By nearly any measure, 2014 was a successful year for the Lynn Auditorium and the Lynn Community Development Office.
“We were booked solid from October through December,” said Community Development Director Jamie Marsh. “We had, if not two shows, at least one show a week from mid-October through December and from January to September we were able to offer a wide variety of shows, with a number of sell out shows throughout the year.”
The 2014 season, the first with the completely air conditioned Lynn Auditorium, stepped off with the wildly successful Get the Led Out, a Led Zeppelin tribute show, which sold out and drew rave reviews from concert goers. That show was followed by classic rock sell outs or near sell outs of shows such as The Gypsy Kings, Southside Johnny and the Jukes, Cheap Trick, Brit Floyd (a Pink Floyd Tribute Band), Night Ranger, .38 Special and BB King. During the hugely popular October-November season, Lynn Auditorium also played host to Boz Scaggs, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Ian Anderson formerly of Jethro Tull and Buddy Guy. Those rock acts don’t include popular visits by Natalie Cole and Martina McBride as well.
According to Marsh, that success is continuing right into the new year, as several high profile shows in the coming months have either already sold out or are well on their way to sell outs.
‘The Wild Kratts’, a family show based on the children’s television program of the same name, has already sold out and it is not scheduled to come to Lynn until March 1. In addition, upcoming shows such as George Thorogood and the Destroyers and a return of Get the Led Out, are also well on their way to sell outs.
“We also began looking to bring in more variety last season, with the Colin and Brad improv show, dance, theater, and the Celtic Woman show,” noted Marsh. “Then to cap it all off, we ended the year with Ronan Tynan and the Irish Tenors, which was really just a great way to end the season.”
According to Marsh, the Auditorium’s growing popularity and success is due in large part to the efforts of others.
“I think the Mayor’s incredible support, along with the hard work of Henry Ryan and Joanna Mills in the Community Development office has been a big reason we’ve been so successful,” said Marsh. “But really, the money the auditorium brings in and the sold out shows aren’t the reason this program is so important.”
Marsh said that the impact of having good quality, top tier performances at the auditorium is important because it brings people to downtown Lynn, on a regular basis for a positive experience and that success is reflected in the impact he sees it having around City Hall.
“We hear it from the restaurant owners at Blue Ox, or Rossetti’s, or even further away at Lazy Dog or Antique Table and other spots around the city,” said Marsh. “When we have good shows at the Auditorium, those places fill up and people are out spending money and that’s why it is so important.”