Decca Live Brings Entertainment to Jacksonville’s Riverfront
JACKSONVILLE, Florida (December 11, 2024) – Live music will soon have a new home in the Bold City. Decca Live, a multi-level music venue and rooftop bar, will celebrate its Grand Opening on Friday, January 31st, 2025 with a performance by Kaskade, an American DJ and EDM star. Tickets are $40 for General Admission Early Entry (before 10:30pm) and $50 for General Admission Tier 1. Doors open at 10pm and this is an 18 and up show.
Buzz has been steadily building since work started on the historic building at 323 East Bay Street in Jacksonville’s Downtown City Center. And with nearly half a decade invested in the project, Decca Live owners Eric Fuller, Evanc “Evan” Rajita, Aleksander Lukaj, and Shawn Rouf can’t wait to bring music and nightlife to a city close to their hearts.
“We all met while Evan and I were attending the University of North Florida, so Jacksonville is a huge part of our story,” says Eric Fuller, co-owner of Decca Live. “As young college kids, we loved going to Freebird Live, listening to music, and throwing parties and events in and around the city. That’s how we met Shawn and Alex. Alex owned one of our favorite event venues, and Shawn is a legend in the Jacksonville nightlife scene, working with the best venues in town. Those skills matured and eventually became our careers – we’re all in entertainment, venue management, and music booking. Our hope with Decca Live is to create a vibrant entertainment hub that can help ignite the downtown area and turn it into a thriving metro.”
Decca Live will occupy two stories plus the basement and roof of the historic building at 323 East Bay Street building in what is quickly becoming a thriving entertainment district. The brick building was constructed in 1904 as part of a downtown revitalization following a devastating fire in 1901. It was originally a hardware store specializing in ship chandlery serving adjacent port-related businesses. The building later became the headquarters for the Florida State Theater Company and earned City of Jacksonville Local Landmark Status in June of 2021. Preserving the historic aspects of the building has been challenging but will contribute to Decca Live’s unique character. The first floor will be open and house the main stage. The second floor will be open to the main floor in a mezzanine style, something Jacksonville music fans have been sorely missing since Freebird Live closed in 2016. The music venue will be able to accommodate approximately 1,000 guests. The rooftop will be its own space, with a separate entrance and a more lounge-focused vibe. The covered rooftop houses a bar with an open-air section for guests to enjoy the river view. As for music, Decca Live will showcase a diverse array of genres and styles. Fuller, a seasoned music producer and venue owner, is excited to bring musicians of all statures and styles to the Bold City.
Key contributions to Decca Live’s transformation include architectural design by JAA Architecture, interior design by Moyano Productions, and production and stage design by Collyns Stenzel of Collyns Design Inc., each bringing a unique touch to the venue’s innovative and immersive atmosphere. BLNK CNVS, a trailblazer in event production, is collaborating as a talent buyer for the venue, bringing their expertise and network to ensure a dynamic range of programming and events.
“We want to bring some world-class entertainment to downtown Jax,” says Evan Rajita, co-owner of Decca Live. “Whether that’s rock, electronic, country, big-name, home-grown, or local bands, we’ve got space for it all. Decca will have in-house programming and bookings, but we will consider an open room and welcome the space to reputable promoters. The venue will also be available for private rentals.”
ABOUT DECCA LIVE: Decca Live is a multi-level music venue and rooftop bar on Downtown Jacksonville’s riverfront. The epicenter of entertainment in the Bold City, Decca Live opens Friday, January 31st, 2025 and will host a diverse range of musical performers. It is located at 323 East Bay Street in Jacksonville, Florida. Rooftop Hours of Operation will be Sunday through Wednesday, 4pm to 12am, and Thursday through Saturday, 4pm to 2am. Learn more at deccalive.com and follow along on social media @deccalive
GRAND OPENING EVENT: Decca Live’s Grand Opening will be Friday, January 31st, 2025 with a performance by Kaskade, an American DJ and EDM star. Tickets are $40 for General Admission Early Entry (before 10:30pm) and $50 for General Admission Tier 1. Doors open at 10pm and this is an 18 and up show.
Photos to accompany the press release can be found here.
