On today’s episode, we’re talking with two night owls who found freedom and community in Seattle’s local nightlife. 

Growing up just south of Seattle in Des Moines, music and nightlife advocate Leigh Bezezekoff felt like she saw a new world while watching Pearl Jam’s “Even Flow” video on MTV. “The coolness factor of Des Moines at that time was not great”, said Bezezekoff. But the video suggested that an extremely cool local music scene was waiting for her just a few miles north. 

These days, Leigh is the marketing and ticketing manager at Conor Byrne, a cooperatively owned music space and bar in Ballard. She's also a cofounder of the Washington Nightlife and Music Association, an organization that supports and champions independent music venues and artists. 

DJ Emily Griffin grew up in the Los Angeles area. She was drawn to the underground rave scene. Emily and her friends called telephone hotlines to get the scoop on where the underground raves were located – often in grimy warehouses on the edge of town. 

Emily said her days of clubbing in LA “opened up this whole world to me of being able to get lost in music, dance, and feeling fully self-expressed.”

Decades later, she’s still seeking that out. You can catch DJ Emily Griffin, aka GriffinGrrl, spinning regularly at late-night dance parties around the city. 

On this episode of Meet Me Here, these two night owls will tell you where - and WHY - to find late-night community in Seattle.

 

In this episode, we mention:

• Conor Byrne Pub on Instagram
• Conor Byrne Co-op 
• Washington Nightlife and Music Association
• GriffinGrrl on Soundcloud 
• Emily Griffin on Instagram
• Monkey Loft, Dance & Nightclub 
• Do206 

 

Host Jeannie Yandel recommends checking out the new Hot Rat Summer mosaic unveiling at Actualize Gallery in Pioneer Square on June 13th from 5-9 pm, and the afterparty from 9pm-midnight. 

 

*********

 

Support Meet Me Here and all KUOW's podcasts at kuow.org/meet 

Got an arts and culture idea you'd like us to talk about? Email us! [email protected] 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.