AJ Swope Performance Plaza to be open-air music venue

AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — A nonprofit organization in Amarillo is working with a local foundation to build a one-of-a-kind music venue in Amarillo. The multi-purpose venue is named after the late AJ Swope, a former employee at KVII-TV, who died in 2013.

The AJ Swope Performance Plaza will provide memories through music.

“AJ loved music, he loved the stage,” said Wes Reeves, Friends of AJ Swope board member. “He was made for the stage.”

A place where music can be played and enjoyed by everyone is under construction next to the Amarillo Art Institute at the Sunset Complex.

A stage in front of seating in an open-air venue will provide a place for musicians to play.

“We can fill this place up,” said Reeves. “When we get ready to open it plus there’s so many people here in town, I always say this about AJ, he encouraged so many musicians as well so hope to fill this place with all these people who really thought the world of AJ.”

“There’s a lot of love for the music in Amarillo,” said Rachel Flores, executive director of Amarillo Art Institute. “We really wanted to create a space that was really inviting and welcoming and would really set up for musicians and performers to play.”

Reeves tells ABC 7 News funding for the project is secured but they're continuing to raise money working with the Crouch Foundation to provide upkeep at the AJ Swope Performance Plaza.

“My first thought of him was he could make a friend out of anybody and so everybody that met AJ and was around him felt like he was their very best friend and even if they weren’t they just felt that way about him,” said Reeves.

The seating capacity for the AJ Swope Performance Plaza is going to be 1,000.

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Construction is expected to be done sometime in January with the first concert being booked and held sometime in April.