It’s official—one of San Francisco’s most historic music venues has begun its own farewell tour.
Last Friday, Bottom of the Hill announced that it will close its doors by the end of the year.
“We make this announcement with great difficulty,” the owners said via Facebook. “Bottom of the Hill’s final year will be 2026, and our last day will be next New Year’s Eve.”
Ramona Downey, Kathleen Owen and Lynn Schwarz, who own Bottom of the Hill, told Coyote Media that the decision was for a mix of financial and personal reasons, including the desire to move onto other projects after 35 years.
“Together we have nurtured Bottom of the Hill over the decades—it’s our child,” the owners said, adding that some of their employees have been with them for over a decade.
It’s a shocking blow to the Bay’s live music scene, which otherwise seemed on the verge of an exciting resurgence.
Last year saw the revival of Mabuhay Gardens — a historic punk space instrumental in the rise of the Dead Kennedys, Devo, Blondie and others — and the rise of several new East Bay venues like Ceremony and The Planetarium.
It’s also a blow to hundreds of local acts that book the venue every year, from rising stars to cover bands.
Now more than ever, Bottom of the Hill is the kind of gem that’s becoming rarer.
Once called “the best place to hear live music in San Francisco” by Rolling Stone Magazine, it’s a professionally run, small-scale venue with neon interiors, cheap tickets and a bustling lineup of talent.
Since 1991, it’s been the kind of place where audiences could see A-list talent in an intimate setting. We’re talkin’ bands like Arcade Fire, The White Stripes, Oasis, Alanis Morissette, Marilyn Manson, The Strokes, Pavement, Lush and Cake.
It is also one of the ever-rarer places in town that isn’t bogged down by some exclusive contract with Ticketmaster. All ticket sales are done through the venue’s website or in-person, at the doors.
In 2011, SF Gate called it the “heart of San Francisco’s indie rock scene.”
But A-listers aside, it’s also been a place where everyone goes to perform. Local acts make up the lion’s share of bookings, creating their own scene of indie rockers, hip-hop emcees, DJs, hardcore punks and cover bands with nowhere else to go — all of which gravitate around the space.
So yes, Green Day’s played there, but so has their energetic tribute band, Not.GreenDay.
It’s also a place where history just seemed to happen.
In 1996, a 1,200-person riot broke out at the venue after a local radio DJ let slip that Beastie Boys would be performing a secret show at the club on Potrero Hill.
Much of that history is still lovingly preserved by the venue in the form of its monthly calendars, which you can view on its website going all the way back to the early 90s.
Even if Bottom of the Hill has begun its swan song, there’s still room for celebration, the owners said.
In the venue’s “final revolution” around the sun, the owners said they plan to invite some of the thousands of artists from its historic 35-year run back for “one final play on our stage.”
Which, considering everyone who’s played there, could be anyone from Naked Giants to Open Mike Eagle. Especially if they’ve got fond memories of the space.
Or if they’re one of the many bands that have recorded live albums at the venue.
The owners also indicated they could be open to selling the venue to new owners if the fit was right.
Overall, Bottom of the Hill took an optimistic tone in their announcement and stressed that this final year was a celebration, not a funeral.
“Let’s celebrate, for one more spin, how far we came, how many bands we hosted, how many amazing people we worked with,” the owners said.
It’s anyone’s guess what happens from here. But for now, the future of one of the city’s most beloved music spaces hangs in the balance.
So, there’s no time like the present to catch a show at Potrero Hill’s favorite neighborhood venue.
