The Flamingo Lounge, Formerly Jimmy Can't Dance, Announces First Shows

For years, local musician and concert booker McKinley Moore turned Kaiju’s stage into a staple of the music scene, creating a place where you could see a diverse range of local acts and a steady stream of talented, nationally-touring bands. Now, he’s trying to do the same with The Flamingo Lounge, a brand new venue that’s opening on Seventh Street in downtown this week. Located in the basement space that once was the jazz club Jimmy Can’t Dance, the 100-person venue will now feature indie, punk, hip-hop and several other genres.

“I just want to create a place downtown where locals feel comfortable coming and want to come to because I used to hang out a lot downtown when I first moved here, but the past 10 or 15 years, I feel like everything downtown has been directed to tourists and that’s always seemed like a mistake to me because a downtown is very important, and people in a city should want to be there not avoid it,” Moore said.

The Flamingo Lounge opens on Wednesday, July 21 with performances by Charles Rivera, Scott Hildreth and Justin Heaverin Trio. The venue, located on 119 S. Seventh St., is operated by Against the Grain. The brewing company leases the building — which used to hold the popular lunch spot Another Place Sandwich Shop and the aforementioned Jimmy Can’t Dance — with the plan of keeping the spirit of those businesses alive. The ground floor will now be Against the Grain Sandwich Emporium, while the subterranean Flamingo Lounge will aim to be a fixture for local music.

There is a thick musical ecosystem in Louisville, from large arenas to small spaces like this, which are the entry point for a lot of solid local talent. Most of the artists that play at theaters and auditoriums established themselves at the tiny standing rooms that give people early chances.

“I feel like, a lot of times, with local bands, venues treat them as an afterthought and I don’t think that’s a good way to go about it,” Moore said.

Here’s a list of every show the venue has announced so far:

Wednesday, July 21: Charles Rivera, Scott Hildreth and Justin Heaverin Trio

Thursday, July 21: Phourist & the Photons and Darlington Pairs

Friday, July 23: 2026 Presents Sneaky Links featuring Magic Domdi, Daddi Frankie, Kamara, and Ivry

Saturday, July 31: The Kentucky Cowhands & Heather Summers

Saturday, Aug. 7: Mike Bandanna

Saturday, Aug. 14: Buddy Crime

Friday, Aug. 20: PAKG

Saturday, Aug. 21: CHEW (Atlanta)

Monday, Aug. 23: Jack Holiday and the Westerners

Saturday, Sept. 4: Belushi Speedball

Thursday, Sept. 16: TK & the Holy Know-Nothings (Portland)

[Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect that Against The Grain does not own the building at 119 S. Seventh St..]

Top Story

15 Art Exhibits You Can See In Louisville This Month

Recent

Take A Photographic Ride Along The Monon Railroad With Upcoming New Albany Carnegie Center Exhibit

Keep Louisville Theater Weird: The Fringe Festival Returns Next Week

Louisville-born Filmmaker To Debut Horror Anthology Film, ‘8 Days To Hell,’ At Village 8 Theatres

The Fine Art Of Financing: 6 Opportunities For Louisville Artists To Get Seen, Funded

Top Story

Three Concerts To Catch In Louisville This Weekend

Recent

Stimulus Money Finally Rolls Into Indie, Louisville Music Venues, But Some Still Wait

My First Concert In Louisville Since COVID: An Anxious, Uproarious Experience With Prayer Line

Louisville Palace, Mercury Ballroom Announce First Performances Since The Pandemic

Plugged-in

Top Story

Churchill Downs Investing $76 Million Into Derby City Gaming Expansion, Hotel And More

Recent

Louisville Court Chaos Leaves Some Unaware They’re Missing Court Dates

LMPD, We’re Asking You Once Again, End Traffic Stops Now

Thorns And Roses: Kentuckian Takes Olympic Gold, What Happened To Ta’Neasha Chappell

The ‘Victoria’s Secret Karen’, Abigail Elphik, And The Stages Of White Tears

Top Story

New Restaurant, Big Bad Breakfast, To Take Over Former Lynn’s Paradise Café Location

Recent

Louisville’s Faces Bistro Settles On Menu — And Into Our Hearts

Noosh Nosh Is The Affordable, Yet Still Delicious Foil To Louisville’s Anoosh Bistro

Green District Salad Chain Sets Highlands Opening Date

A Happy Return To El Mariachi, A Favorite Taqueria

Top Story

Wizard of Oz

Recent

Terrapin Flyer

Sundance Short Film Tour

Summer SLAYcation

‘You Got Your Secret On’

The Flamingo Lounge, Formerly Jimmy Can’t Dance, Announces First Shows

Advertisement

Comments

Publishing Louisville's arts and entertainment news, community-focused stories, and colorful local commentary since 1990.