Talent Rink NEW SPACE WILL HOST ‘THE VOICE’-STYLE COMPETITION
I
In a roundabout way, then, aspiring
n 1954, championship roller skater Dorothy “Dotti” Lane purchased
Sacramento musicians can thank
Senator Roller Drome at 1031 Del
Kennedy’s wife for inspiring him to
Paso Blvd. in North Sacramento. Its
start the hunt for the building that
doors would close in 1974, but during
would become The Rink Studios.
those 20 years, Dotti trained many
The Rink Studios will rent out
state and national champions, and
15 rehearsal, recording, teaching
Senator Roller Drome became one of
and “all-purpose” studio spaces.
the largest competitive roller-skating
“Even though this isn’t really
clubs in California.
being advertised except by word of
Long vacant, the 90-year-old
mouth, people are already in line,”
building has lost some of its luster,
says Kennedy. The venue will also
but Elk Grove resident and developer
offer opportunities to educate those
Greg Kennedy has been renovating
interested in nonperforming aspects
the roller drome into a studio and
of music, such as sound engineering,
performance space for musicians that
performance and recording
will open in early 2017.
production. “We started thinking about
The new venture will bring back the old spirit of competition that
things like recording,” he explains.
existed during the Roller Drome’s
“Hopefully we will be able to generate
heyday, but with a new name and
some decent performance groups from
twist. The Rink Studios is more than
the rehearsal studios by giving them
a studio space; Kennedy envisions
input on how to set up a PA system,
it as a music incubator for local
or how to work together as a group.” While studio spaces will draw local
musicians that will offer a potentially international audience through
musicians looking for a place to jam,
livestreaming online.
record or store their instruments, The
Kennedy admits the idea behind
Rink Studios will also invite music
The Rink Studios has broadened in
lovers to attend live performances
scope since he first began searching
held on the rink’s original floor, which
for a rehearsal space for his band,
was built in 1926. Kennedy says the
The Refurbs, which performs covers
venue will accommodate up to 500
of “everything from Billie Holiday to
standing and 300 seated people. The stage will be open for Tuesday-
Billy Idol,” he says.
night performances for local bands,
“When I was in high school and
and Mondays will be a free movie
college, I played in garage bands here or there. When I started getting
JV By Jordan Venema
44
IES JAN n 17
Developer Greg Kennedy plans on turning Roller Drome into The Rink Studios. Photos courtesy of Jenn Bartell Photography.
back into music a few years ago, I
“when my band started playing in my
decided that I’m too fussy to play in
living room, it was annoying to my
a garage or somebody’s living room,”
wife.”
he explains. Also, Kennedy chuckles,
night open to the community. But the biggest draw at The Rink Studios is a live-performance competition that operates on a similar model to popular reality shows like “American Idol” and “The Voice.” The plan is to have 50 winners a year who will be invited to perform