RAWK Announces it is re-openning the Big Dipper, first show is Showbread August 10th Category: The Big Dipper This article has been read: 958 times. RAWK the Inland Northwest PRESS RELEASE RELEASE DATE: July 22, 2004 CONTACT FOR INFORMATION: DALE STROM, RAWK (509-998-9767) HERB LANDIS, RAWK (509-467-6767) DAVE CRUME, RAWK (509-999-1550) STEVE SPICKARD, Big Dipper (509-747-8036) COLIN CONWAY, Spokane Police Dept. (509-625-4089) JOANNE BENHAM, Chase Youth Commission (509-625-6440) FATHER BILL WATSON, Gonzaga University (509-323-5519) FREDDIE DUNLAP, Fludlight Booking (865-237-3442) MIKE KELLEY, Seamless Talent Agency (281-358-4023) KEN DUPREE, Fat Concerts (509-489-3111) DENNY MARIT, Silhouette Lighting (509-747-4804) RAWK WEB SITE: www.rawkonline.com RAWK ANNOUNCES IT IS REOPENING BIG DIPPER, FIRST SHOW IS SHOWBREAD AUGUST 10TH RAWK the Inland Northwest, a Spokane area non-profit concert production company, announces that it has signed a lease for the exclusive use of the Big Dipper, 171 S. Washington Street, for public events at that historic music venue. RAWK has also been granted a cabaret license by the City of Spokane for live music events at the Big Dipper. The first public concert to be held at the Big Dipper, after it became a private reception and event facility in the spring of 2002, will be on Tuesday, August 10, 2004, featuring the Solid State Records band SHOWBREAD, a popular group from Savanna, Georgia. Also appearing will be two bands from the Portland area, A TASTE FOR MURDER and INKED IN BLOOD, along with the local band MY LIFE WITH THE SPANIARD (7:00 pm, $8 at the door). More information on that event will be forthcoming on a separate press release. The President of the RAWK Board of Directors, local attorney Herb Landis, said that "the Big Dipper has a long and memorable history as a local music venue, and thanks to the efforts of the owner, Steve Spickard, the interior of the building is in great condition, but with changes yet to be made." Besides opening up this landmark music venue to public use, it is hoped that national booking agents will be in contact with RAWK more frequently for quality concerts with emerging national bands, rather than bypassing the area. This will help grow the burgeoning music scene in the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area. RAWK produces all-ages shows, and is pleased to offer the Big Dipper as a non-smoking venue with no bar. It is considered that this is the best environment for all ages shows. Because of the lack of liquor sales to subsidize operations, RAWK will continue to solicit corporate and other private support to underwrite its operations. The Secretary/Treasurer of the RAWK organization, Dale Strom, a City Planner for the City of Spokane, says that "as an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, we would appreciate community support for our activities, especially donations that would result in the acquisition of top-rate sound and lights systems for the venue. Such systems would be in range of $25,000, so we likely need to develop a number of supporters." RAWK already has non-financial community support from community organizations like the Chase Youth Commission and the Spokane Police Department, and institutions like Gonzaga University and Whitworth College. RAWK Board Vice-President Dave Crume (also the webmaster for the organization, which has a site at www.rawkonline.com), says that "RAWK has produced approximately 75 concerts in the past four years, which include hosting a variety of national touring bands, and producing three annual RAWK Final Four competitions for local high school bands." RAWK has hosted an impressive array of younger bands, many of which have gone on to sign major label deals soon before or after appearing at RAWK shows in Spokane. These include BLINDSIDE (Elektra Records), SQUAD 5-0 (Capitol Records), ACCEPTANCE (Columbia Records), APRIL SIXTH (Elektra Records) and others on quality independent labels (ZAO on Ferret Records, STUTTERFLY on Maverick Records, AS I LAY DYING on Metal Blade Records, BELOVED, DEAD POETIC, DEMON HUNTER, FIGURE FOUR, The FIGHTING JACKS, SPOKEN, SHOWBREAD and others on Tooth and Nail/Solid State, EXTOL on Century Media, UNEARTH and ROCK AND ROLL WORSHIP CIRCUS as indie bands, BRANDTSON and NOISE RATCHET on The Militia Group, and COOL HAND LUKE on Floodgate Records. A couple of other bands that have played RAWK shows, UNDEROATH and NORMA JEAN (both on Solid State Records) are poised for breakthrough to the major leagues. RAWK is a faith based organization promoting bands avowedly Christian, as well as, positive general market bands. Although RAWK is a Christian organization (independent and multi-denominational), it believes that the most effective example of living a Christian life and establishing an understanding of God's unconditional love for people through Jesus Christ is done through long-term relationship development. RAWK events reflect that philosophy. Perhaps the most lasting legacy of RAWK operations will be the encouragement and development of very young local bands through the RAWK Final Four. This very successful annual event, held in the winter months of January and February, has done much to gain exposure for young bands, and given them encouragement to grow their abilities. It has given them an opportunity to perform in front of large crowds, to be seen by people that had never heard of them, and to land other engagements. RAWK would like to express its thanks to local the local media and other organizations that have assisted that high degree of recognition and support to the local music scene and young bands. Posted by: infekt_001 - August 9th, 2004 Back to News Articles View Articles From The Big Dipper Category