Sin-é

The original Sin-é, located at 122 St. Mark's Place in Manhattan's East Village, was a small café that served food, coffee, and Rolling Rock beer. It was opened by the Irish immigrant Shane Doyle in 1989.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/arts/music/29sine.html|title=Gentrification Blues: Requiem for a Cozy, Unassuming Rock Club|first=Melena|last=Ryzik|date=March 29, 2007|accessdate=February 23, 2021|work=The New York Times}} The early days saw a number of poetry readings and acoustic sessions. One group that began to attract a wider audience on Saturday nights was the Clumsy Cabaret,"[http://www.cacamiliscabaret.com/about-us/the-clumsy-cabaret-sin-e-cafe/ "The Clumsy Cabaret"] at Caca Milis Cabaret, [https://web.archive.org/web/20130826103308/http://www.cacamiliscabaret.com/about-us/the-clumsy-cabaret-sin-e-cafe/ archived] at the Wayback Machine on August 26, 2013. a late-night gathering that drew musicians (including many of New York's anti-folk scene) after gigs. Acoustic music sessions took place in a spontaneous and creative atmosphere. Patrons included emerging writers, photographers, artists, designers and musicians. Later, as a more established venue, performers played for tips.

Seasoned performers such as Sinéad O'Connor, Jeff Buckley, Lana Del Rey (as Lizzy Grant), October Project, Marianne Faithfull, Shane MacGowan, Hothouse Flowers, the Waterboys, Allen Ginsberg, Susan McKeown, Star Drooker and the band Native Tongue also appeared at Sin-é, giving impromptu performances. The stage was an area where tables were cleared away against a wall.

The informal atmosphere and regular audience were instrumental in creating a fertile musical scene that flourished until Sin-é closed in 1996. Jeff Buckley's first release was the EP Live at Sin-é (1993).{{Cite web |last=Schoemer |first=Karen |date=2003-10-08 |title=Live at Sin-E |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/live-at-sin-e-189351/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}

In 2000, Doyle opened a 380-capacity version of Sin-é on North Eighth Street just off of Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.{{cite news |last=Gonzalez |first=Carolina |date=July 15, 2001 |title=Greenpoint & W'Burg Getting Ready To Rock |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2001/07/15/greenpoint-wburg-getting-ready-to-rock/ |work=Daily News |location=New York |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250303162144/https://www.nydailynews.com/2001/07/15/greenpoint-wburg-getting-ready-to-rock/ |archive-date=March 3, 2025 |access-date=July 22, 2023}} Due to problems with the city and complaints by nearby residents, the club closed after only a few months.

Located at 150 Attorney Street, at the corner of Stanton Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the last Sin-é was named "Best New Venue" in NY Magazine's "Best of New York" issue of March 2003. On its first birthday, Sin-é was awarded "Best Place to See a Local Band's First Gig" by NY Magazine (March 2004) for helping nurture acts such as the Seconds and the Secret Machines.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

In 2004, the adjoining Sin-e Bar opened by Doyle and two others. The venue and bar closed on April 2, 2007, reportedly due to the area's gentrification.

{{Reflist}}

• Browne, David. Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley. HarperEntertainment: 2001, 2002; {{ISBN|0-380-80624-X}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060222102311/http://jeffbuckley.com/rfuller/buckley/faq/10sine.html Jeff Buckley Sin-é FAQ]
• Wall, Eamonn (2000). From the Sin-e Cafe to the Black Hills. University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 61–64

{{East Village, Manhattan}}

{{Lower East Side}}

{{Williamsburg, Brooklyn}}

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Category:Music venues completed in 1989

Category:2007 disestablishments in New York City

Category:Lower East Side

Category:Cultural history of New York City

Category:Former music venues in New York City

Category:East Village, Manhattan

Category:1989 establishments in New York City