New Music Venue Live at Madrid's Opens in Portland

The 800-capacity venue aims to fill the gap between small clubs and larger concert halls in the city.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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A new music venue called Live at Madrid's is set to open this Friday in Portland, Maine. The 800-capacity venue is located on Fore Street near the city's eastern waterfront and will focus on hosting local and regional bands, as well as some established artists. The venue's first show will feature a well-known local band, Gina and the Red Eye Flight Crew, and the schedule includes a mix of Portland-based acts and regional performers.

Why it matters

The opening of Live at Madrid's comes after the closure of Port City Music Hall, a 550-seat venue that had filled the middle ground between small clubs and larger concert halls in Portland. The new venue aims to provide a space for mid-sized shows that the city has been lacking since Port City's closure in 2020.

The details

Live at Madrid's will feature a main hall with a capacity of about 600, with a mostly standing-room audience space and a 16 by 32-foot stage. Patrons will enter through a 200-capacity lounge area with a bar, ticketing, and a coat-check room. The venue will host a variety of events beyond just live music, including professional wrestling, weddings, and other functions.

  • Live at Madrid's will open this Friday, March 13, 2026.
  • The venue's first show on Friday will feature local band Gina and the Red Eye Flight Crew.
  • Other upcoming shows include album release performances by local acts Gwynne and the Tonics on April 3, OystahGutt on April 11, and Rigometrics on April 18.
  • Well-known Maine bands like Sparks the Rescue, Julia Haven, The Mallett Brothers Band, Spose, and The Ghost of Paul Revere are also scheduled to play the venue throughout 2026.

The players

Live at Madrid's

A new 800-capacity music venue located on Fore Street in Portland, Maine that aims to fill the gap between the city's small clubs and larger concert halls.

Josh Schlesinger

The owner of Live at Madrid's, who has worked in hospitality in Portland for over 20 years and was previously the sales director for Bissell Brothers brewery.

Meg Shorette

The booker for Live at Madrid's, who previously booked acts for the now-closed Port City Music Hall and was a founder of the All Roads Music Festival.

Cam Jones

A local musician who will work on marketing and social media for Live at Madrid's.

Gina and the Red Eye Flight Crew

A well-known local band that will perform the first show at Live at Madrid's on opening night, blending soul, R&B, and pop.

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What they’re saying

“Being new in this business, having this team, this support system, has been so important.”

— Josh Schlesinger, Owner, Live at Madrid's (bangordailynews.com)

What’s next

The venue has about 20 shows currently scheduled into October, with many more to be announced soon. The city council recently passed a moratorium on new venues with more than 2,000 seats, which could impact future concert options in Portland.

The takeaway

The opening of Live at Madrid's provides a much-needed mid-sized music venue in Portland, filling a gap left by the closure of Port City Music Hall and offering a space for local and regional acts to perform in an intimate setting.