The Listening Booth

by Lily Burbage

When people walk through the doors of The Listening Booth in Lewes, they’re welcomed by more than live music. They’re greeted by a room where audiences listen intently, songwriters share original work, strangers strike up conversations, and musicians encourage one another from the front row. It’s the kind of place where community is built one performance at a time.

Creating that sense of connection has guided The Listening Booth from the beginning.

In the years following the pandemic, many people found themselves searching for places to reconnect. As routines changed and social circles shifted, opportunities to gather around shared interests became more meaningful. The Listening Booth was created with that need in mind—a place where music could spark conversations, friendships and a sense of belonging.

That belief became the foundation of The Listening Booth, a venue where original music takes center stage and every performance, conversation and shared experience is designed to bring people together.

The idea for The Listening Booth began after Marissa Levy and her family relocated from New York City to coastal Delaware during the pandemic. A lifelong singer-songwriter who had stepped away from performing while raising her children, she soon found herself reconnecting with music through local open mic nights.

Over time, she noticed that while the area was filled with talented musicians, there were few opportunities for artists to showcase original work. Conversations with fellow songwriters—including Nate McCormick, now The Listening Booth’s director of noise (sound and education), and Victoria Rioux, its head of hustle (operations manager)—revealed a shared desire for a venue where original music, not cover songs, was the main attraction. Both met Marissa through the local open mic scene and have helped shape The Listening Booth since its earliest days.

Hoping to turn that shared vision into reality, Marissa enrolled in an entrepreneurship program and launched a pop-up concert series at the Cinema Art Theater to test the concept. The response confirmed there was an audience eager for an intimate listening space dedicated to original artists.

While Marissa serves as owner, she credits McCormick, Rioux and a growing network of volunteers, musicians and community partners with helping transform that early idea into the welcoming space it is today.

As the venue took shape, it reflected what many people in the area were looking for. Newcomers had relocated from cities where intimate listening rooms are woven into neighborhood culture, while longtime residents and retirees were seeking meaningful ways to connect through the arts.

“There are plenty of places where music is happening in the background,” Marissa said. “We wanted to create a place where music is the reason people come.”

That vision has grown into much more than a performance venue.

Together, The Listening Booth and We’re Listening have created opportunities that extend beyond performances. Educational programs, workshops and community events introduce people of all ages to music while helping local artists continue developing their craft.

PHOTO CREDIT: BRYAN KREMKAU

On Wednesday evenings, seasoned performers and first-time songwriters share the same stage during the Wednesday Open Mic Night. Sunday Social Jam brings musicians together to collaborate, while The Songwriting Circle offers a place to exchange ideas and receive feedback. For many participants, the events have become weekly traditions that extend beyond music, creating friendships and a support network that continues long after the final song.

Opportunities like these have become part of what defines The Listening Booth. Whether it’s a first-time performer finding the confidence to take the stage, a touring songwriter discovering an attentive audience or someone simply meeting new friends through music, the venue has become a place where people feel welcomed. One conversation, in particular, has stayed with Marissa.

She received a phone call from the mother of a young performer whose transgender daughter had struggled to find spaces where she felt fully accepted. Performing at The Listening Booth gave her something she hadn’t experienced elsewhere: a welcoming stage, a supportive audience, and the confidence to simply be herself.

The mother thanked Marissa for creating that environment.

“The Listening Booth has saved my daughter’s life.”

This moment was a reminder that music is rarely just about entertainment. Sometimes it becomes a place where people find confidence, friendship and belonging when they need it most.

That same philosophy shapes how The Listening Booth connects with the broader community.

“We’ve done a really good job with getting involved with other businesses and organizations and figuring out how we can all help each other,” she said. “And I think that is so important.”

The venue regularly partners with the Lewes Public Library for children’s story time programming, participates in local festivals and community events, and collaborates with neighboring businesses to introduce new audiences to original music.

Through a partnership with the Hampton Inn, The Listening Booth arranges performances by local musicians in exchange for lodging for touring artists, making it easier for independent musicians to include Lewes on their schedules.

As The Listening Booth continues to grow, its mission remains rooted in the community that has embraced it. The goal is not simply to host concerts, but to create a lasting home for original music where artists are supported, audiences feel connected and neighbors continue discovering one another through live performance.

At the heart of that vision is the same goal that inspired The Listening Booth from the beginning.

“I hope every person leaves here feeling joy.”