After many many years of helping run The Black Sheep Cafe, establishing a strong foundation, running countless shows (well over 1,000), and impacting the lives of many- Kevin Bradford announced earlier this week that he will be moving on to other things. He is what Kevin has to say:
After ten years of doing Black Sheep I feel it is time for me to move on to other things. I will be stepping down in the beginning of May but I will be around this summer. To everyone that I’ve met through bxs it has been a pleasure! I’ve met people from literally all over the world, I’ve seen lots of good bands and hopefully together we have changed Springfield for the better. I am excited for the future and have a BIG project I’m helping to work on now. I am very optimistic about Southtown’s future as well! The bxs and the neighborhood is in good hands. Many of you I’ve gotten to see grow up into great people. Hopefully for the time you needed it bxs gave you good things. My part has been fulfilled. Grace and peace all.
Kevin will be leaving us at the beginning of May but will continue to help out at major events, visit plenty, and will remain active in bands WARRS and Caterpillar Club. We will also be keeping everyone very much up to date on whatever projects Kevin chooses to pursue. The Black Sheep will not be closing or shutting down in any way.
We can not express how much of a hero and great role model Kevin has been to us all from the very beginning. Even since the early years in the mid-2000s Kevin has always been the most dedicated person to be running this space and laying a foundation to truly one of the most amazing all ages show spaces in the country for the past ten years. Kevin has been going at this for years and years, and many were on his own when things for the venue did not look so bright. That includes literally over one thousand shows at Black Sheep, with thousands of bands coming through from all over the globe and possibly tens of thousands of different show attendees. At most of those shows Kevin has been the first one there and the last one to leave, he was there to always give us advice and resolve problems, keep the space tidy, and constantly fight through countless obstacles in order to keep our space running. Many do not realize how hard it has been to keep the space alive for so long, and Kevin has never earned a dime for doing so, and never has gotten any sort of vacation. We can not thank Kevin enough for years and years of dedication and sticking to this through the toughest of times. We look forward to properly celebrating his time put into the space and ten years of Black Sheep at the ten year anniversary show this September.
What’s next for Black Sheep and for Kevin? Kevin will be staying in Springfield to take on other projects, which we will make sure everyone is updated on. Black Sheep will continue will the same mission of providing a safe and all ages space for show-goers in Springfield and a safe and drug-free environment for youth (and also adults) to hang out, as well as a spot for touring bands from all over the globe and local bands to perform. We have been taking large strides in the creation of South Town Studio and Dumb Records in the past couple of years, adding to and improving the Southtown neighborhood. We know that no one can really replace Kevin. Some of us are committed to keeping what we have at Black Sheep and in Southtown alive for more years to come, although we have never been a type of business that can plan years and years in advance. It is up to all of us to continue Kevin’s dream and to continue bettering our community by providing a hub for creativity.
We are needing help and support NOW more than ever as we take on this new transition of Kevin moving on to other things. New Black Sheep owners on paper will likely be Brian Galecki, Miles Fowler, and Brandon Carnes- but Black Sheep has always been a collective of passionate people who work to keep the venue around because they want to see it continue. And there are other obstacles we are facing other than Kevin leaving that are starting to pop up. Funding to maintain our buildings among other things has been an ongoing issue for our space for a long time now, as those of us behind the scenes continue to pour our own time and money to fixing little things. Things for Black Sheep and Southtown may appear fine from the outside, but keeping things going is always a struggle. There will likely be some sort of kickstarter fundraiser launched sometime soon to help us launch a new non-for-profit organization focusing on the renewal of the historic Southtown neighborhood, as well as preserving some history from Skank Skates’s past.
The number of things anyone can do to help out are countless- but a lot just boils down to KEEP coming out to shows and supporting what we are doing. Just by being here means a lot. Make sure to come out to the ten year anniversary show in September, Black Sheep Fest in July, Dumb Fest 3-D in June, and to the Screaming Females show next week on March 25th, as well as any other show in between. Aside from shows there is so much that can be done to get involved. We will be holding a roundtable meeting this Sunday at 7:00 pm inside of Black Sheep to further to discuss the future of Black Sheep and Southtown and we encourage ALL of you to come. From there we will be talking about more ways for other people to get involved.
