SONAR, BALTIMORE, MD RE OPENED, MARYLAND DEATH FEST SET FOR May 26-29, 2011

One again, despite SONAR (BALTIMORE, MD MUSIC VENUE) liquor license expiring 5/1/2011, it is official, as SONAR has RE OPENED and the 2011 MARYLAND DEATH FEST set for the dates May 26-29, 2011 will take place at it's usual location SONAR, Baltimore, MD.
FROM BALTIMORE SUN:
Sonar re-opens, for the time being; Maryland Deathfest, Deftones to go on as planned

Sonar has re-opened, acting general manager Dan McIntosh said.

The announcement first appeared on the club's Facebook page late on Friday, as abruptly as the news that the club had shut down in the first place.

"I think Sonar will be able to open within 2 weeks and many if not of the all of shows scheduled from that point on should be able to occur as originally planned. Its definitely a fight but we are still in it!" the update read.

By Saturday, the announcement was definitive: "Sonar has been reopened! We are working hard at getting our liquor license back in place, this should be resolved very quickly!"

The re-opening means that the Maryland Deathfest and Deftones, along with a handful of shows that would have been stranded by the shutdown, won't have to relocate.

Saturday's Steve Ignorant show, which was announced as a cancellation, went on as planned.

McIntosh said the club is trying to recover its liquor license, and should have it within a week.

All's good then! Well, not exactly.

It's not clear how the club will get its liquor license back; its own expired on May 1 after Sonar founder Lonnie Fisher chose not to renew it. And Fisher did not appear to want to keep the license. Instead, he said, he'd been trying to transfer it to one of the Sonar's other owners.

While McIntosh originally blamed Fisher for not renewing the license, he now said a license transfer was in place. It had just been waiting for the club to be tax-compliant, which they were as of April 30.

McIntosh said Michael Stewart, another Sonar owner who'd been involved with the club since it first opened on Boston Street, applied for the transfer a year and a half ago.The transfer should be completed within a week, McIntosh said. This has not been independently confirmed with the Baltimore Liquor Board.

With the club back open, it's uncertain if ticket-holders to cancelled shows - Daytrader, and Jukebox the Ghost appear to be two of the casualties - will be refunded. Last week, McIntosh said that the club had been in the red for some time, and didn't have money to process refunds.

But McIntosh backtracked on that too. "Everyone will get their money back," McIntosh said, pausing, then adding, "at some point." No refunds have been made so far.

He pledged that if for some reason Sonar doesn't exist, "Daniel McIntosh will get their money back."

It's also unclear if the club still has problems with the IRS or the Comptroller of Maryland. While McIntosh says that the club's account's were emptied to pay off last year's taxes, Fisher said that one of the reasons he didn't stay with the club is because it retained an intimidating tax liability.

McIntosh insists the club has paid off all of its 2010 taxes.

It remains to be seen how the club's credibility was damaged by the shouting match last week, and threats of the club's demise, a concern McIntosh acknowledges. McIntosh also has a criminal history, extensively reported on by City Paper's Van Smith. In February 2007, as he was on probation for a drug-dealing conviction, he was accused of criminal harassment, charges that were eventually dropped.

"At the end of the day, we're doing all we can to save the situation," and assure promoters of the club's stability, he said.

For now, McIntosh's assurances and Sonar's status updates are upbeat and optimistic. But that's just how they were before last Wednesday's bombshell.

Asked if the club will book shows beyond September 28, the last show currently scheduled at the venue, McIntosh responded, "Absolutely. We believe this situation is going to be resolved."

FROM MARYLAND DEATH FEST PROMOTERS:Once again, Sonar has reopened. No reason for alarm. Spread that around, "news" outlets.
In case you were wondering about Sonar, they have already reopened, so we are back to the regularly scheduled program.

It appears that Hatred Surge have dropped off their entire upcoming tour, so they are no longer playing MDF. The Impalers will now be opening the Friday show.

Please note that ticket orders received until the end of Monday, May 16th will be mailed to you. ALL orders received between May 17th-26th will automatically be placed at will call.
FROM SONAR (MUSIC VENUE, BALTIMORE, MD) VIA TWITTER:
Sonar has been reopened! We are working hard at getting our liquor license back in place, this should be resolved... http://fb.me/UO31VUzH
Ok it's FINALLY OFFICIAL!! The DEFTONES shows are 100% happening at Sonar and all tickets will be honored! We... http://fb.me
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-