Sin-é

Sin-é

A band performing at the final incarnation of Sin-é in 2007
Location	New York City
Owner	Shane Doyle
Opened	1989–96; 2000; 2003-07 (varying incarnations)

Sin-é (/ʃɪˈneɪ/; Irish for "that's it") was a music venue in New York City which helped launch the careers of several noted musicians in the early 1990s.

The original Sin-é, located at 122 St. Mark's Place in Manhattan's East Village, was a small café that served food, coffee, and Rolling Rock beer. It was opened by Irish immigrant Shane Doyle in 1989. Originally a hang-out for the city's community, it metamorphosed into a gathering place that fused Irish and New York culture when Doyle began to encourage musicians and other artists to perform in the space.

The early days saw a number of poetry readings and acoustic sessions. One outfit that began to bring in the non-Irish East Village crowd in on a Saturday night was known as "The Clumsy Cabaret", a late-night gathering hosted by Helena Mulkerns, Deanna Kirk, Elizabeth Logun and Paul Honde which drew musicians (including many of New York's anti-folk scene) in after gigs. Acoustic music sessions took place in a spontaneous and creative atmosphere. Patrons included emerging writers, photographers, artists, designers and musicians. Later, as a more established venue, performers such as Susan McKeown, Katell Keineg, Ben Folds, October Project, David Poe, Jenifer Jackson, Jeff Buckley, Big Dream and David Gray took their first steps in the music business, playing for tips. The early 1990s also saw the weekly Friday residency of Beavis and Butt-Head directors Mike deSeve and Brian Mulroney's band Porkchop, co-founded by Strokes guru J. P. Bowersock and featuring Ben Folds' ex-wife and collaborator, Anna Goodman. Porkchop also included Phil Maynes, Brad Brown, Chris LaFrenz & Dale Burleyson.