Music is one of the few things in the world that almost everyone can enjoy in their own way. The diversity found in different types of music allows people to choose what they like and listen to it throughout their lives. This is all amplified when it comes to live music. Whether that’s listening to your favorite bands and artists or looking for a place to hang out with your friends, listening to live music is a great thing to experience. Each person has their own favorite and least favorite venues, so in this article I intend to show locals and visiting tourists the best concert venues to explore in Portland.
The McMenamins Crystal Ballroom, located in downtown Portland, is about a 15 minute drive from Franklin and one of the most popular concert venues in the city. The Crystal Ballroom was built in 1914 and originally used as a place for dancing before beginning to host live music in the ’60s. This is when the Crystal Ballroom began to get increasingly popular, hosting many notable artists throughout the decades.
I got a chance to talk to Jimi Biron, the Crystal Ballroom’s director of entertainment programming and venue development, and he gave me valuable information about the ballroom’s history and the steps he takes to keep it in such great shape. “When we first opened we made sure that we had the best viewing experience for an all ages venue,” said Biron. “All the kids [are allowed] to go up front, but we also [put] the 21+ area closer to the stage than any of the other venues at that time.”
In terms of bands and artists, few venues in Portland have hosted as many high level musicians as the Crystal Ballroom. Jimi Hendrix; Billie Eilish; Tyler, the Creator; Katy Perry; and Snoop Dogg are some of the numerous artists that have played a show there. “I mean,” said Biron, “really every big star of the last two decades [has performed there].” The Crystal Ballroom is also equipped with its original floating dance floor – a dance floor made of sprung floor, which absorbs shocks, making it feel softer than the average dance floor – so whether you’re there for the music or to check out this historic monument, the Crystal Ballroom has what you’re looking for.
Another popular venue, especially amongst Franklin students, is the Hawthorne Theater. Built in 1919, for years the Hawthorne Theater was one of the only all-ages venues in Portland of its size, according to Emily Clugston, the general manager at the Hawthorne Theater. Clugston explained how a key way the venue works to welcome people has been through adding a top of the line security team to the theater, saying, “[Having] the kindest and most empathetic [team] is really important to me. It can make a big difference on someone’s experience.”
Clugston compared the Hawthorne Theater to the concerts she went to with friends as a child: “When I was a kid we all went to shows and sweated together in crowded, loud rooms. [It’s the] same here, you can be inches away from your favorite bands.” Some of the most notable bands and artists that have played shows at the Hawthorne Theater include: Macklemore, Run The Jewels, Brother Ali, and the Astronautalis.
I spoke with Franklin senior Jackson Robertson, who is a big live music enjoyer. He claimed the Hawthorne Theater is one of his favorite venues to visit, saying, “It’s just big enough to where some bigger acts will come through and play it, but it’s small enough to where you can still feel connected to the performers.”
Robertson attends shows so often that he has lost count of the number of concerts he’s been to, and, from his experience, he believes what makes a good concert venue is the space. “Arena shows are cool and all, but due to their size it’s hard for the performer to give as intimate of a performance compared to a smaller spot like Bridge City Sessions (BCS) or Creston Crypt,” explained Robertson. He believes Creston Crypt, which is one of his favorites, is one of the more underrated venues in Portland. “It’s basically just a basement with some basic sound equipment,” Robertson said. “But it makes for a really intimate atmosphere which I enjoy.”
If you decide to give one of these concert venues a shot, they are constantly booking new artists and bands that you can see perform. According to Biron, The Crystal Ballroom is hosting an “incredible local band,” the Dandy Warhols, on Dec. 12 for their 30th anniversary show. The Hawthorne Theater has new shows almost daily, with relatively cheap tickets mostly ranging from $15-$30. These are just some of the concert venues in the city of Portland, but there are many more that provide their own unique qualities. I encourage readers to go out and explore so everyone can find what they like!
