Themed occasions, like Shrek Rave, fill the Knitting Factory’s calendar

While trying on the Knitting Factory’s occasion calendar, in between exhibits from among the largest acts in pop, rock, nation, hip-hop and nearly every other style you’ll be able to consider, you’ll see themed dance nights.

In the previous few months alone, themes have included emo music, “Stranger Things,” Taylor Swift, disco and the 2000s. The subsequent such themed occasion is a Shrek Rave, deliberate for Saturday. The occasion is for ages 18 and older.

This rave marks the second time the Knitting Factory has taken attendees to the swamp.

Shrek Raves have been taking place for the final yr or two, Knitting Factory basic supervisor Kent Shelton mentioned, as a result of a bunch in California thought dance celebration nights have been turning into too severe, too stuffed with pounding EDM music, million greenback mild exhibits and large video partitions.

“They were like ‘No, let’s do one that’s just really, really dumb,’ ” Shelton mentioned. “ ‘It’s fun and dumb. The idea of being cool is dead. Let’s not worry about it.’ ”

When the occasion first confirmed up on the Knitting Factory calendar, Shelton remembers considering “Who would theme a dance night around ‘Shrek’?” He cold-called the overall supervisor of a venue that had hosted a Shrek Rave a pair weeks prior and requested how the occasion went.

The venue proprietor shared that folks cherished the thought and the themed drinks they created for the occasion. Many attendees got here in “Shrek”-related costumes, whereas others handled the occasion as a Comic Con of types and wore costumes associated to different franchises.

Hearing that inspired Shelton to offer it a strive on the Knitting Factory, and he discovered that Spokane audiences reacted equally to these in Montana. He remembers seeing a couple of Storm Troopers strolling across the venue and puzzled whether or not he had missed some form of “Shrek” and “Star Wars” crossover.

“We were happy to bring it back again, and this one has a holiday twist to it, so who knows? Maybe we’ll have a chance to see some Christmas Shrek costumes,” he mentioned.

Themed occasions like Shrek Rave are a part of the Knitting Factory’s purpose to e book as many reside occasions as attainable. With Spokane generally lacking out on larger exhibits that cease in Seattle and Boise, there are occasions when Friday or Saturday nights are broad open on the venue’s calendar.

Shelton has discovered that folks nonetheless wish to exit and have an excellent time, so he and the Knitting Factory crew have labored with DJs and dance promoters, anybody who has a good suggestion for a celebration.

“Just because your favorite band is not coming through town this weekend, that doesn’t mean you need to sit home and stare at your phone,” he mentioned. “We’ll find something for you to do. That’s the philosophy.”

The crew will take a look at how the themed occasion carried out in different markets earlier than deciding whether or not to convey it to the Knitting Factory, although there’s all the time a little bit of of venture in bringing new occasions to city.

If audiences reply positively, the occasion is prone to be booked once more. If not, Shelton mentioned they faux it by no means occurred, although he’s nonetheless blissful they at the very least gave it a strive.

“When I was growing up, my dad’s philosophy was ‘Trying something is better than trying nothing,’ ” he mentioned. “We try to do that around here. It might seem like a goofy idea. It might seem like something that Spokane may or may not be ready for, but I’m a big fan of trying something rather than of trying nothing. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes you go ‘Well, what are you going to do?’ ”

Shelton can’t reveal a lot but, however he’s excited for audiences to see what’s on the horizon for the Knitting Factory, saying 2026 goes to be a superb yr for the venue. He can share that the venue is hoping to host extra comedy, and there’ll, in fact, be extra themed occasions to assist fill in these gaps between larger exhibits.

“We try to bring in great touring entertainment, but if we can’t, we’ve got to find something to do, because we don’t want everybody wandering around in the streets looking for a place to dance,” he mentioned. “We want them to come here where we know they’ll have a good time.”