Belleville’s Venue on Main provides outlet for new artists, musicians. See what else they offer
You might think all of the cool places to be in downtown Belleville are on the east side of the fountain.
And with all the shops, restaurants and happenings there, East Main Street is indeed cool. But all too often, places on West Main downtown seem to get overlooked.
It’s unfortunate because there really are some pretty great places there: Restaurants like Golden Dragon and Sip & Chew, awesome shops like Cosmic Comics Games & Collectibles, and great clubs like Club Escapade and Cigar Inn.
And there’s Venue on Main at 200 West Main St.
To be honest, I’m not really one for the bar scene, especially when there’s live music. I often find bars to be too crowded, too loud, and the drink selection not often to my liking.
However, Venue isn’t like most of those places.
Owner Conni Tilley said she and her husband, Bill Tilley, created a “place where we’d want to hang out,” a place that has it all — music, events and a bar with good wine, whiskey and other drinks to wet one’s whistle.
(Except food. Feel free to BYO food.)
Venue is a place where the Tilleys can enjoy the type of music they love and – more importantly – support the talented individuals that write and perform this music.
It’s all about the music
Originally a rental space for private events, Venue on Main evolved into a setting for intimate music events, equipped with a well-stocked bar.
Venue hosts regular shows featuring musicians from Nashville (the one in Tennessee) where the Tilleys go to attend writers’ rounds and singer/songwriter nights. They want to check out the talent and are often recognized there.
According to Tilley, many songwriters and musicians come to Venue. Part of the benefits, aside from getting to play for an audience, is to get feedback on their original work.
The Singer Songwriter Drop In events, held every third Thursday of the month, have two requirements: Bring a guitar, and you have to play original music.
Think of it as a writers workshop.
In their Singer/Songwriter events and other performances with ticket admission and covers, the focus is on the musicians, said Tilley.
She likened these events to the writers nights at the Bluebird Café in Nashville, where the audience is asked to keep conversations to a minimum so others can enjoy the performances.
Bill Tilley is in charge of the sound at Venue and sets up the system so the audience can hear and understand the music and lyrics.
The stage area at the front of the building consists of a four-microphone set-up. On nights with multiple acts, a singer/songwriter plays their own original music. By the end of the evening, it becomes a jam session with a lot of audience interaction.
When it comes to experiencing what Venue has to offer, it’s about the music, according to Conni Tilley.
During performances, the singer/songwriters tell the stories behind their music.
“We have No. 1 writers here,” said Tilley, including artists like Lance Carpenter.
Performers include Texas country chart artists and others on their way up in the industry. Genres include the sounds of Texas, Kentucky and Nashville.
The talent comes from all over. Some months, Venue will feature artists from out of town, including St. Louis, Central Illinois, Kentucky and Nashville.
A lot of people in Nashville aren’t even from Nashville, said Tilley.
Touring artists will stop by and stay and play, according to Tilley. Some might stay overnight.
The most notable example goes back to 2017.
That was the year Nashville-based singer/songwriter Kristen Merlin, who finished fourth overall on season 6 of “The Voice,” was the headliner at Belleville’s Metro East PrideFest.
Merlin stayed in the Airbnb above Venue (more on that later) and became friendly with the Tilleys.
Later, the Tilleys went to see Merlin in a “listening room” performance out of town. Merlin said she wanted to come to Venue with three of her friends to perform and stay in their Airbnb, according to Tilley.
And she did.
Merlin performed at Venue twice in 2021. Tilley said Merlin “got Venue started.”
On Sept. 2, Venue on Main sent out its first “Stories Behind the Songs” email, which featured singer/songwriter Kelli Johnson.
The email provided a bit of background about Johnson’s career (so far) and includes an unreleased demo of her song “Do It Anyway,” written by Johnson, Ava Page and Jon Mullins, who have all performed at Venue.
Johnson and Mullins both performed with Merlin at Venue in 2021.
“It’s cool to get the demo tapes,” said Tilley, because she gets to hear and share songs no one else has heard yet, weeks before they get radio play.
“It’s something no one else is doing,” Tilley said.
She acknowledges that this is something that could make a lot of money but said it’s not about that.
To get “Stories Behind the Songs” and other emails, join Venue on Main’s weekly mailing list via the website.
The Tilleys turned Venue on Main into a place where the music is the most important thing.
More than music to enjoy
Now even if the music styles at Venue aren’t your jam — I’m usually a classic rock/pop/punk girl myself — that shouldn’t keep you from checking out the place.
Some Saturday nights include entertainment by an ‘80s and ‘90s cover band.
Venue features art by local artists.
This month, a daughter and father art exhibition featuring watercolor and oil paintings of Bel Dethrow and Mark Dethrow opens at Venue. An opening reception takes place 5-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23.
The unique space can still be rented for events like bridal or baby showers and other private parties during the day on Saturdays and Sundays.
Then there’s the bar. Bill Tilley is a bourbon guy, so the selection at Venue is a good one.
There is also a nice wine selection. The Tilleys have collected wines since the late 1980s. Conni Tilley said they have higher-end and middle-ground wines.
Customers can order by the glass or bottle to enjoy on site. Bottles of wine are also sold retail at Venue, as are some bourbons.
Tilley said that Venue carries liquors not usually carried at other bars and will hold “Crack the Bottle” events, allowing customers to taste some new, rare and high-end whiskeys. A 1-ounce pour can be sampled for a minimal fee, usually in the $5-$7 range.
While Venue seems to be doing pretty well, Tilley feels they can be better.
“Maybe it’s for a reason we’re not packed solid all the time,” said Conni Tilley, adding that they prefer to focus on quality over quantity.
And that means taking their time and seeing what works, what doesn’t and adjusting as they go.
They currently have four people working for them, and Tilley said they’re like family.
They currently have a bartender, Noam, who is pretty popular with the clientele.
She took classes during COVID, said Tilley, and has a natural ability to mix great drinks.
People will come here and pay to cover just to have Noam’s cocktails, said Tilley.
She admits they could use another mixologist.
“My husband and I did this on our own,” said Tilley. “We’re here to support singer/songwriters [and to] have a good time.”
A bit of background
The Tilleys bought the 1879 building at 200-202 W. Main St. in 2006 for an existing business: Rising Stars Boutique. (Rising Stars is now run online with occasional booths at local events such as Maryville Farmers Market.)
Tilley said the building was completely redone and “built for us.” They moved into the building around 2008 and lived there for eight years.
The second and third floors were transformed into luxury lofts which are available for short-term rentals. (Check out the gorgeous photos on the Airbnb website.)
Venue on Main first opened in January 2020 as the rental space for private events.
You know, bridal and baby showers, anniversary and birthday parties. There were also some live music events on the weekends.
Then the pandemic put the kibosh on that.
To survive, the Tilleys adapted and used their “love of wine, music and bourbon” to stay afloat, according to the Venue website.
In 2020, the main floor at 202 was gutted. Part of the wall shared with 200 was opened up to make room for social distancing.
A cozy seating area was built above the bar area. (It’s pretty nice.)
The building is still a work in progress. The Tilleys are currently opening up another doorway between 200 and 202, towards the back of the space, so customers can move from one side to the other without having to walk in front of the stage during performances.
Venue on Main is located at 200-202 W. Main St. in Belleville. Hours are 6-11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday.
For more info about Venue on Main and upcoming events, visit venuebelleville.com or their Facebook page.
