So many music venues, so little time. But with so many clubs struggling to stay afloat right now, what can KRVM’s live music fans do to help?
We couldn’t call each and every music venue in the area, but those we reached have easy requests – apply liberally to any of your favorite watering holes!
How you can help
These days, many places are asking for support via online purchasing of their merchandise and gift cards. That’s a great place to start.
Mac’s Restaurant & Night Club
Popular for great blues acts and fabulous food, Eugene’s iconic Mac’s club is being hit hard. During a normal month of June, Mac’s would be hopping with blues acts and even an occasional outdoor concert on weekends.
Superb blues musician Ty Curtis plays Mac’s. Photo: Cynthia Orlando
The venue hopes to reopen in late summer or early fall, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, be sure to check out their online store for cool ball caps and T-shirts.
The Hult Center
In a normal year more than 700 events and performances take place at Eugene’s Hult Center for the Performing Arts. This year changed all of that.
Like everyone else, The Hult has been forced to cancel and reschedule many artists and shows.
Currently The Hult website shows several events scheduled for October. Among them: percussion artists DRUM TAO and comedian Paula Poundstone. New dates for a number of events – including “RAIN: A tribute to the Beatles,” have yet to be announced.
If you’d like to support The Hult during this economic downturn, please purchase gift certificates from their Home page.
Cuthbert Amphitheater
The Cuthbert Amphitheater is loved for it’s beautiful outdoor site and great acoustics. Situated along the Willamette River at Alton Baker Park, it’s a lovely location for creating music memories.
What do Modest Mouse, Rebelution, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson all have in common? All have performed at the Cuthbert. photo: Cynthia Orlando
Quite a number of shows are still listed on their website, but the venue has posted a “stay tuned” message since things keep changing.
Bands and artists still listed: Currently, the fabulous Rebelution are still listed as performing at the Cuthbert on August 28. With them: Steel Pulse, The Green, Keznamdi and DJ Mackle.
You can subscribe to the Cuthbert’s newsletter for updates and concert announcements.
McDonald Theatre
The McDonald is well-loved for continually pulling up and coming artists into Eugene – sometimes even at the same time these bands and artists are up for Grammys.
Who’s played The McDonald? Just about everyone, including The Shins, Barr Brothers, Fleet Foxes, Blind Pilot, Joywave and Amos Lee!
Beloved American singer-songwriter Amos Lee performing at The McDonald Theatre. photo: Cynthia Orlando
There are still tickets available for several shows in October and November, including singer-songwriter-rapper NLE Choppa and rock band Whiskey Meyers, recently written up in Rolling Stone magazine.
Opening as a movie house in the 1920s, the McDonald Theatre later converted to a concert venue. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The WOW Hall
Eugene’s WOW Hall is owned and operated by the Community Center for the Performing Arts, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. Committed to providing arts for all ages, the WOW is a popular spot to experience excellent local bands as well as well-renowned artists passing through. The WOW Hall is also used for classes, workshops, lectures, meetings, rehearsals and recording sessions.
Superb Indie Rock band Augustana at The Wow Hall. photo: Cynthia Orlando
A WOW hall representative was kind enough to drop us an email. We’re informed that since no concerts can take place for now, the best way to help is by donating online.
The red donation button on the top of their website runs through PayPal. Please give them a hand if you can!
The WOW hall is planning fundraising events including virtual concerts. And, they are unloading their beverage stock online (next Saturday only).
In short, there are plenty of ways you can help The WOW Hall.
Sessions Music Hall
Located on 7th Avenue in downtown Eugene, you can always count on Sessions Music Hall for a fun night of good food plus music by exciting new bands.
Session’s calendar still shows tickets available for Lost Ox performing with Left on Wilson July 9, and Anders Osborne and Hayes Carll playing July 31.
Whirled Pies
Located on West 8th Avenue, Whirled Pies – Eugene’s happy place – is usually packed with diners and music lovers.
Probably one of the best ways to support Whirled Pies right now is simply to call and order one of their delicious pizzas.
That’s a wrap! Stay tuned to KRVM for the best in music, and we’ll do our best to keep you in-the-know about Eugene’s music scene!
