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Home » McDonald Theater

KRVM celebrates 75 years at the McDonald

December 8, 2022 by Cynthia Orlando

KRVM's 75th anniversary concert

KRVM celebrated its 75th Anniversary Saturday night with a bash at Eugene’s McDonald Theatre.

The celebration included two bands – The Sugar Beets and The Strange Tones – performing before a packed house.

The Strange Tones blend a fiery concoction of original blues, rockabilly, surf and vintage R&B. They played a short setlist to kick things off.

Cake, coffee, a KRVM banner for signing, scrapbooks showing the station’s history and milestones, and fun promotional swag were all part of the festivities.

The Sugar Beets, above, had KRVM listeners dancing in the aisles Saturday night!

About The Sugar Beets

The Sugar Beets are an eight-piece band based in Eugene, and are well-known to music lovers in the Pacific Northwest.

Whether playing bluegrass, old-time fiddle music, Motown, swing or pop, the band excels at bringing the house down.

The Sugar Beets originally formed as students in 1990 while attending the University of Oregon. They play mostly all their own music and their setlists are typically quite eclectic.

At Saturday night’s show The Sugar Beets played many fan favorites, including “East Colorado Blues,” “Higher” and “Strangest Little Thing.”

Underwriting Representative Lynn Wiles, L, and KRVM’s Program Director Debi Starr, R, tearing up raffle tickets at the 75th gala!

Station History

The first words ever spoken on FM radio here in the Pacific Northwest were spoken on KRVM. The date: December 6, 1947.

Over the years, KRVM FM’s format has evolved, and the station continues to offer students the opportunity to be involved with the day-to-day operation of a radio station. 

KRVM FM serves a loyal audience throughout western Oregon with a wide variety of musical programs. The station is supported by listener members and area businesses who understand the importance of public radio.

Click here for more about the station’s community service work!

That’s a wrap!

Thanks for listening to KRVM and supporting listener-powered radio!

Filed Under: About KRVM, Music, Music Scene Tagged With: 75th Anniversary, Eugene, KRVM, McDonald Theater, The Sugar Beets

Now is a great time to support your favorite music venue

May 15, 2020 by Cynthia Orlando

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!

Filed Under: Music Scene Tagged With: Eugene, KRVM, McDonald Theater, Music, Music venues, Oregon, Pandemic, Sam Bonds, Support

Portugal. The Man to perform in Eugene

December 11, 2017 by Cynthia Orlando

Alaska-based psych-pop band and Grammy nominee Portugal. The Man plays Eugene’s McDonald Theater in February.

The 5-member band originally hails from Portland and boasts 8 studio albums. While touring Europe in 2012, they opened for The Black Keys.

Their current mega-hit single “Feel It Still,” released in March, is #1 on Billboard’s Alternative Songs airplay chart where it’s broken the record for most weeks at number one. “Feel It Still” has risen to the top of Pop Songs, Adult Pop Songs, Alternative Songs, and Adult Alternative Songs, and is nominated for a Grammy for best pop duo group performance.

“Feel It Still”

Woodstock

The title from new album “Woodstock” takes its inspiration from an original Woodstock ticket stub found by the band’s lead singer John Gourley – it was his father’s.

Gourley is quoted as saying the new album is about “trying to write music that would help people feel they’re not alone, even if they’re angry or feeling lost.”

Portugal. The Man released “Woodstock” in June. Here’s “Live in the Moment” from that album:

“Live in the Moment”

The band’s massive tour includes the U.S., Europe and Mexico.

They play Eugene’s McDonald Theater Thursday, February 1st. It’s sure to sell out, don’t miss it!

UPDATE 12/11: already Sold Out!

Filed Under: Music Scene, New Music Tagged With: Alt, Live in the Moment, McDonald Theater, Music, Portugal the Man, psych, Rock, Woodstock

Amos Lee in Concert – Always a Good Thing

November 13, 2016 by Cynthia Orlando

Singer songwriter musician Amos Lee brought his unique soul-folk-blues sound to town with a concert at Eugene’s McDonald theater and he delivered another stunning performance.

The 42-year-old ace musician is currently touring to promote his new album “Spirit.”

Lee has recorded 6 albums on Blue Note Records and toured with a bevy of famous musicians: Elvis Costello, Paul Simon, Adele, Bob Dylan, Jack Johnson and Norah Jones, among them.

His 2011 “Mission Bell” release debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, and included his much beloved hit single “Windows are Rolled Down.”

His sophisticated, R&B-flavored new “Spirit” album has been out only 2 months. Have a listen to the title track:

Spirit


amoslee1

Lee sparkled at last Eugene show

Lee last performed in Eugene early in 2014 when he gave fans a stunning performance.

Playing for  more than two hours alongside his stellar 5-member band, the night’s engaging performance encompassed more than 25 instruments (squeezebox, banjo and mandolin among them). At that show, Lee’s demeanor, set-list and showmanship were impeccable.

 

Filed Under: Music Scene, New Music Tagged With: 2016, Amos Lee, Blues, Concert, Folk, McDonald Theater, Soul, Spirit, Tour

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