For more than a decade, DIY house venue The Mouthhole has played a significant role in Music City’s live-music ecosystem. Brothers Travis and Zac Caffrey and their friend Michael Sadler are musicians who have opened up their home to an astonishing array of artists and musicians since 2013, all for the love of nurturing an artistic community. While the trio has accepted donations, they’ve never charged a cover for an event, from standalone shows to their annual festival Fest(er).
However, per the introduction to a GoFundMe campaign Sadler launched a couple of weeks ago, the combination of rising rent, lack of repairs to the home by their landlord and a steep price to purchase the property have led the crew to plan a move. The three will keep living together in their new spot, but they will not host shows there; rather, they will continue booking, hosting and performing events at other venues around Nashville.
“We were starving artists when we began The Mouthhole, and unfortunately we still are,” Sadler writes in the copy. “We could use some assistance with the downpayment for our new house and the costs associated with moving. We also hope to replace the well-used furniture you all sat on and sweat on and farted on over a dozen years of punk shows.”
The exact timeline of the move isn’t clear. A Facebook post from Sadler notes that they have more shows to come before the big change, including this year’s Fest(er).
Correction: The original version of this article incorrectly indicated that the residents of The Mouthhole are planning to reopen the venue at their new home. As stated in the crowdfunding campaign copy, they are seeking help from the community to cover their moving expenses, but the new home will not be the site of future shows. However, they will continue to book shows and host other events at various venues around town. We regret the error.
