Other than his 30 years as a Providence public school teacher, Rick Sunderland’s resume reads like a partial directory of Rhode Island nightclubs. Bon Vue Inn, Sh-booms, Club Café, Century Lounge.
Armed with decades of experience and a passion for live music, in 2010 he opened Dusk in a former industrial warehouse building on Harris Avenue in Providence.
Tucked away across the train tracks from the bustle of Federal Hill, Dusk prioritizes dim lighting and vintage aesthetics over modern amenities, though the club is known for its generous acoustics gained from its intimate space and isolated location.
Surrounding the small stage, where patrons can be within arm’s length of musicians, is a horseshoe-shaped bar under a chandelier. There are leather couches in the corners, lighted candles on the bar top, velvet curtains on the walls.
For 30 years, Sunderland has been a full-time health and gym teacher at Central High School.
He has no plans to quit his day job.
“I like the concept of making people feel happy and welcome,” he said, “creating a space for artists and musicians to play.”
Known for hosting heavy metal bands and related subgenres, Sunderland likes to point out that Dusk offers a wider variety of performances and tastes. The locally famous Soul Power Dance Party has been a monthly mainstay for years. They’ve also held reggae, burlesque dancers, rhythm and blues, jazz and hip-hop events.
“I tell people we are a full spectrum and all-inclusive club,” Sunderland said. “The DIY [do it yourself] underground vibe is something that we pride ourselves on. We call ourselves a classy dive bar.”
With expenses rising in the hospitality industry, Sunderland has resisted passing on costs to customers.
“Some people say it’s too cheap. But I don’t want to break anyone’s bank,” he said. “I want people to enjoy themselves.”
In the live music venue business, everyone wants a piece: the taxman, companies requiring licensing fees, the late-night break-in artist. The venue recently fell victim to an overnight robbery that cleared the cash register and thousands of dollars of equipment.
But Sunderland’s characteristic generosity over the years paid off. Longtime Dusk bartender Danielle Tellier quickly set up a GoFundMe account that as of Dec. 6 had raised $8,810 toward a $10,000 goal.
Dusk was never meant to be a money printer, but rather a gathering place for members of a resilient subculture – the types of people who prefer vinyl records over streaming music – finding there are less options for a cheap night out and the collective experience of art in real time.
You might hear about club owners getting rich, but Sunderland has never met any of them. Keeping the lights on and the amps plugged in is enough.
“Dusk is a business of passion, not of profit. I do it because I love music and talking to strangers who love music as much as I do,” said Sunderland, who gives much of the credit to his staff members, many of whom have been there since the beginning, he said. “I’ve been very fortunate to have an amazing staff. They are good, trustworthy people, and they are part of the journey with me.”
OWNER: Rick Sunderland
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Live music venue
LOCATION: 301 Harris Ave., Providence
EMPLOYEES: Eight
YEAR FOUNDED: 2010
ANNUAL REVENUE: WND
