Earlier this year, two popular music venues in Athens, The Union and Casa Nueva, implemented a two-week radius clause that might affect the local music scene, according to locals involved in the community. However, event coordinators for the establishments say the clause will help diversify the music scene and promote struggling bands.
The two-week radius clause requires groups who book a performance to refrain from all other performances in Athens for two weeks before and after the show. This clause includes formal venues as well as house show venues.
The clause went into effect at the beginning of the fall semester and will stay in place for the foreseeable future. As of now, The Union and Casa Nueva are the only venues to enforce it. The clause has been adopted for multiple reasons, including overperforming and the promotion of newer bands.
Event coordinator for The Union, Myke Linscott, said the clause is also set to promote visibility within the scene.
“We needed to codify something so that we’re being fair and equitable,” Linscott said. “A lot of those opportunities that might go to bands who already have a ton of opportunities are going to go to bands who are struggling to find them.”
With local bands, touring bands and student organizations booking events, overplaying was an underlying problem. Linscott hopes the clause will help newer bands gain traction and encourage a rotation of performances.
Jane Hoover, booking coordinator for Casa Nueva, shares the same stance on the meaning behind the clause. She said it’s common for a couple of popular bands to receive most or all of the “good gigs” in Athens.
“This is generally just to try and diversify, give everyone else a shot,” Hoover said.
Exceptions are still expected to be made for specific circumstances. Instances such as Ohio University-affiliated events or shows falling just within the two-week range are problems that have already been brought up and addressed with both venues.
Hoover said the clause does not come with repercussions, and describes the clause as more of a guideline at Casa Nueva. Linscott said The Union considers “mitigating circumstances.”
“We want to have this policy, but we don’t want to stop people from playing,” Linscott said. “This should be something that bands consider when they accept shows.”
Linscott said The Union is open to feedback.
“There’s been some skepticism initially, and everybody who’s wanted to talk about the policy, I have made time to talk about this with them,” Linscott said. “I appreciate them taking time to talk with me about it, and all those conversations have gone really well.”
Artists within the scene have raised concerns about how this will affect shows, traction and the overall scene moving forward. Airbag, a local indie-rock band who formed during the 2025-26 school year, stands against this clause. Airbag’s main worry is how this will affect the ability of newer bands to gain recognition.
Quinn Carmichael, a junior studying music production, plays guitar and does vocals for Airbag. Carmichael expressed not understanding why the clause needed to be set in place.
“There’s merit to wanting to get other bands in,” Carmichael said. “There were a lot of times I'm like ‘Man, I’ve seen that band on a lot of posters recently,’ which isn’t necessarily bad considering I don’t have to go to the show.”
Tsujigiri is another band local to Athens. Luke Mcghee, a junior studying music performance, plays bass, guitar and vocals for Tsujigiri. Mcghee said Tsujigiri has already been granted an exception from the clause for two of their upcoming shows.
“I think right now the enforcement of it is pretty loose, and from what I've heard it hasn’t restricted anyone yet,” Mcghee said.
Mcghee said much of the discussions he’s had regarding the clause with those in the music community have been negative, including in conversations he’s had with house show bookers.
*“I know some other bands who I talked to, they specifically said they don't want to play the big venues anymore,” Mcghee said. “They're going to stick to house shows because they don't agree with the rules.”
The two-week radius clause specifically includes house shows, which has raised heavy concern with the owners of popular house show venues. One popular venue, The Slab, is worried about how this will affect upcoming shows.
Cayden Anthony, one of the founders of The Slab, has numerous concerns about the clause and said they have already been affected by it. The Slab is set to host Slabstock on Aug. 29 with a 10-band lineup. Since the two-week radius clause has gone into effect, one band has already dropped out due to the clause.
While Anthony acknowledges the clause may help newer bands integrate themselves within the music scene, he said specific mention of house shows is “not right.”
“The Slab is nothing without local talent and local appreciation of music,” Anthony said. “The Slab is its community, which is why we're so community-forward.”
