The Masquerade, located at 659 North Ave. is now preparing to say goodbye to the historic Old Fourth Ward of Atlanta. The property has a long history in the city. It was initially an Excelsior Factory owned by Dupre Manufacturing Company in 1890. After the factory closed shop, the property became a pizzeria and barrio from 1977 – 1978. It wasn’t until 1989 that the concert venue we all know and love as The Masquerade held its first shows on North Ave. Since then, The Masquerade has been known to start rocking on any given day for the past 26 years.
Atlanta’s rapidly changing landscape has effected the coveted venue forcing it to move to a new location. The land that The Masquerade sits on has been sold and the new owners have a different plan for the space. The Masquerade has housed a number of big name talents such as Nirvana, Ice Cube, Out Kast, Motorhead, The Foo Fighters, Flosstradamus and many more. It even once served as the central location for the A3C Hip-Hop Festival. Although it is a somber situation, it is not a funeral. The Masquerade lives on, just at a different location. Now, concert goers can reach Hell, Purgatory and Heaven at1421 Fairmont Ave. in West Midtown area of Atlanta. Some of you may be thinking, “How are they going to keep their edginess around all those coffee shops and high-end boutiques?” That is a great question and only time can tell. All we can hope for is that the arrival of The Masquerade in West Midtown adds a little more color, vibrancy and true Atlanta spirit to the area.
Before The Masquerade packs up and hits the trail, they’re going out with a big bang. The Masquerade has officially announced that the Wrecking Ball ATL 2016 will be the final event at the North Ave. location. August 13 and 14 will be your very last chance to rock out before the move. Tickets are available now and they are going fast. You can read the press release shared via management that gives more details about the new location and the Wrecking Ball ATL 2016 lineup.
