When Wonder Ballroom Says All Ages, They Mean All Ages

"On April 10 of this year, the Wonder Ballroom opened its doors for an evening of live music from Nashville folksters, TopHouse. The show was typical of the diverse booking by Wonder's team, endearing itself to the equally diverse group of concertgoers in attendance-a unique Portland music-going community comprised of a wide swath of ages and genre interests."

"But on this past April night, so conditioned by the omnipresence of the Wonder's longstanding barricade-perhaps better known by its colloquial designation as "The Moat"-the Wonder's general manager Kat Lovesky reports that slightly confused show patrons ascended the steps to a main floor missing its usual barrier. "When we let the guests in, they thought we forgot to put it up and kindly asked if we wanted them to wait until we did so," she says."

"In something of an anniversary miracle, the Wonder's team were able to celebrate their 20th year as a staple venue this year while seeing through a series of critical and painstaking negotiations with Oregon's Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) to eradicate The Moat. The Wonder team's efforts, while not a direct impetus for other Portland venue OLCC changes, have set the tone for a much-needed and welcomed shift from the idea that the experience of live music must be fundamentally altered to account for 21-and-over drinking in the presence of minors."

The Wonder Ballroom hosted Nashville folk band TopHouse on April 10 to a diverse Portland audience spanning ages and musical tastes. Larger Portland venues have historically used 21-and-over barricades known as "The Moat" to separate minors from alcohol consumption. Patrons noticed the Wonder's main floor lacking its usual barrier and reacted with surprise. The Wonder completed negotiations with the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) to eliminate The Moat while celebrating its 20th year. General manager Kat Lovesky, experienced in all-ages production from previous work at Chicago's Metro, led the venue through the change.

Read at Portland Mercury