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Central Saloon
Venue

Central Saloon

Verified
Seattle, WA•1.39K Followers•13 Upcoming concerts

Upcoming Concerts

OCT
02
FRI
Alex Sandra
7:00 PM
OCT
09
-
OCT
10
Morningstvr
7:00 PM
OCT
15
THU
Lunar Pilots
7:00 PM
OCT
16
FRI
kids on fire
8:00 PM
OCT
21
WED
Gavin Prophet
7:00 PM

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Frequently Asked Questions About Central Saloon

Whether you're coming from out of town or just a short drive away, Central Saloon is located at 207 1st Ave S in Seattle, WA. For directions and parking info, visit Central Saloon’s official website at https://www.centralsaloon.com/ or call them at +12066220209. Make sure to check out other concerts and live events happening in Seattle, WA on Bandsintown.

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About

Central Saloon
The Best New Music in Seattle’s Oldest Saloon
There are few establishments that have stood the test of time, and even fewer that have changed the landscape of American music. The Central Saloon has accomplished this while remaining at the forefront of live music all while being the oldest saloon in Seattle.
In its lifetime, the Central has served as a café, post-office, employment hall, and even a brothel. Through each lively occasion, it has contributed to a dynamic and rich history in Seattle. Today this energy still resonates through our walls and continues to draw patrons back time and time again.
Paying Homage to the Past
Like a phoenix, the Central was born out of fire --the Great Fire of 1889. Three years after settlers began to rebuild the city, the Central was opened by Mr. Thomas Watson and was originally known as “The Watson Bros. Famous Restaurant.” Nine years later, Mr. Watson sold the business to Mr. Jamison and Mr. McFarland who aptly named it, “The Seattle Bar.”
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Soon a gold rush hit the Yukon and business was booming; So good that in 1903 Jamison and McFarland opened a second location, “The J&M Hotel and Saloon.” In 1907 the Central was sold to Mr. Master and Casey. During this time, the Central was filled with the new faces of miners, loggers, sailors and other rugged adventurers that had a thirst for opportunity; and, of course, for gold.
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Seattle was developing into a hub of the Great Northern Railway and a major Pacific Seaport. In 1919, as the seaport and commerce began to expand, the Central became “The Central Café.” This name held until the 1970s. Shortly thereafter, Pioneer Square was declared a historical site.
The Birthplace of Grunge
The 1980s were a sea change for the Central. It saw new ownership and with that, a strong desire to bring live music to the venue. In time, the charming venue became the birthplace of Grunge. American music greats such as Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, The Melvins, Mother Love Bone, and Nirvana all have played at the Central.
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In 1986 ‘Sub Pop Records’ was formed by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman who began recording and releasing records by two bands that would end up drawing interest towards Seattle’s music scene: Green River and Soundgarden. This genre was eventually named ‘grunge’ by Pavitt and Poneman, its name aptly reflecting the aesthetic and gritty sound.
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The Central was a venue for many of Sub Pop’s bands because the music was considered original, unpolished and unapologetic. They needed a home that would allow them to play their music and not just covers. April 16th 1988 was the first show that Nirvana played in Seattle and it's the same place the Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman saw them live for the first time. It was at the Central where Sub Pop saw them perform live for the first time and Bruce Pavitt said, “There might have been 10 people in the room and I wasn’t that impressed...but felt Kurt had a good voice...and that we should do a single with [them].” From there the relationship was formed with Sub Pop and Nirvana, and they would be the label to release Nirvana’s debut album.
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Club
207 1st Ave S Seattle, WA
centralsaloon.com
+12066220209
Min. Age
21