And so that age-old dilemma rears its ugly head again. That one of beloved venues closing, of rising rents squeezing out intimate cultural hubs, soon to be replaced by a glittering wine bar or something of that ilk. It’s a familiar story and now it’s being told in the context of Skylark Lounge.

“After a four-year effort, Skylark Lounge has become a world class and profitable live music venue,” says David Cosman, founder of the bar-venue-lounge. Indeed, since its birth, Skylark has defied the odds, establishing itself as one of Central’s go-to places for live music. Regulars have fed steadily on a rotating diet of styles: from the ever-popular country and western hoedown nights on Wednesdays to Latin-sparked jazz and open jams.

But the reason that everyone has been talking about Skylark recently has been the resident weekend performances of Bobby Taylor – the man that headed up 60s soul outfit, the Vancouvers, and, as legend tells it, discovered the Jackson 5, introduced them to Motown records, and eventually became their first producer.

While Skylark on Wyndham may be closing, Taylor fans should fret not. We hear it’s not the end of the band and they’ll hopefully be playing a venue close to you very soon. Perhaps, even, in a brand new Skylark. Says Cosman: “We plan to open a new Skylark but have not yet found a space.”

Mark Tjhung