After two months, a void in Lexington’s music scene has been (re) filled, and it’s out of this world. Initially scheduled to open on Oct. 29, the new Cosmic Charlie’s, located at 723 National Avenue, officially opened last Thursday, Dec. 1, holding their first show, a tribute to The Pixies and Weezer, the following night.

During the delay, many of the shows booked throughout November at Cosmic Charlie’s were relocated to other venues around Lexington rather than being cancelled altogether. Most shows were moved to The Burl, with others finding homes at Willie’s Locally Known, The Green Lantern, Mirror Twin Brewing Co. and Collins-Southland Bowling Center.

According to Cosmic Charlie’s co-owner Mark Evans, who also works with Louisville-based booking agency Vectortone, the initial deadline to open the new location was “unrealistic.”

“To completely convert an empty warehouse to a full venue, it takes a lot more than a month,” Evans said. “We got lucky to get it done in two months really.”

Luckily patience is a virtue, and the new Cosmic Charlie’s, nestled in the ever-expanding Warehouse Block on National Avenue, provides a much-needed improvement from the deteriorating old venue in the plaza on the corner of Euclid and Woodland Avenues, which housed Cosmic Charlie’s since 2009. 

While the new space is smaller in terms of square feet, the open floor plan and heightened ceilings make the new hub feel much larger. Evans also hopes to hold more 18 and up shows at the new venue which is now transplanted away from UK’s campus, adding that it all comes down to what insurance allows. 

“If you’re old enough to die in a war or gamble you should be able to go to a concert,” Evans said.

However, Evans does plan on bringing much more diversified acts to the new venue to help reach a broader audience, including residents of the new neighborhood Cosmic Charlie’s now resides in.

“Whenever we opened at the old spot I was a little more on fire with my booking, so now I’m trying to bring back more consistently good acts that are intriguing to every music fan in Lexington,” Evans said.

Even with the desire to bring in new acts, Evans added that mainstays such as Sunday Service with Restless Leg String Band and Grateful Monday with Lee Owen and friends aren’t going anywhere.

Cosmic Charlie’s has a hodge-podge of shows already on the books, including a two-night celebration this weekend to honor local Grateful Dead cover band Born Cross Eyed for their 25 year anniversary. 

Comedian Shane Mauss rolls into town on his comedy tour about psychedelics on Dec. 13 followed by renowned rapper Kool Keith on Dec. 14. Helping ring in 2017 will be Unknown Hinson, voice of Early Cuyler on Adult Swim’s “Squidbillies,” on Dec. 31 with his comedic blend of rockabilly and country music.

To view Cosmic Charlie’s full list of upcoming events, visit cosmic-charlies.com.