There’s a new venue in town, Lawrence. Well, new-ISH.

Liberty Hall has been bringing new life to old favorites this year. They’ve been showing old releases in the theater (their “Pride and Prejudice” screening was CRAZY popular), and now the historic theater has repurposed their basement to host smaller events.

In recent weeks, the basement-turned-speakeasy held standup comedy shows and karaoke, but on Saturday night they launched the first of what we hope will be many music events. Normally, when you head into Liberty Hall for a show, you enter through the front. But for these basement shows, you enter through stairs on the side of the building, just under Jungle House Goods. The vibe is dark and moody, and it takes a minute for the eyes to adjust– but after you sort your vision out, you’re met with a very cool atmosphere.

We remember what the basement of Liberty Hall looked like in years past. A lawless land of couches, seats, a rogue piano, and SO many trophies. It was like finding a treasure chest! Gold trophies just stacked against the wall, on the piano, on the floor. The basement holds a bunch of little rooms (including the green room for concerts on the main stage). But now, booths and tables have been assembled up against the wall, and a bar is the first thing to greet you when you arrive. There are still some trophies stashed underneath the bar for decoration (but seriously, where did all those trophies go?).

The Roseline and Faith Maddox helped ring in the new concert experiment on this night. With just a capacity of about 50 people, the show sold out quickly (the ticket-purchasing process online was quick and easy), with most attendees opting to stand. We felt nothing but a friendly atmosphere, and it was easy to quickly fall in love with the launch of this new space. It feels like a gift for the locals, and leaning up against the cold and curved walls felt like touching a piece of history.

You can see photos from the night below, though you should know they don’t quite capture the room as it was cozy and pretty crowded.