MUSIC | VENUE
Robert Meade & Hanna Reeder - FREE!
Saturday Feb 1st
SUN MON
Tuesday Feb 4th OPEN MIC of OPEN-NESS Hosted by Lucas Wednesday Feb 5th
TUES
KARAOKE W/ MATTY LE GIRLS
Starts at 7pm
WHISKEY WEDNESDAY & Sally Bop Jazz
BY LAURA JOHNSON
A
s jam rockers Moon Taxi continue to rip through their set, the onstage lights grow more intense. Green lasers fly around and a strobe effect goes off; the band appears to stutter and stop. The fog machine fires up, obscuring the stage. The $50,000 light system is on full display for the 150 or so people in attendance. For a venue so spacious and open, with high, thick beams and a wraparound mezzanine, the show manages to stay personal. What was once the Dive in Sandpoint is now the Hive, a 600-capacity music and event venue. After sitting vacant since 2011, the Hive’s owners took on the barn-like space last year hoping they could create something absent from the city — a mid-size, community-friendly spot where touring and local entertainment could perform. “At first people weren’t sure they wanted to spend $10 to $20 to see a show,” says co-owner Shelby Rognstad. “But the word is getting out now and people know this place is reliable for good entertainment. The community has really embraced it.” Having a stake in a music venue has always been a dream for Rognstad, also a member of the Sandpoint City Council and owner of Common Knowledge Bookstore and Teahouse in town. Last March, Rognstad, Hive co-owner Rick Auletta and Jeff Grady of Low Country Boil Pro-
ductions, which books the Hive’s shows, found a venue they considered perfect for their needs and signed a year lease with the building’s owner. The Hive opened in May for shows, local events and parties, later bringing in music acts like Moon Taxi, the Infamous Stringdusters and Taylor Hicks for Aftival, an afterparty for the Festival at Sandpoint. Electronic dance music shows have been surprisingly popular, with a median age of 40 showing up. “We don’t have a really young demographic here in Sandpoint, but people here are healthy with a young mind-set,” Rognstad says. He acknowledges Sandpoint is out of the way for people in Spokane, but says there’s reason to make the trek north — including the intimate ambiance and the fantastic sound system. “For God sake’s, people, get out of Spokane every now and then, breathe some fresh air,” he says. The Hive’s future is uncertain after its lease ends in May, but the owners are in negotiations. Multiple music events will take place there before then, including the Shook Twins’ CD release party April 26. lauraj@inlander.com The Hive • 207 N. First Ave., Sandpoint • thesandpointhive.com
at Club Red 6pm-10pm
KARAOKE W/ MATTY
Monday Feb 3rd
The Hive is proving there’s more to the North Idaho music scene than expected
KARAOKE W/ MATTY
TRIVIA!
MUG CLUB Big Game Party
Sandpoint Buzz
Dance your ASS off until 4am all weekend!
at IRV’s @ 9pm
KARAOKE W/ LIVE WIRE
Sunday FUN DAY! Feb 2nd
Moon Taxi jams out at the Hive last Thursday. MIKE McCALL PHOTO
KARAOKE W/ LIVE WIRE
WED
Bear Cove & BBBBandits
THURS
Thursday Jan 30th Dirty Jokes, Bad Advice, Amazing Drinks Friday Jan 31st
SAT & FRI
Jan 30th - Feb 5th
25 Craft Beers & Craft Cocktails 120 E. Sprague Ave.
JOE
at Irv’s 9pm-2am
at Irv’s 8pm-2am
at Irv’s 8pm-2am
FEMALE IMPERSONATOR
at Club Red @ 10pm
415 W. Sprague Ave.
509.624.4450
BLUES ROCK TITAN
BONAMASSA THE GUITAR EVENT OF THE YEAR!
INB
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
MARCH 25 TICKETS ON SALE AT:
TICKETSWEST.COM JANUARY 30, 2014 INLANDER 43