Sin-é (; from the Irish phrase meaning "that's it") was a music venue in East Village, Manhattan. It helped launch the careers of several noted musicians in the early 1990s.
History Original café The original Sin-é, located at 122 St. Mark's Place in Manhattan's East Village, was a small café that served food, coffee, and Rolling Rock beer. It was opened by the Irish immigrant Shane Doyle in 1989. The early days saw a number of poetry readings and acoustic sessions. One group that began to attract a wider audience on Saturday nights was the Clumsy Cabaret,"The Clumsy Cabaret" at Caca Milis Cabaret, archived at the Wayback Machine on August 26, 2013. a late-night gathering that drew musicians (including many of New York's anti-folk scene) after gigs. Acoustic music sessions took place in a spontaneous and creative atmosphere. Patrons included emerging writers, photographers, artists, designers and musicians. Later, as a more established venue, performers played for tips.
Performers such as Allen Ginsberg, Marianne Faithfull, Sinéad O'Connor, Jeff Buckley, appeared at Sin-é, giving impromptu performances. The stage was an area where tables were cleared away against a wall.
The informal atmosphere and regular audience were instrumental in creating a fertile musical scene that flourished until Sin-é closed in 1996. Jeff Buckley's first release was the EP Live at Sin-é (1993).
Later venues In 2000, Doyle opened a 380-capacity version of Sin-é on North Eighth Street just off of Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Due to problems with the city and complaints by nearby residents, the club closed after only a few months.
Opened in 2001 and located at 150 Attorney Street, at the corner of Stanton Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the last Sin-é was named "Best Return Engagement" in New Yorks "Best of New York" issue of March 2003."Best Return Engagement: Sin-é", New York, 2003 The venue and bar closed on April 2, 2007, reportedly due to the area's gentrification.
Further reading Browne, David. Dream Brother: The Lives and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley. HarperEntertainment: 2001, 2002; "Jeff Buckley Sin-é FAQ" Wall, Eamonn (2000). From the Sin-é Cafe to the Black Hills. University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 61–64
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