365 Things to do in Portland #109: Roseland Theater *win tickets*
Posted June 21, 2010
365PDX#109: Roseland Theater
If you like live music and want to see a great show, chances are you will find yourself at the Roseland Theater, in Old Town Portland . Once an old church, Roseland Theater has hosted an incredible number of talented and ecletic acts over the years- Prince, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Jerry Garcia Band, Pearl Jam, Primus, and on and on….I long since lost count of the number of shows I’ve seen here-I’m pretty sure the first one was Ani Difranco in 1996.The music venue holds around 1400 people, plus there is a restaurant and bar downstairs that holds 400 people, and has a large tv screen where you can watch the concert (many a chaperoning parent have spend metal/hard rock concert in the restaurant). If you want to dance, there is a pretty decent dance floor in front of the stage. If you are more interested in just watching the show or sitting down, head upstairs to the balcony.
Of course this landmark concert venue is not without its faults- from the metal detectors and ‘pat down’ upon entry, ever flooding bathrooms, and difficulty getting a drink. My friend Elliot once said “Portlanders love to hate the Roseland Theater”, and he’s right- we’ll always complain a little about it, but also always have a great time dancing to some amazing shows.
Speaking of which, tomorrow night is a great show there: Tinariwen Saharan Desert Blues w/ GlobalRuckus. I have 4 tickets to give away for this show. The first 4 people that suggest their friends become a fan of 365PDX Facebook (Just click the suggest button at the top left corner of the page) and respond below will each get a ticket!.
