12
SOUND CHECK
AUGUST 18�25, 2021
WHAT’S PLAYING AROUND
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Head to the alley for live music
Side A-lley concerts
happening at least
once a week
By Lisa Britton
Go! Magazine
L
A GRANDE — Caiti
Burke became the event
coordinator at Side A Brew-
ing right before pandemic
restrictions prompted the
cancellation of concerts and
gatherings.
“Obviously we couldn’t do
anything,” Burke said.
But the downtime did give
her time to plan for 2021,
and the brewpub launched
the Side A-lley concert se-
ries in early July. To schedule
artists, Burke called every-
one she’d contacted in 2020.
“We just went back to
those people, and 90% said
yes,” she said.
The name “Side A-lley” re-
fers to the back courtyard —
the alley — of Side A Brew-
ing, 1219 Washington Ave. in
La Grande. The area has nine
tables, plus about 20 chairs
set around the perimeter.
There’s also a walk-up win-
dow where patrons can order
drinks. Shows start at 7 p.m.
There is no cover charge.
“There’s plenty of room to
sit and dance,” Burke said.
Her goal was to have 12
weeks of concerts.
“That’s why the concert
series goes into the fall,” she
said.
Next summer, she plans to
have a true summer con-
cert series, from early June
through August.
Photo by Caiti Burke
Olivia Harms played a Side A-lley concert on Tuesday, Aug. 3, at Side A Brewing in La Grande.
“We wanted to make Side
A not only a great place for
food and beverages, but to
hear great talent,” she said.
Some musicians are local,
or have ties to La Grande.
Others travel some distance
to play — often on their
way to shows in Portland or
Boise. There are one to two
concerts each weekend, and
“pop up” shows are added
on occasion.
“We wanted to have music
at least once a week,” Burke
said.
The Side A-lley concerts
are posted on the Side A
Brewing website, www.sidea-
beer.com, and on Facebook.
Tues - Sat
11 am-8 pm
UPCOMING SHOWS
Saturday, Aug. 21: Grayson Dean
Friday, Aug. 27: Alka Mahdi
Thursday, Sept. 9: Jess Clemons
Friday, Sept. 10: Elwood
Friday, Sept. 17: Bag of Hammers
Friday, Sept. 24: Jobe Woosley & Co.