Part 1 of the Red Cherry Alley Timeline Series By Dangerous Doug Harper
Every story has a beginning — and Red Cherry Alley’s story starts in a place most people never expected: an actual alley.
Back in 2023, the dream was simple. Create a small, hidden venue tucked inside a narrow alleyway in Nevada, Missouri. A place where original music could echo off brick walls, where people could gather close, and where creativity could feel raw and alive.
It was going to be a true “found space” venue — intimate, gritty, and unforgettable.
But sometimes the best ideas hit real‑world obstacles. The alley venue didn’t work out. The logistics weren’t right, the space wasn’t ready, and the dream had to shift.
Still, the spark didn’t die.
Even though the alley itself never became a venue, Red Cherry Alley still found a way to begin.
On November 10, 2023, the very first Red Cherry Alley performance took place at the gates of the alley during Nevada’s Holiday Open House. It was small, simple, and symbolic — a single show marking the start of something that would grow far beyond its original plan.
Matthew Harper performed that night, becoming the first artist in Red Cherry Alley history.
That moment at the gates became the foundation for everything that followed.
With the alley venue off the table, Red Cherry Alley needed a new home — somewhere cozy, welcoming, and open to creativity.
That place turned out to be The Store Next Door.
In 2024, Red Cherry Alley launched the Intimate Songwriter Performance Series (ISPS) there, and it quickly became the heartbeat of the project.
The Store Next Door offered exactly what the alley would have offered: closeness, warmth, and a space where original music could breathe.
Over the next several months, the ISPS featured a rotating lineup of talented performers:
Russell Wayne & Lucas Corbin
Mike McEwan
Marshall Hill
Matthew Harper
Brooke Austen
Lucas Corbin
Dangerous Doug Harper
Karalea & Bob (Poetry Night)
A.M. Jamison
Matteson Gregory
These shows built the identity of Red Cherry Alley — intimate, creative, community‑driven, and rooted in original music.
The Store Next Door became the first true “home” of the project, proving that Red Cherry Alley didn’t need an alley to exist. It just needed a space where people were willing to listen.
Now, three years later, Red Cherry Alley has grown into a full timeline of pop‑ups, songwriter nights, found‑space shows, and the Secret Songs Series.
And this October, it all comes together for a milestone: Red Cherry Alley's 3-Year Anniversary!
A night to honor the journey. A night to celebrate the artists. A night to recognize the community that made it all possible.
More details are coming — but this anniversary will be the biggest Red Cherry Alley event yet.
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