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Back in December, we reported that the folks that run the Iron Monkey were thinking about hosting shows in a space adjacent to the restaurant in an effort to bring more live music to the city. The first show on New Year’s Eve was apparently successful enough to convince them to go full steam ahead.

This Saturday will mark the official kickoff of the new venue, known as IM Automata Chino, with performances by hometown boys The Milwaukees and Miss Ohio and Hoboken’s Hudson Rail Company.

The space — conceived and designed by Iron Monkey chef Ian Kapitan — can hold 65-70 people, and booker Megan Albert tells the Independent that they are making a concerted effort to keep cover charges low while still being able to pay bands. She says the first three weeks will have a super-budget cover charge of $5, and they hope to not ever charge more than $8.

Albert is joined in booking duties by Christina Lupinacci. Both are relatively new to the JC scene, having moved here in 2007, but both have a number of years of booking experience under their belts down in Monmouth County and seem committed to nurturing a solid venue.

“We want to see more music in this town and a consistent place for music lovers to feel at home,” Albert says.

IM Automata Chino will start out with shows on weekends, but may start booking mid-week shows if things get rolling successfully. Either way, the bar at the venue is open from Wed.-Sat. at 6 pm and they’ve got a limited bar-food menu as well. The next two months’ offerings are promising, with local faves like Any Day Parade, The Poconos, Square Wave Punch and the always fantastic Roadside Graves all lined up for shows.

Bands interested in booking a show can reach Megan Albert and Christina Lupinacci at booking (at) automatachino.com.

Check out a couple of shots of the space here: