I play in bands in a large metro area. 90% of our gigs are in smallish towns in the surrounding areas. I live in the center city and there are gigs one can attend, but compared to the population it's a really low number. Just in my immediate area almost 3/4 of the small venues from 20 years ago are gone.
This seems basic gentrification: in your smallish towns reasonably large venues still have reasonable operating costs and continue to offer live music, while in your center city bars and clubs are strangled by rent cost or rent expiration or insufficient profit margins. What is replacing them?
