Reviewed by: Amelia Pilgrim
NEW: Legendary Tip Top Cafe set for long-awaited reboot
Reading time: 3 minutes
It’s been nearly two decades since the last band took the stage at the Tip Top Cafe in Huntsville, but in just a couple of weeks, the legendary dive bar and music venue will once again host live music.
After attempts by multiple owners and promoters to re-open the venue, the partners from St. Stephens Music Hall are teamed up with the owner of Veloce Pizza to bring the Tip Top Cafe back to the Huntsville music scene.
Tip Top Cafe is back!
Located at 125 NW Maple Ave, Huntsville, AL 35801 in the Lincoln Mill area, the newest version of the Tip Top Cafe will feature live music, some vintage arcade games, a full bar and pizza and sandwiches.
Tip Top’s new operators, John Chamness and Evan Billiter (founders of St. Stephens Music Hall and Campus No. 805) and Veloce’s Pizza owner Trevar Akins (of the Huntsville Beastie Boys tribute band Beastie Goys), have seen this project finally come to fruition after several others had tried and failed to resurrect the space.
Upcoming shows include:
- November 27: Blues jam hosted by Otis Walker
- November 29: King’s Haze
- December 6: Them Damn Dogs
- December 13: The Ladies Of../Dave Anderson Project
The iconic venue makes its return
The bar and music venue was a must-visit for anyone in Huntsville who enjoyed live music, and between 1985 and 1995, the Tip Top hosted a bevy of local and regional talent, from Follow For Now and Three Hour Tour to Microwave Dave, Storm Orphans and White Animals.
Some folks might also recall seeing upstart bands (at the time) like Widespread Panic, The Black Crowes, Goo Goo Dolls and 311, while others perhaps remember of visits to the small venue by legends like Bo Diddley and Cheap Trick.
Memories of the Tip Top from its previous incarnation may vary, but the re-opening promises to create even more musical memories. Check out the schedule on the venue’s website.
Stay in the know, Huntsville! Follow Hville Blast on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.
