Composer Alan Howarth played a Halloween show. (B+B's Instagram)

Composer Alan Howarth played a Halloween show. (B+B’s Instagram)

Sadly, the rumors are true: 285 Kent, the beloved Williamsburg DIY venue, is closing, per Pitchfork, which is co-presenting the final four shows. The last one, on Jan. 19, will feature Fucked Up, DIIV, White Lung, Guardian Alien and Lodro.

The venue’s booker, Ric Leichtung, told The Fader that he’s “incredibly upset” about the closure, but felt he and his partners “should probably go out with our heads up rather than be shut down or evicted.”

In a q&a/post-mortem with the mag, Leichtung explained, “We were getting so much unwanted attention from authorities that we decided to move out and move on.” He went on to say, “The landlord isn’t open to negotiating a lease extension at this time. The lease is not over in January or February, March or even April. But at the same time, you look around and you see the presence of Two Trees, which is the real estate development firm behind the Domino sugar factory redevelopment, you see signs of them all over the neighborhood.”

In a q&a with Sound of the City, Leichtung says, “a space like this is no longer sustainable in Williamsburg,” and reveals he’s going on to book shows at Baby’s All Right, Silent Barn, and perhaps Glasslands and Trans-Pecos while “looking for a home and a place to call my own.”

According to 285 Kent, advance tickets to the goodbye shows are selling “super fast”, but a limited number will be released at the door. Meanwhile, folks are mourning on Twitter, each in their own way:

 

 

When rumors of the closure broke last month, a petition called on Jay-Z and Beyonce to save the venue. Sadly, it only garnered 370 signatures.

Related: Watch Todd P, Peter Shapiro and Other North Brooklyn Club Owners Talk Nightlife and DIY