In 1983, while still in high school, Eric Suher began working in various roles for the New Rhythm and Blues Quartet, launching a promoting career that has spanned four decades. In 1995 Suher purchased the Iron Horse Music Hall in downtown Northampton, Massachusetts, to ensure its continued place in the community, and shortly thereafter he also purchased and renovated the historic Calvin Theater (built in 1924) and Pearl Street Nightclub. As steward of these three venues, Suher has kept this small New England college town on the map for the live blues circuit. The walls of the 170-seat Iron Horse have many stories to tell, having witnessed performances by a who’s who of the blues, including veterans such as Willie Dixon, Honeyboy Edwards, Johnny Winter, Koko Taylor, Hubert Sumlin, Mose Allison, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds, as well as newer names on the scene such as Shemekia Copeland, Albert Cummings, and Samantha Fish?. When the Horse couldn’t hold ’em, the 1,300-seat Calvin Theater has accommodated larger crowds for legends such as B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’, Warren Haynes, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jonny Lang, and Robert Craybut nothing beats great live blues music up close and personal at the Iron Horse.
