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Newport Music Hall Documentary

By Larry Philpot on September 23, 2020

New documentary offers in-depth look at America’s longest running rock club, celebrating 50 years of music history.

“If These Walls Could Talk” | A Newport Music Hall Documentary
Wednesday, September 30 at 8 p.m. ET
Watch the extended trailer here

New documentary offers in-depth look at America’s longest continually running rock club, celebrating 50 years of music history
Exclusive never-before-seen performances and interviews
with world-renowned artists & music industry giants offer a rare inside look at legacy behind historic music venue

COLUMBUS, Ohio (September 22, 2020) – A new independently produced documentary, “If These Walls Could Talk” looks back at the legacy behind Columbus, Ohio-based The Agora/Newport Music Hall, America’s longest continually running rock club, as it celebrates 50 years in 2020. Ohio is no stranger to music history as home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, world famous musicians of all genres and some of the most famous venues in the U.S. Providing an inside look at live music history and its progression to cultural phenomenon, the hour-long film features exclusive never-before-seen footage and performances alongside intimate accounts and personal memories of what the historic central-Ohio venue has meant to some of music’s biggest artists and most influential industry professionals.

“If These Walls Could Talk” will air live on facebook.com/PromoWestLive and the PromoWest TV YouTube Channel on Wednesday, September 30 at 8 p.m. ET. Fans will also have the opportunity to comment and interact live via Facebook and Instagram. Watch the extended trailer here.

“We wanted to do something big for the 50th anniversary of The Agora and Newport Music Hall and given the time we are currently living in, we thought there was no better way to celebrate than to put the history together in this documentary,” said Scott Stienecker, AEG Presents Regional VP and PromoWest Productions CEO. “This venue has been the longest continually running rock club in the country and it has impacted so many people from artists to agents to staff, we are excited to show the history and share this story.”

At the film’s core are notable performances and interviews featuring B.B. King, Queen, AC/DC, Joe Walsh, The Smashing Pumpkins, Walk the Moon, O.A.R., CAAMP and Twenty One Pilots, along with industry professionals including Stienecker, Hank LoConti (Owner, The Agora), Marissa McClellan (PromoWest Productions and AEG Presents), Dave Watson (Columbia Records), Randy Malloy (CD102.5, Columbus) and Jerry Elliott (QFM96, Columbus).

“The Agora / Newport Music Hall is a staple in the city of Columbus and has provided music fans access to some of the greatest artists of all time,” said Jason Corron, Function 5 Owner and CCO, and PromoWest TV Executive Producer. “We wanted to create a documentary that brought some of the performances, the artists, and the stories behind all of it to life. Our intention, and hope, is that this unique perspective, from both the artists and the people who have made it possible, will cement the Newport in its place as one of the greatest live music venues in rock and roll history.”

About Newport Music Hall

A musical mecca of the Midwest, the Newport Music Hall holds the honor of being the Longest Continually Running Rock Club in the country. Originally built in 1923 as a movie theatre, the facility was converted into The Agora Ballroom in 1970 until purchased by PromoWest in 1984, reopening as the Newport Music Hall. Located on the campus of the Ohio State University, Newport Music Hall maintains the preservation of its historical ballroom architecture and the legacy of its past and present performers. With a 1,700-person capacity and hosting over 150,000 guests a year, the Newport Music Hall has become one of the most legendary rock clubs in the country.

About PromoWest TV (PWTV): Founded in 2009, PromoWest TV is a Media Production Company primarily focused on capturing live music content recorded at the PromoWest family of concert venues; including the Newport Music Hall, Express Live!, Stage AE, A&R Music Bar and The Basement. PWTV produced “PromoWest Live,” a live music program which aired on NBC4 in Columbus, Ohio, from 2009-2019 at 1 a.m. immediately following Saturday Night Live. PWTV has also produced live music videos for international distribution and continues to produce weekly Episodes of PWTV featuring live performances, artist interviews, and exclusive content online at promowesttv.com and youtube.com/c/PromoWestTV. Accolades include: Telly Award Recipient (PromoWest Live, 2009 – 2011); NATAS Ohio Valley Region Emmy Award Nominee (PromoWest Live, 2009 – 2013). For more information, visit: promowesttv.com | youtube.com/c/PromoWestTV | facebook.com/promowesttv | @promowesttv