Meet Ted Kistner of The Cove Music Hall in Worcester

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ted Kistner.

Ted, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started working in the music industry at The House of Blues in Orlando, Fl in 1999 as a stagehand. I worked my way to Stage Manager, Audio Engineer, and Lighting Director by the age of 20. From there I went on to tour with multiple Heavy Metal acts all over the globe. I got off the road when my daughter was born but continued to work in clubs doing sound and started working with my family at our amusement center and sports bar in Dudley, MA called Drafter’s Sports Cafe and Tri-State Speedway. I was in charge of the bar and started booking local bands there to grow clientele.

The shows were getting bigger and were doing well for the bar but the space wasn’t large enough at the time to bring in bigger acts so I started looking into other options. Then I saw a post on facebook from the owner of the Lucky Dog Music Hall Erick Godin saying he was going to sell the business. I contacted him immediately and set up a meeting. After a couple months, I was able to purchase the venue.

Has it been a smooth road?
The venue was in pretty rough shape. We spend almost five months renovating everything from the floors up. The only things that were left the same were the walls, sound booth, and the stage itself.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The Cove Music Hall story. Tell us more about the business.
When I decided to take on the club my main focus was making the venue a place that bands would want to play. Bringing in state of the art sound and lighting and having as many amenities that a touring band would want to see and have in any venue. After working the touring circuit from bars to arenas it really mattered to me that when a band walked into the venue they were glad to be there and knew they would have an easy day.

For over 30 years 89 Green St has been home to Live Music in Worcester. From Sir Morgan’s Cove to the Lucky Dog Music Hall, thousands of musical acts and performers have played on the stage here including The Rolling Stones, Godsmack, Korn and so many more! We at the Cove Music Hall strive to keep this legacy alive by bringing you the best in Live Entertainment each and every week.

Since opening in 2016 The Cove Music Hall has been host to many National touring acts including, Guttermouth, The Supersuckers, The Koffin Kats, The Jelly Jam, The Genitorturers, Davey Suicide, Gallows Bound, Agent Orange and many more. We will continue to bring the best National, Regional and Local talent to Worcester.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The music industry seems to shift more every year. Music tastes change and with all of the technology and social media sometimes it makes it difficult to get people to want to experience a live show. It is too easy these days to sit on the couch and wait for your buddy to post a video from their band while you binge watch a series on Netflix.

Coming up with the best combinations of talent to get people’s interest peaked makes it an ever-changing industry because of people’s entertainment taste change so much.

Contact Info:

• Address: 89 Green st Worcester MA 01604
• Website: www.thecovemusichall.com
• Phone: 508-363-1888
• Email: info@thecovemusichall.com
• Instagram: @thecovemusichall
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecovemusichall

Image Credit:
Evil Robb Photography
Adrian Feliciano

Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.