The Switchyard

“Welcome, everyone. Have you tried the casserole?” Tim Baker calls out from the middle of his living room, which doubles as a stage every Sunday night.

Delectable smells from the kitchen waft in as patrons sample homemade dishes from the potluck many of them contribute to each week before the show. 

Baker and his roommate/partner, Jason Payton, have created a venue in their home called The Switchyard, a venue unlike any other you’ll find in Bloomington.

Started in October 2010, The Switchyard can be easily missed, as it’s just another house with no discernible sign on Monon Street, which is a block away from South Walnut Street.

The Switchyard’s existence can be directly attributed to a dedicated group of friends looking for more options and a strong word-of-mouth campaign that helped it grow.
“It’s been a natural sort of progress — getting together with friends, enjoying good music and good food,” Payton says with a bowl of noodles in his hands.

With instruments ranging from ukuleles to box guitars hanging on every inch of available wall, it is no surprise that The Switchyard primarily hosts acoustic sets.
“We don’t use microphones here,” Payton says. “If a band wants to use an electric guitar, we tell them to make sure you can still sing over it.”

On this night, five-piece student-formed band the Mean Tones set up in the living room while the 20 or so guests find a seat on the floor or around the dining room table. The lights are dimmed while a string of sparkly Christmas lights are plugged in to light up the stage area.

The result is a much more intimate concert setting than you’ll ever find at a larger venue. Fans clap and sing along to better-known songs and maybe grab a bite to eat in between sets.

“It’s a fine line. We’re not quite a house show. Even though it’s a house, we do put on quite a show,” Payton says.

Since its inception, The Switchyard has attracted not only local bands, but also a few notable acts from the Chicagoland area and even The Velours from the U.K.

“Bands really enjoy playing here. It presents a certain challenge, playing mainly acoustic when they may not always do that,” Payton says. “Plus, we find that bands often need to book Sunday nights.”

The Switchyard is in no way hurting to fill their Sunday nights. Booked until March, the guys on Monon Street have some exciting acts coming through.

This Sunday, scheduled to perform are two Chicago-based artists: Jaik Willis, who performed at Bonnaroo last summer, and The Additives.

If you’re planning on attending, be willing to pitch in a dish or donate a couple of bucks to the cause.

Still, both Payton and Baker expressed that they aren’t in it for the money, but for the music.

“If we weren’t doing this, I don’t know what we’d be doing,” Baker says.

Payton agreed, saying, “We love doing this. There is no end date.”