Fans of live music in Eugene have something to look forward to come the end of this month, when the Indigo District will put on its first show as a full-service music venue.
The Indigo District, which plays host to touring bands, local performers and DJs alike, is not new to live music, but proprietor Justin Gibbs said the venue has undergone some major changes.
“More than anything we’re just shifting from being a bar to a music venue that serves alcohol. But the emphasis is definitely going to be on music and entertainment, and the drinking is going to be more of an afterthought.”
This move from bar to venue includes the addition of all ages shows, which is great news for students who may be getting bored with the WOW Hall and McDonald Theatre spaces. Gibbs projected that approximately half of the performances at Indigo District will be all ages, with the majority of those starting earlier in the evening.
Perhaps the largest changes at the Indigo District, though, are not in the format of the venue, but its physical capabilities. The venue has recently increased its capacity to between 500 and 600 people, upgraded to a full-size stage, and installed a new sound system that Gibbs says is “one of the biggest in town.”
But patrons who have grown familiar with the Indigo District as it was should not worry; Gibbs made it clear that the venue will continue to maintain the atmosphere it has had all along, and will remain a dance-friendly spot for people over 21.
“We’re going to be doing club nights,” Gibbs said. “It’s going to be local DJs playing a real college-friendly and fun format.”
The updated Indigo District opens April 28, with a performance by Seattle’s Minus the Bear, which will be joined by The Honorary Title and Chin Up Chin Up, who should make for a fun evening of music and dancing in the newest addition to Eugene’s roster of venues.
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