(A version of this story appeared in today's Spokesman-Review Newspaper. Check to the video panel for live footage of Oil of Angels at from Pig Out in the Park 2009).
A shift is coming in the landscape of the local all-ages music scene, marked by a few upcoming final shows before two key venues shut down and change up of their game plans.
While Empyrean Coffee House gets ready to relocate a few blocks east to The Big Dipper space, Caterina Winery is closing temporarily renovate and refocus.
Located at 905 N. Washington St., Caterina is hosting a pair of Remodel Kickoff Weekend shows that feature lineups of all-star affiliated bands.
Tonight things get a little more psychedelic with headliner Oil of Angels and all of its members side projects, including Space Station Revival, Hallelujah Soul-Explosion and Henry Nordstrom and Vaughn Wood.
Saturday's show at Caterina presents headliner, experimental rock band Belt of Vapor and the various side projects its members have launched this year, including Beluga, Fjords and Seafloor Spreading. Both shows start at 8 p.m. with a $5 cover.
Empyrean is celebrating the final days at its 154 Madison St. address with a Farewell to Madison show on Wednesday at the coffeehouse with local artists who have helped define Empyrean indie-art-house vibe, including singer-songwriters Josh Hedlund and Karli Fairbanks, Fairbanks' brother's blues-rock band The Booze Fighters and Oil of Angels. The show is free to the public and begins at 7 p.m.
Local singer-songwriter favorite Kevin Long is hosting a holiday dance party tonight at Empyrean, featuring DJs, Dials, Locke, Orange and Benjamin Jorgens. Semiformal attire in suggested. Music starts at 8 p.m.; 21-and-older only after 11 p.m. Cover is $5.
Empyrean's relocation from its home on Madison St. to the Big Dipper space at 171 S. Washington St. was prompted as much by the new fire sprinkler law that caused an uproar across the state, as it was an expected rent increase in the Madison St. lease.
The plan at Caterina Winery is to open up the space for broader uses, including weddings and other private events, which could mean fewer music shows at the winery, implicated by the recent announcement that the winery's booking agent, Patrick Kendrick of Platform Booking is taking over booking and promotions at the Sunset Junction, 1801 W. Sunset Blvd.
Sunset Junction is under new management and being rebranded. A new name is among the changes in the works at Sunset, said Kendrick, who will also continue placing shows at Caterina and other venues.
"I will still have access to the (Caterina). I just see a lot of potential in the Sunset space," Kendrick said. "I'll be helping out with everything at Caterina, but there will be more of an emphasis on private events and getting back to focusing in great wines."
The most significant differences between Sunset and Caterina is that all-ages are welcome at Caterina, while Sunset Junction has full sprinklers already installed.
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