EUGENE, OREGON
Eugene, the second-largest city in Oregon, is located just 100 miles south of Portland via I-5 in the rich, green beauty of the Willamette Valley. Local venues welcome a wide variety of artists ranging from punk and pickin' string bands to underground hip-hoppers and swing revivalists, like hometown zoot suiters Cherry Poppin’ Daddies. With the University of Oregon draping the city in college town culture, Eugene boasts an arts-focused populace that gathers in vegetarian cafes and counts bikes as the best way to travel. Festival opportunities abound with the Eugene Saturday Market, held weekly from April to November, the Oregon Country Fair in nearby Veneta in July, the Eugene Celebration in September, and vibrant neighborhood events like Broadway Bloc Party in June and the Whiteaker Block Party in August. Spawning activists, anarchists and Merry Pranksters like Ken Kesey, the Oregon Emerald City’s enviro-conscious, scene-unconscious M.O. leaves the door open for all musicians.
VENUES
WOW Hall
291 West 8th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 687-2746
www.wowhall.org
Eugene's main all-ages rock venue hosts about four shows a week, most featuring national acts of all genres. Email (EPK preferred) booking@wowhall.org three to four months ahead, or submit CDs/press kits via snail mail, marked Attn: Booking. Recommended to check back in three weeks.
Sam Bond's Garage
407 Blair Boulevard
Eugene, OR 97402
(541) 431-6603
www.sambonds.com
Garage converted to popular bar offers shows nightly from any genre, often bluegrass, rock and Americana. Email Peter Wild at bondsbooking@hotmail.com two months in advance.
John Henry's
77 West Broadway
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 342-3358
www.johnhenrysclub.com
Staple bar books all genres for Friday and Saturday shows, sometimes Mondays and Tuesdays for bands with established draw. Members must be 21+ with ID. Email keith@johnhenrysclub.com two to three months ahead. MySpace link preferred.
Luckey's Club Cigar Store
933 Olive Street
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 687-4643
www.luckeysclub.com
Historic cigar store/bar books anything from indie to country (no louder punk and hardcore) five nights a week, and is friendly to bands on the road. Book through website email form four months ahead for weekends or two months ahead for weekdays.
Black Forest
50 East 11th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97402
(541) 686-6619
www.entertheforest.com
Downtown venue/restaurant features rock, metal, alt-rock and other genres mostly Wednesday through Saturday. Contact through email (booking@entertheforest.com), MySpace (www.myspace.com/black_forest_eugene), snail mail or booking line (541) 228-7472 about three months ahead.
Indigo District
1290 Oak Street
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 434-6553
www.myspace.com/indigodistrict
Hipsters congregate at this bar for indie, rock, hip-hop, jazz and DJs (nothing too hardcore) about four nights a week. Send music links/press kit two months in advance to indigobooking@gmail.com. More opportunities in summer.
Cozmic Pizza
199 West 8th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 338-9333
www.cozmicpizza.com
Pizza joint books a wide variety of music nightly, with volume limitations restricting most rock, heavy metal and punk. Book through email only at cozmicevents@gmail.com about two to three months in advance. No hardcopies accepted.
Wandering Goat
268 Madison Street
Eugene, OR 97402
(541) 344-5161
www.myspace.com/thegoatherd
Specialty coffeehouse in cool Whiteaker district hosts eclectic range of shows Thursday through Saturday from all genres, especially noise, experimental, indie and punk. Email Tom at booking@wanderinggoat.com or through MySpace (checked often) at least a month ahead.
MEDIA
Eugene Weekly
1251 Lincoln Street
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 484-0519
www.eugeneweekly.com
Local weekly. Runs show previews (in form of CD reviews, interviews, etc.). Send digital or hardcopy music at least two weeks before issue (not show) to molly@eugeneweekly.com, email preferred. For calendar, email cal@eugeneweekly.com or contact Chuck Adams at x26 by noon Thursday a week before issue.
Radio KWVA Eugene, 88.1
P.O. Box 3157
Eugene, OR 97403
(541) 346-4091
www.uoregon.edu/~kwva/
University of Oregon campus radio. Mail demos Attn: MD and follow up with call or email to music director at music@kwvaradio.org. For in-studio interview, performance or calendar listing, call or email marketing@kwvaradio.org.
RECORD STORES
CD World
3215 W. 11th St., Suite B
Eugene, OR 97402
(541)683-6902
www.cdwebworld.com
Features window to post fliers and holds frequent in-stores (bands promoting recent releases preferred). Consignment limited to locals, but can sell music during in-stores. Call William Kennedy or email willatcdw@gmail.com at least four to six weeks ahead to book.
GEAR/REPAIRS
Guitar Center Eugene
1015 Green Acres Road
Eugene, OR 97408
(541) 689-1820
www.guitarcenter.com
Reliable chain sells instruments/gear. Referrals to local shops for emergency repairs. Open Monday to Friday 11-9, Saturday 10-8 and Sunday 11-6.
McKenzie River Music
455 West 11th Avenue
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 343-9482
www.mckenzierivermusic.com
Buy, sell and trade guitars and amps. Open Monday to Friday 11-6 and Saturday 11-5. Accepts walk-ins for repairs on fretted instruments. Accommodates touring bands.
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