Friend’s Club, which is located on Main Street downtown, recently announced that it will be adding live performances on Thursday nights.

The first concert, scheduled for tonight, features local punk band Grubby Ernie, which has earned a name for itself by opening up several concerts by local thrash-core group 35″ Mudder.

Des Moines’ group Smackdab will open.

Friend’s Club’s announcement comes right after Longshot announced that it will not be holding concerts this summer.

“It’s a good thing that Friend’s Club will be adding live music to its schedule,” Grubby Ernie vocalist Brad Thoen said.

“As everyone knows by now, Longshot has closed shop,” he continued, “and I’m not sure if they are opening again or not.

“That is one less venue that local bands will have the opportunity to play at this summer,” he concluded. “The Maintenance Shop has also closed its doors for the summer. So, its nice that Friend’s Club has stepped forward with a place that my group can play at.”

Nobody at Longshot would confirm or deny that the bar would be scheduling concerts anytime soon.

Tonight’s concert at Friend’s Club is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. It is not an all-ages show, but the club is thinking about adding all-ages shows on Saturday evenings in the near future.

Nobody was available at the club to comment on what type of music will be featured in the near future.

“The club should have no problem getting bands to play there,” Thoen said. “It is a really nice facility with a great sound set-up and a nice stage.”

Tickets for tonight’s concert will be on sale at the establishment for $2.