Local News
Music venue to be renamed after business breakup
SALISBURY — Terming it a "mutually made business decision," the Capolupo family will sever its relationship with the owner of Tupelo Music Hall on April 1, renaming its ocean-front, year-round, Salisbury Beach entertainment venue the Blue Ocean Music Hall.
"While the name is changing, the venue, musical genres, the sound, the service and the experience will remain the same," Wayne Capolupo announced through a press release yesterday concerning the change at his entertainment facility at the New Pavilion at the top of Driftway at Salisbury Beach.
Capolupo gutted and completely renovated the former 27,000-square-foot Pavilion Beach Club owned by Harold Nabhan last year. He opened the Seaglass Restaurant in June. The 560-seat entertainment venue became part of the New Pavilion's offerings in November, along with a 250-seat function hall.
Capolupo announced in August the venue would be managed and the entertainment booked by Scott Hayward, owner of the Londonderry Tupelo Music Hall. The room used the name Tupelo Music Hall Salisbury, which will change on April 1. The benefit of working with Hayward, Capolupo said at the time, was his expertise in entertainment venue management, knowledge of the music scene and ties to popular performers, as well as Hayward's existing network of music lovers who patronize his very successful Londonderry Tupelo Music Hall.
Salisbury's venue has produced 40-plus shows attracting more than 10,000 people during its four months of operation under Hayward's management.
Yesterday, however, both Capolupo and Hayward issued simultaneous press releases announcing their split. Hayward, when called, preferred to make no comment beyond saying the split was mutual.
Capolupo expounded a bit more.
"It's a difficult situation to have to make a change at this time" he said. "But in the long term this is for the best. I have absolutely no ill feelings about Scott. He's a great businessman and great model. It just wasn't working."
Capolupo said the split had been discussed over the past two months, with a formal agreement coming about two weeks ago.
"We have a very amicable agreement," Capolupo said. "I'm sure his place will continue to succeed in Londonderry and ours will as well here in Salisbury."
Capolupo said Hayward will continue in his role at the hall until March 31. After that, Bill Buckley will take over the booking and management responsibilities of Blue Ocean Music Hall beginning April 1.
Hayward — who has a background in music — has been running Capolupo's beach area properties, including the New Pavilion's activities and overseeing the music hall, since it opened, Capolupo said. A consultant has been hired to work with Buckley temporarily, he added, to bring him up to speed on the intricacies of booking talent.
Capolupo does not believe Londonderry's Tupelo Music Hall and the soon-to-be Blue Ocean Music Hall of Salisbury will be in competition. More frequently, the two sites will benefit by booking the same artists and bands as they "route through the Northeast," Capolupo said, appearing at both Londonderry and Salisbury.
Capolupo spokeswoman Kathy Aiello said those holding tickets for shows or gift certificates for Tupelo Music Hall Salisbury should rest assured their ticket and gift certificates will be honored and the upcoming entertainers scheduled to perform in Salisbury will be there. And more are to come.
"The public needs to know that the only thing that's changing is the name," Aiello said.
Capolupo, a local champion for the redevelopment of the deteriorated Salisbury Beach Center, has said a key component of bringing Salisbury Beach back to its former grandeur is making it a more year-round destination. Capolupo believes an intimate venue offering quality live entertainment was vital to making the center survive and prosper year-round.
"We have to create and prove the model that this is a vibrant year-round business center and the heart of a thriving year-round community," Capolupo said last November. "Eventually, this will bring people to the beach to live year-round and create a vibrant residential community."
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Tuesday set a notable record: Lifeguards conducted at least 18 rescues, about half of all the rescues they have conducted this summer. Lifeguard supervisor George Nigro said a combination of warm water, hot temperatures, high surf and a high volume of swimmers led to the busy day. -
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NEWBURYPORT — As Hurricane Earl spun toward North Carolina's Outer Banks, local officials were preparing for the worst yesterday, though forecasters continued to expect the storm to veer to the northeast sometime today.
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Chief: Flaggers 'not a good arrangement'
AMESBURY — As the state embarks on a long-awaited widening of Amesbury's Route 110 roadway, local police are expressing some disappointment that the Massachusetts Highway Department is choosing to use flagmen instead of the town's police force to handle increased traffic during construction.
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Councilors balk at $10K for charter consultant
NEWBURYPORT — The City Council hesitated this week when faced with a request from the Charter Commission for $10,000 to hire a consultant to assist in the charter review process, saying they needed more specific information about what the money will go toward.
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City wins $625K to fight youth substance abuse
NEWBURYPORT — The city has received a five-year federal grant totaling $625,000, which will ensure that the Beacon Coalition program will continue to flourish and grow.
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The Beacon Coalition was awarded a $125,000 annual Drug Free Communities Support Program grant for five years from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. - Heard Around Town
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Waves, rescues surge
