The Provo music scene is about to get a little bigger, as April 3 will see the grand opening concert of Provo’s newest and biggest concert venue, Gezzo Hall.
The Velour has been a popular venue with an ideal atmosphere for the national market since 2006. But a larger venue means a bigger opportunity for the success of local bands. According to the venue’s website, the hall is nearly 7,000 square feet big and will accommodate more than 1,000 people. There is also a restaurant attached to the music hall.
“Velour is amazing,” said Kimball Barker, lead singer of Red Yeti. “But it only holds 350 people. Gezzo Hall is big enough to attract national touring bands, which could mean getting connected with those bands and increasing our popularity.”
Gezzo Hall managers Greg and Sam Mecham have owned the venue for about six months. Greg Mecham is a former BYU student, both are members of the LDS Church, and both are business enthusiasts. The venue was previously used as a pool hall before the father-son pair bought it out to experiment. They’ve held dances at the venue and tried different things before deciding that the music industry was the best way to go.
The Mechams are optimistic about the opportunities the new venue will create for local bands.
“Local music is hot right now,” Sam Mecham said. “Bands get big, but then they have to leave Provo to play at larger venues; we want them to stay. This larger venue allows bands to make enough money to stay and have their band become their full-time job.”
Gezzo Hall will have an impact not only on local bands but on the Provo music culture as well. Rock and bluegrass bands in the area have been left out when it comes to performing at the indie-music-themed Velour. The new venue will be open to all styles of music, allowing for more bands to increase their fan base.
“The Velour offers a different feel than us,” Greg Mecham said. “Each venue has its own style and feel, and ours is one that will be unique to Provo. We are not trying to compete with Velour but complement it.”
While Gezzo Hall will focus mostly on music, it is also open to hosting other shows such as local comedians.
The grand opening event will feature three bands local to Provo:
Foreign Figures — Winner of 2015 Stereo Room Battle of the Bands
Festive People — Winner of The Wall: BYU 2015 Battle of the Bands
Red Yeti — RAW Artists 2012 Musician of the Year
House of Melk will provide post-concert beats.
The well-known food trucks will be parked at the venue from 5 to 8 p.m.; the concert will be from 7:30 to 10 p.m.; and the dance party will be from 10 to 11 p.m.
Gezzo Hall is located on 495 N. Freedom Blvd. Tickets to the opening event are $15 at the door, $12 pre-sale.
