Before you found out about everything through Facebook invites, you could go to one of a number of tri-state area locations and pick up a free Showpaper, which would direct you to countless of rad all-ages shows around town. The editorial team had changed and morphed a number of times, but the paper itself remained a constant in New York’s ever-fluctuating DIY scene for more than seven years. Sadly, like many of the venues they covered, the print publication is shuttering. According to a Facebook status, Showpaper is suspending production.
It is with sadness that we at SHOWPAPER announce that the paper has suspended publishing.
The SHOWPAPER team have toiled for over seven years now to produce a new, beautiful, free, advertising-free newsprint issue of SHOWPAPER every two weeks, without fail, over 190 issues! – and it is with heavy hearts that we now stop publication
We make this difficult decision out of exhaustion at the challenge of funding and producing the newspaper, but we are hopeful that sometime in the near future, after a well-deserved break, we may revive the concept of SHOWPAPER in a new format.
SHOWPAPER has always been a chronicle and document of the scene, and a future revival may continue that role, as well as the public service of providing comprehensive all ages show listings, in the form of a web-based listings page, coupled with a more occasional print newspaper featuring creative, editorial content about the all ages show community.
For now, we at SHOWPAPER bid the NYC tri-state area farewell! It has been our honor to present you listings of Greater New York’s affordable all ages shows, wrapped in a beautiful cover designed by a prominent visual artist, every other Wednesday for 7 years!
Please keep going to shows, starting bands, putting on shows, and opening venues – you can DO IT YOURSELF.
Hope to see you soon – love, SHOWPAPER
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HUGE, HUGE SHOUT OUT TO
EVERY VOLUNTEER THAT WORKED ON SHOWPAPER OVER THE YEARS
EVERY ARTIST THAT DONATED THEIR WORK TO A SHOWPAPER COVER
EVERY BAND THAT PLAYED A BENEFIT FOR SHOWPAPER
EVERY VENUE THAT EVER HOSTED A BENEFIT FOR SHOWPAPER
EVERY BENEFACTOR WHO EVER DONATED MONEY TO SUPPORT THE PAPER
EVERYONE AND EVERY ENTITY THAT HAS SUPPORTED SHOWPAPER OVER THE YEARS
♥♥♥♥ XOXOXOXOXO – SHOWPAPER
Much like the shows it would direct you to, there was something very special and very IRL about going to a show and being handed a sheet of newsprint. Beyond being a functional resource, Showpaper doubled as an art object—one side would list the shows, the other would feature art by visual artists carefully curated by the Showpaper editors. Running any kind of print enterprise is not easy, and with the Market Hotel starting to throw shows again, it’s not surprising that Showpaper proprietor Todd Patrick would need to focus resources elsewhere. We hope Showpaper continues to grow and evolve in other forms, but can’t say we’re not bummed to see it go.
