Airplay Café, opening June 23 in Portland’s Lower Burnside district, will cater to music lovers of every age.
Owner Andy Simon, a local musician and an audio engineer, saw a need for live music venues that catered to people of all ages, not just young adults. “Many of the adults we know grew up loving rock and pop music, and still enjoy the experience of discovering new music, but few places offer them that experience in a way that fits their schedules or their tastes.” He became determined to create a new kind of venue.
Simon and his wife, Patti Jagger, have been working toward opening this venue for almost five years. “We were inspired by the kind of coffeehouses you could find in the middle of the last century,” Jagger said. “When live music and performance were important parts of the coffeehouse experience. We’re putting the performance component back in the mix, and inviting the whole family into the experience.”
With a toddler of their own, Jagger and Simon realized some of Portland’s most enthusiastic music lovers are children. Kid-friendly daytime performances are planned, Jagger says, and “we’re planning some special family events where parents will have the opportunity to introduce their children to the music they love, whether that’s classical music or the blues.”
Airplay Café will be open daily starting June 23. Hours and performance schedules will be posted soon at www.AirplayCafe.com
