Music News

Just a few days after its cancellation was announced, the Rhythm and Blues concert series at the former Hotel RL is back on.

Booker Crain Heimbigner says the hotel's new owners were able to attain the proper permit from the city, and the concerts will resume Friday night as previously scheduled. Abbey Crawford's cabaret show, originally part of the Hotel RL lineup, will still go on at the Spokane Club Friday night.

Here is the remaining schedule; all concerts are free and all-ages, and begin at 6 pm:

Fri, July 27: Sammy Eubanks
Sat, July 28: Soul Proprietor
Fri, Aug. 10: High Tide: A Beach Boys Tribute
Sat, Aug, 11: Paperback Writer: A Beatles Tribute
Fri, Aug. 17: Shakewell
Sat, Aug. 18: Christy Lee
Fri, Aug. 24: Masterclass Big Band Rhythm & Blues Revue
Sat, Aug. 25: Peter Rivera & Celebrate, with Sidestep

Here's our original story on the short-lived cancellation:

When Hotel RL was sold last week, one crucial thing was not transferred to the new owners: the hotel's popular summer concert series.

The outdoor music series, recently rebranded Rhythm and Brews, entered its fourth year in June, and 2018's lineup already featured free, all-ages performances by Milonga and Too Slim & the Taildraggers.

On a public Facebook post Friday, Rhythm and Brews booker Craig Heimbigner confirmed that all remaining concerts had been canceled when Hotel RL changed ownership.

"They sold the hotel and gave none of the bands nor me ... any notice or warning," he wrote.

Heimbigner, who also books musical acts for Pig Out in the Park, tells the Inlander that he was notified of the cancellation just hours before Friday night's band, Smash Hit Carnival, was set to take the stage. Blues favorite Sammy Eubanks was scheduled to perform the following evening.

"It's just too bad. The Hotel RL could have let us know," Heimbigner says. "These bands are calling me, asking, 'What's the deal?'"