Spaceland to leave its longtime location; Spaceland Productions plan to open dance-centric new venue [UPDATED]

 
The blue-and-silver curtain will drop for good on the Silver Lake indie rock institution Spaceland next  March.

The club, founded as a weekly night in 1993 by promoter Mitchell Frank, hosted some of the earliest L.A. performances by Beck, Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, Elliott Smith and Weezer, among many others. It became synonymous with both a revitalized eastside rock scene in Los Angeles and the neighborhood's changing demographics, hosting thousands of shows and serving as an essential launch pad for local and international artists even as Frank expanded to newer venues, including the Echo (2001) and the Echoplex (2007). But as of March, the venue will operate under a new club name, the Satellite, and will sever affilation with Frank's and business partner Jeff Ellermeyer's Spaceland Productions for in-house booking.

"It just reached a point where it was time for us to move on," Frank said in a written statement. "We've had some incredible musical moments here; people met, fell in love, started life-long friendships, but it's just time for a change."

The release noted that the change could be toward a more electronica-centric direction at a new venue focused on dance nights, electro bands and DJs. Frank has long alluded to courting a new downtown venue managed by Spaceland Productions, which could fit the neighborhood's recent spate of major electronica events.

Spaceland's final shows will include a monthlong Melvins residency and the L.A. debuts of U.K. bands the Vaccines and Yuck.

[UPDATE: In a written statement, former longtime Spaceland Productions booker Jennifer Tefft confirmed that she will be leaving her current position as a talent buyer at The Fold to book shows at The Satellite, the new club located at the former home of Club Spaceland in Silver Lake.]

-- August Brown (Full disclosure: In my other life as a musician, I've played several of Spaceland Productions' clubs, including Spaceland)

Photo: Arcade Fire at Spaceland in 2004. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[sheshe]

meh. I went pretty much from the beginning and stopped several years ago. Mitchell needs something fresh. I performed in bands and attended many shows there, and appreciate that it existed, but nothing lasts forever. Looking forward to Mitchell's new endeavor but won't much be waxing nostaligic for Spaceland, sorry. Mitchell's a talented guy, he'll cook up something good.

[Audiocred]

On the plus side, maybe they'll go to the northeast for a consistent period of time.

[p]

As much as I will miss the venue,
at least maybe one less headache will be the parking.

[maria]

This really sucks... I can't believe they're closing. I love that place as is.

[-d]

Fare thee well Spaceland. I'd say I hardly knew you, but we both know that isn't true.

[frank bones]

a dance venue?
the world needs more of those?
throw another handful of dirt over the coffin of songwriting.

[glo-fi]

maybe they can fix the sound at that venue during the change over.

[Gary Vernon]

this blog is so poorly written that it's just totally confusing to the reader (as you can tell by these comments). for a much clearer read check out Bronson's Buzzbands blog. the venue is not closing and the old day to day booker is coming back.

[Thomasi]

I'm getting the impression that things aren't going to change much for the casual observer/concert-goer. The Spaceland people are saying they want to do more dance-oriented stuff at their new spot (wherever that turns out to be) but the venue owner is bringing back a talent booker who used to work at Spaceland. This suggests to me that the 1717 Silver Lake address is likely to remain the spot for people who always liked Spaceland as it was. Although, perhaps I'm being overly optimistic.

[Mike]

Silver Lake is not in the Eastside: the Eastside begins at the LA River.

[RGT]

Wait, are you basically saying that in the same space where Spaceland is now will be a new venue called "Club Satellite," but under different ownership? 'Cause that's hardly the end of the world if decent bands are booked. Only downside: continued lame (though understandable) parking restrictions around the venue.

[Dr S]

The club isn't closing, the booking company called "spaceland" is moving, the owner and old day to day booker to stay on and keep things the same - under a new name...

[lucy darcy]

Very sad by this. They could have easily opened an electronic venue somewhere else and left Spaceland as is. Part of the allure is in the fact that is small and has inconvenient parking...why do we need another El Rey? Another Fonda? small venues will disappear if this how people deal in music. Heart broken.