Rererato is undergoing new management, but the former managers liked to think of the events that took place as private house gatherings that just so happened to be open to the public. Art showings, music performances, figure-drawing classes and TV-show productions have all occurred in the space that used to be a Hare Krishna temple.
To follow up on the venue’s status, check its website or MySpace page. For now, click onward for our DIY spotlight.ALARM’s ongoing series exploring the best grassroots, non-traditional music venues
Name: Rererato
Founded: May 2007
Location: 5135 NE 42nd Ave. Portland, OR 97218 (a few blocks east of the Alberta Arts District)
Booking contact: Adam Keller / Stephanie SImek
info@rererato.com
Q&A With: Adam Keller and Stephanie SImek: founders, booking, coordinating, curating art shows, webmasters (they do it all).
What type of bands do you book?
About 80% local, 20% touring acts. A majority of the shows are experimental/sound/noise acts…with the occasional show of more traditional song-writing acts.
Why did you want to open a DIY venue?
We had recently moved to Portland and wanted to connect with local artists and musicians, and we thought that this was the best way to do so. The space we moved into is perfect for running events like this, and the landlord was also very supportive.
Is your venue grounded on any ideals?
Our goal is to provide a place for artists to share their work with the community — something outside of the bar scene capable of admitting all ages.
What kind of crowd do you attract?
It’s a mix of people, age differences, backgrounds, etc. Most of the people who come to shows are here to experience music, so there is a lot of respect for the artists during their sets. It’s not a party house, though we do have a lot of fun!
How has the venue been an attribute to a community?
We are in an area of town that is mainly residential, so it adds a bit of life to the community. A while back, we had some zoning issues with the city, and someone started a letter-writing campaign, which brought out many hopeful and encouraging e-mails.
Aside from live music, do you host any other events or programs in your space?
Art openings. We also have hosted community theater, a film festival, and figure-drawing classes, as well as hosting RereratoTV events, an online TV show with performances, music, etc.
Are there any significant musical acts or artists that have drawn a crowd or have had a significant performance?
Biggest shows: Lucky Dragons, Tripper Dungan shadow puppet show, Lake and Desolation Wilderness, Adventure and Future Islands, Paper Rad side project Extreme Animals, Elmapi and Matterlink from Paris.
What advice could you give those who are interested in opening their own venue?
It can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also take a lot of time. It should be a labor of love. We found most of the bands on MySpace. Many of the touring bands found us through myspace.com/dodiyusa or dodiyusa.org.
Rererato: rererato.com
Rererato at MySpace: myspace.com/rererato