The Trinity Methodist Church recently filed suit against the city of Albany which has been preventing the church from hosting rock shows. The group is suing in federal court alleging unconstitutional governmental interference in religion.

They are asking the judge to reopen the doors for the shows, which were halted in July after neighbors complained about noise and kids hanging out on the street. Some bands at the church played punk rock, sometimes with offensive lyrics, which neighbors later cited as a rationale for their opposition.

A professor of constitutional law from the local university weighed in:

The constitution's free exercise of religion puts the burden on the state to prove why they should be able to invade the sanctuary of the church

The shows were all-ages and alcohol free and hosted under the name "New Age Cabaret." A search through our database shows a diverse number of bands and genres that came through the venue.

The case represents more than just this one city and church however, since in many smaller towns, local churches are the only all-ages venues available to touring bands and are vital to the development of both local and touring acts. If cities could prevent churches from hosting punk and hardcore shows in particular, many kids would have no local venue at all.