We did not plan however, for cases of COVID-19 to be doubling in the US every couple of days and the governor of Illinois to hold a conference on this day while our stage was being built ordering restaurants to switch to carry-out only. March 15th, 2020: A new stage is built all in one day, all according to plan.

(We did have 15 lined up on the calendar for the next few months). This ends up being the last show at our space before going into lock-down until… (who knows)! At first we announced that we were cancelling the shows we had lined up for the next two weeks. March 14th, 2020: The Blushe EP release show is held at Dumb Records as we fall closer and closer into uncertain times as COVID-19 starts to sweep the globe. The band Mother Leopard performs a reunion show. January 19th, 2020: Jeff Black’s first show as a partner in Dumb Records is a success, and is the second show where the venue is flipped around (and an updated PA system and backdrop). He then tells us that we need to raise $18,000 to pay to get our leaking roof replaced (on his building), and it’s at that point we are certain we can sadly no longer continue in our home of 13+ years.

Later on we also raise $2,300 to go towards fixing an expensive heat pump inside the Black Sheep building, and George throws a tantrum because his name was not on the fundraiser for the heat pump. At one point we are certain that we won’t be able to continue past June, but once we make it past that point we agree that it is best if we start keeping an eye out for available spaces in Springfield for us to move on to. From here things continue to spiral out of control with George, at one point he presents us with the ultimatum of either getting out or accepting a new owner come in and manage all of Black Sheep and Dumb Records. George continues to refuse to sign any sort of lease with us renting our spaces from him that would protect us from him demanding amounts of money and leaving notes on our doors like this one. May 19th, 2018: George Sinclair, our landlord of 13 years decides to start presenting us with ultimatums because he has not been happy with our refusal to cooperate constantly fundraising money to pay the property taxes on his building (on top of us giving him rent for three spaces every month as it is).

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