays guitar for the local heavy metal band, Suppressive Fire.

Fairweather had previously created a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign to help keep the business open amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"It is costing me roughly $3,000 every month that we are closed. When The Maywood was able to operate it actually covered the costs of running the venue. Now that we are forced to stay closed, I have to cover the $3,000 per month from the money that is keeping my family going," Fairweather wrote on the GoFundMe page.

Coronavirus restrictions kept the doors closed.

"It was a struggle, every three weeks I was waiting to be told I could open," said Fairweather. "A lot of small businesses are going under."

The artists who played at the venue have lost a home for their music.

"For us, it was heavy metal central for Raleigh," described Bursey.

Fairweather said he feels it from both sides as the owner and as a musician.

"Music needs to go on -- live music especially, so lets hope it does in the future. That's all I can say," he added.