Since 2017 Cloud 9 Live is a place where local and touring musicians can perform. COVID-19 has brought many changes to the live music bar.
“COVID has just been an ‘it is what it is’ kind of thing for us,” said Cassie Zorn, manager and Bartender at Cloud 9 Live. “We can’t have touring bands and we can’t have the big shows that we used to.”
The business has changed the way it operates so it abides by the COVID-19 restrictions.
Upon entering the bar there is a hand sanitizer and a notebook where you are to write down your name and phone number. Masks are required to be worn unless seated.
“We lost a lot of seating,” Zorn added, motioning around the room. “We had to change it so that everything was six feet apart.”
Seating capacity was at 187 before COVID-19 but it is now at 60.
But COVID-19 hasn’t been the only motivation behind the changes at Cloud 9 Live. As of this month, it has a new special menu featuring Caribbean food.
“[It’s] something unique and interesting,” said Zorn. “It’s something not a lot of places are offering.”
Dameian Reid, the chef at Cloud 9 Live, jumped at the opportunity to bring his cuisine to Saskatchewan.
“It’s something that was missing from Regina,” said Reid.
Reid, originally from Jamaica, and his wife Omega Gellizeau, the apprentice chef, run the kitchen.
“Everything seemed homemade,” said Kohl Bustamante, a guitarist and a regular customer. “The food is phenomenal [and] you get a good price for it.”
Their Caribbean menu has jerk chicken and jerk pork items from $10-12, pastas form $12-13, homemade chicken strips are $10. Their featured wings are sweet heat, honey garlic, siracha and buffalo for $10.
This just a starting selection what would become available.
“Over the next couple of weeks, despite what’s going on, we are still going to add stuff to the menu,” said Reid.
Their regular menu consists of wings with various sauces like Thai chili, honey dill, lemon pepper, ginger lime for $11 per pound. Poutine, salads and onion rings range from $8-13 and burgers, ribs and nachos are from $10-17.
Their food is available for delivery through DoorDash and SkipTheDishes. The Caribbean menu is only available on Fridays.
“People come here for the entertainment and get introduced to the food,” said Reid. “Then they come back for the food and the entertainment.”
Live music is an important part of the bar, but with COVID-19 the opportunities aren’t the same.
“We haven’t had a lot of bands or shows but we’re running with our jam every Friday night and that’s really the only way we’ve been able to stay afloat,” said Zorn. “Everybody is welcome to come and play.”
“I’ve been coming here every Friday for at least a year,” said David Johnsen, a regular customer. “I love playing music, I love the people.”
“Go play on the stage at a jam, you learn stuff on the spot,” said Rick Nelson, bass player and regular customer. “It’s improvisational, it’s fun.”
“We’re still sharing things on Facebook,” said Zorn. “It gets a few new people out and it does every week.”
