You don’t usually put “club” and “comfort" into the same sentence, let alone the same space, but that’s exactly what Jake Soffes, Founder and Managing Partner of Pearl Street Hospitality, imagined for his latest venture, Two Moons Music Hall.
If the company name doesn’t ring a bell, the establishments certainly will. He and his team are responsible for some of Denver’s greatest hits: Hudson Hill, Lady Jane and The Wild. In imagining Two Moons, Soffes took a lot of the sensibility, thoughtfulness and midcentury design from each of those spaces and brought it to not only their first music venue but their first spot in the River North, (aka RiNo) neighborhood.
The mission that drives Soffes and his team is simple but compelling: create the modern neighborhood bar. Each property in their group matches the neighborhood, taking their needs into account for each concept.
When his team found an opportunity to open up shop in RiNo, they knew it was a neighborhood they wanted to join—and it also happened to be the perfect place to truly branch out into music. Music was already very much a part of the culture for Pearl Street Hospitality, with Lady Jane spinning records every night from its very own vinyl collection.
Soffes had already been working on a business plan to open a music venue when the RiNo opportunity presented itself. To him, nothing sounds better than a nice bar and a free show. So when the landlord for their current space called with the offer, he knew it was time to jump—and to learn more about the music business and technical requirements while they remodeled the space and got it ready to open.
Now, Two Moons has live music six days a week, spanning across all different genres. The space transforms from a jazz bar to a honky tonk and everything in between, all while uplifting and celebrating Denver’s local artists. They’ve created a space that provides small, up-and-coming artists and local legends alike with an opportunity for plenty of exposure—with no barrier to entry.
Their compensation structure differs from artist to artist, but their goal is always to pay slightly above the industry standard. Another goal for the venture is for artists to love playing the room as much as guests love hanging out. Since opening back in April, Soffes seems to be far exceeding that goal.
DJ Simone Says said, “I play very open-format sets that span many genres, and I feel like Two Moons has created a space where people feel comfortable reciprocating that same unique, eclectic energy.”
Eric Benny Bloom of Honkytonk Express and Lettuce said, “Two Moons is one of the most beautiful venues in Denver. The sound system is literally top-notch (using) Meyer Sound and the staff treats the musicians like VIPs.”
Both commented on the sheer variety of people they see in the venue, from couples enjoying a casual date night to fans who will dance in front of the stage all night to people who decided to pop in for a cocktail after leaving a gala.
Because the area is so popular, their shows often get walk-ins, which creates new fans and helps the artists bring a fresh vibe to their shows. Both artists are on the schedule this month, and you can make reservations on the Two Moons website.
The venue is coming to be known for more than just music. The Two Moons space also gives the whole team an even bigger opportunity to put on larger events, fundraisers and more alongside their neighbors along Larimer Street. Most of their events have an aspect of giving back, and they use door and bar sales to raise money for non-profits and partners.
In all parts of the business, Soffes strives to create something exceptional. Booking talented acts is just one part of what makes for a great night. Since opening, he’s been making upgrades to the sound and audio engineering, working to make sure artists sound incredible in the space.
The team also designed the menu so that the cocktails can come out in less than five minutes, and they have light bites for late-night snacking.
Every location, not just Two Moons, has N/A options, including cocktails, beer and wine. Soffes has recently had more patrons asking for the option, and he’s been happy to see more N/A products hitting the market to fill that need that also happen to taste really good.
Each of these choices ensures that every guest feels comfortable and has a great time. When asked about his year one goals, Soffes said he wants people to leave with a smile on their faces—and to come back next week!
To learn more about Two Moons Music Hall and the upcoming shows, visit twomoonsmusic.com