Music at Rough Draft

Rough Draft Bar and Books is seeking musical groups to play on Friday and Saturday evenings from approximately 7 to 9 pm. We are a bookstore/coffee shop/bar located in a mixed residential/commercial area in Uptown Kingston, NY. We don’t have a stage, but a nook among the books in the corner of the space. We would like to book music one Friday or Saturday night per weekend on an ongoing basis.

We prefer acoustic music, as the space is not suited for rock bands, drum sets, or electric bass, and we tend to book groups other than singer/songwriters or straight-ahead jazz. We love the programming at Barbes in Brooklyn, so have a look at their calendar to get an idea of the type of music we’d like to hear at Rough Draft.

We are looking for music that is good for active listening for those who choose to do so, yet still suited for background music for those who prefer to sit at the bar and engage in their own conversation.

We envision performances to be self-running. We ask that you show up at 6 pm and let someone behind the bar know that you are here. They will help you move furniture to fit the space for your group, and provide you with the tip jar. Please be set up and be ready to play at 7 pm. You will need to be finished by 9 pm. We recommend two sets of 45-50 mins.

These are ‘no cover’ shows but we guarantee $150, and will also provide a tip jar for you to pass around at opportune moments during your sets. Band members will each be offered one free drink, as well as a bar snack.

If you have a group that might fit our programming goals, please apply here.