Closure of gig venue ‘a crying shame’
A POPULAR music venue in Carmarthen is to close its doors because it can no longer make ends meet.
The Parrot, on King Street in the centre of the town, has faced uncertain times in the past but has kept going through the hard work and dedication of local people who were determined to keep it open.
The venue was the subject of a crowdfunding campaign in 2014, which raised thousands of pounds in order to keep it alive.
Four years on, and seven years after the venue hosted its first live music gig, the Parrot will officially close on December 31.
Announcing the news, a spokesman for the venue said: “We are sorry to say The Parrot will be closing its doors at the end of 2018.
“We would like to thank everyone who has worked here over the years, all the musicians and performers who have played here and everyone who has attended our events.
“We’ve seen so many fantastic shows and the memories will remain in our hearts forever.
“Our schedule for the rest of the year remains unchanged so there are plenty of opportunities to make new memories before we say goodbye on New Year’s Eve.”
The Parrot has been a popular haunt with local bands and those from further afield ever since it opened its doors in April 2011. It has also been home to a number of stand-up comedy events over the years.
Carmarthen comedian Rhod Gilbert never performed at the venue, but he did donate cash back in 2014 that helped to keep the place open.
Another Carmarthen comedian, Elis James, has twice performed his Welsh language stand-up shows at the Parrot, and he called news of the closure “a crying shame”.
The Tangled Parrot, the record shop which is located above the music venue, will remain open.
The Parrot has a packed schedule over what will be its final few weeks of trade, with a number of live bands performing on stage between now and the end of the year.
■ For details on what’s on you can visit @ parrotmusicbar on Facebook.