In the beginning, there was live music. ___________________________


The club opened as Chances Are at 516 E. Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan in August 1974. It was an instant success. Featuring such weekly bands as Dr. Bop and the Headliners, Cheap Trick, Masquerade, Radio King, Chopper, Head East and Starcastle.

 Chances Are’s first national act was Stephen Stills in October 1974 followed by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band on October 30th, right before he exploded into a national act. The club also housed the very popular Conservatory restaurant.

In 1976, due to a conflict with a Chicago business, the name was changed to the Second Chance, later to be nick named “The Chance.” Many top named acts continued to play there to sell out crowds. Some such as George Thorogood, would only play the Second Chance when in the Detroit area.

In the spring and early summer of 1984, the Second Chance closed for remodeling, and under the same management, reopened in July as The Nectarine Ballroom. The live music continued.

On April 6, 1991 the Nectarine Ballroom presented the “Happy Trails” concert, featuring: Fred “Sonic” Smith, Patti Smith, Lenny Kaye, Jay Dee Daugherty and Scott Morgan.  This concluded 17 years of the live band era, so to speak.  Music at what Michigan and in particularly, Ann Arbor, would remember as Chances Are, Second Chance and Nectarine Ballroom.

 In 1996 the remaining original owners sold the Nectarine Ballroom, which was later remodeled into a much smaller dance club that is currently called The Necto. Live music at 516 E. Liberty sadly, became a thing of the past.

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