For the third night of the 2023 Seattle World Tour, we’re heading into Pioneer Square to hang out in the historic Central Saloon. The SWT is no stranger to the Central, having stopped off there during the 2019 tour as well. On Thursday, June 8, Shaina Shepherd, Beverly Crusher, Real Don Music and Biblioteka will take the stage.
The Central Saloon in Pioneer Square
Founded in 1892, the Central Saloon has long been a gathering space for the community. To this day they remain in the same location on 1st Ave in the original Seattle neighborhood of Pioneer Square making the Central one of the oldest bars in the city. Even though the building has been through many earthquakes, prohibition and multiple periods of economic turmoil, they have remained a tried-and-true spot for entertainment and socializing.
The Central Saloon in Pioneer Square, Seattle, Washington | Photo by Ken Lambert for the Seattle Times
When you first head inside of the Central, you’ll find yourself in a slim walkway with an old school thick mahogany bar lined with stools the whole way down the left side. Further in, the floor opens up a bit and tables with chairs are spread throughout. On days where live music is playing, the tables get pushed to the side to make more standing room in front of the elevated stage. The benefit of the corridor style bar and elevated stage is that if you’re outside taking a smoke break or getting some fresh air, you can still see and hear what’s going on inside.
One of the most historic facts about the Central Saloon, is its role in helping develop the revolutionizing genre of grunge. All of the most famous and even lesser-known bands practiced their craft on the Central stage. Nowadays, you’ll see a variety of different types of music being performed in the venue, from rock to indie pop and even hip-hop. The energy and musical history within those walls are truly unmatched by any other venue in the city.
SWT 2023 Night Three Lineup
Shaina Shepherd
A powerhouse vocalist, Shaina Shepherd represents Seattle in all the best ways possible. Not only is she an incredible musician, but she’s also a vocal teacher, community organizer and an inspirational innovator. According to her website, Shaina “describes herself as an anthem artist translating pivotal moments in human history through her unique form of poetry.” She strives to make a memorable impression with everything she does. With that, she co-founded the Artist Reclamation Movement (ARM), an organization working to reclaim the artist industry to serve the creator’s first, shift the culture at large to respect the contributions of creative professionals, and work to build up an artistic middle class.
Beverly Crusher
Beverly Crusher is a trio of acid punk rockers who take a light hearted approach to their fast-paced face melting songs. Cozell Wilson teamed up with brothers, Sam and Max Stiles to produce this comedic style of rock and roll. Listening to music should be a joyful experience and these guys get that; no matter the song, you just can’t help but smile and feel like you should be bouncing around the room while listening to them. They will be celebrating their latest album, Waste of Waves, with a vinyl release party at the LoFi on June 16.
Real Don Music
What I love and admire about introverts is their willingness to explore the weirdest pockets of the world. They usually love to experiment with things to try and portray the strange way their brain works. Kirk Huffman expresses himself in many different ways as Real Don Music, exploring many different sounds as his infectious vocals tie everything together. His unique blend of trip hop acid jazz is incredibly intriguing and hard to stop listening to.
Biblioteka
Biblioteka brings a fresh energy to a familiar sound, providing a wave of nostalgia mixed with ear-perking melodies. The band has an electric stage presence that sucks you into their world and keeps you spinning in their gravity. The diverse backgrounds of each musician in the band give a broad perspective to their music making it easy for anybody to fall in love with. Last summer they released their album Pretty Ugly and the response was anything but. Check it out now while you wait for their performance at the 3rd annual Seattle World Tour on Thursday, June 8, at the Central Saloon.
