Greenville Scene

by: Tiffany Heuser

In recent months, the folks in the Christian music scene have decided to make their stamp on Greenville a little bit bigger. From one teeny coffee shop below ground level have emerged two new Christian venues: The Unknown Venue and The Channel Venue. Each venue is an improvement over their previous home and they boast more impressive surroundings and professional sound systems. Not to mention the capacity to host more popular bands. These venues also have more than just live music in mind.

In a newly renovated building right off Haywood road is The Channel Venue. The Channel have partnered together with Carpenter’s Cellar and One Chord Ministries to be more than just a place for concerts but also Greenville’s first performing arts studio. The Channel provides the live concerts with the Carpenter’s Cellar doing what they did before in providing coffee drinks and light fare. One Chord Ministries is open Monday through Saturday offering classes in dance, drama, and sign language to name a few.

Just two blocks from Main Street is the Unknown Venue. You enter the building through glass doors beneath a bright blue NCAA awning but hanging outside on the painted brick wall is a black and white banner advertising the building’s actual use. While The Unknown Venue may be less impressive at first glance, the music and atmosphere certainly is not. Hosted by The Alternative and run by DJ TMAQ, the main focus is Christian hardcore and hip-hop music. Other happenings will include events such as a Guitar Hero contest and Doomsday, a Halo 2 competition. Furthermore, The Alternative offers weekly band coaching lessons for those up-and-comers that want to improve their sound.

Both venues have full schedules for the upcoming months including concerts, competitions, and classes. Be sure to check out their respective MySpace profiles for more information on Greenville’s new Christian venues.

http://www.myspace.com/thealternativeconcerts

http://www.myspace.com/thechannelvenue