Among the expanding options for a night out on the town in Seattle, one venue continues to stand out as a singular, industrial gateway to the world beneath the city.
Originating as an unpretentious techno bunker in what used to be a creamery, Kremwerk has steadily grown in event ambition and venue space since its opening in 2014. The Timbre Room (a 2016 addition to "The Complex") brought patrons from the underground space into an upstairs venue with a patio, larger event capacity, and a disco ball.
This Wednesday, February 16, Kremwerk is celebrating its eight-year anniversary with the kickoff of a five-day festival and the grand opening of the nightclub's newest space: Cherry.
Atmospherically, Cherry will feature "an open floor plan, vaulted ceilings, a chill-out space nicknamed the Cherry Pit, a brand-new Danley sound rig, and metal accents," explained Lauren Taylor, a representative of The Complex. The goal was to design a more immersive dance floor where "you are transported to a space where the only things that matter are the music and what is directly in front of you," she added.
"In Cherry we will continue to serve the underground and forward-thinking sectors of electronic music, live music, and drag," said Taylor. "What is different about Cherry from Kremwerk and Timbre Room is the scale of events we are able to throw." Tech specs include "a larger room, larger sound, and cutting-edge light installations," which foster The Complex's ability to "bring our community the larger artists they want to see in the safe space they deserve," she added. Special attention is paid to anonymity and personal freedom to let loose, as demonstrated by a strict no-phones policy reminiscent of the club scene in Berlin.
And The Complex is committed to providing a safe space in all its Queer-owned, Queer-centric venues. Signs are posted throughout prohibiting bigotry, racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, body-shaming, misogyny, and ableism. They emphasize mandatory consent, detailing the venue's policy and banning for life those patrons caught harassing others.
This refreshing and comprehensive harassment policy aligns with owner Nicole Stone's vision for the entirety of The Complex since she purchased the plot of land in 1999. Cherry is "the fruition of that vision that has been in motion for over two decades," said Taylor.
"As the area around The Complex continues to be built out by developers and the skyscrapers arounds us get taller, we know we must dig ourselves deeper into the foundation of Seattle. Over the past eight years, the need for a venue like The Kremwerk/Timbre Room/Cherry Complex has grown," Taylor continued, since the "growing tech sector has forced the hand of other Seattle clubs to succumb to the mainstream."
In expanding, "the most important thing about our club is what has stayed the same: supporting emerging artists, pushing boundaries, and creating a safe space for anyone to let loose."
Headliners for the festival include Britt Hansen, Dee Diggs, Goth Jafar, and Hiroko Yamamura, to name a few, but the full, impressive lineup features over 20 performers, curated by electronic and live music bookers Dani Loose and Lizz Slabaugh from a wide range of local and traveling talent. Each night has its own pockets of DJing, live music, and drag performances split among the three venues at The Complex.
The Complex has always been avant-garde, with a concrete, no-nonsense aesthetic that feels at once futuristic and timeless. Its coupling of respect for patrons with unapologetic risks in bookings means you'll never know what you will experience inside, but you can feel free to be yourself and enjoy the ride.
Festival showcases begin at 8 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, then 9 p.m. Friday and 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Sets end around 2 a.m. on average, but you could sign up for a long night on Friday and Saturday, with some wrapping up as late as 4 a.m. Single-day tickets and full-festival passes range from $20 to $70 and can be purchased in advance at bit.ly/CherryKrem8YearTicket or at the door. All tickets include full access to the three rooms all night