A few months ago 101WKQX put Brian, Allie, and Justin on-air for 34 hours for the Save Our Stages radiothon in partnership with the Chicago Independent Venue League, an organization that represents dozens of Chicago’s beloved rock clubs and music venues. It was magically good radio and raised thousands of dollars for a worthy cause. The need for our friends in the live entertainment world continues as the pandemic sloths past the six-month mark, with none of the venues open and the bills still piling up.

The City of Chicago has launched a special grant program for these venues along with theater and dance halls which will begin taking applications this Monday. It will grant recipients up to $10,000. This is good news but as these venues continue in these current circumstances they will be some of the last to reopen on the other side of all this.  They still need our help. Scroll down to find out more.

Owners of the Hideout and the Chop Shop spoke to ABC 7 this week about the ongoing struggles of our these venues and how the grant program can help alleviate some of their current financial burdens. You can donate to CIVL and help out great venues that we have all made memories in our lives. Click here.

Try not to cry watching this #Saveourstage venue tour video of Chicago’s rock clubs sitting empty with the emotional tones of Varaha playing a heavy instrumental. It’s very hard to see the Metro, Subterranean, the Beat Kitchen, Lincoln Hall, Reggies, and more of our local clubs not filled with life.   Block Club Chicago reported recently on how venues like those represented in CIVL and many more across the country are in serious danger without the intervention of government aid. The National Independent Venue Association has stated that 90% of these venues do not believe they can survive the shutdown if it persists without federal aid. You can find out more about NIVA at their website here.