Smouse
Last night, Catalyst Music introduced East Saint Paul to what will become the Twin Cities’ newest all-ages venue. Aptly named “The Vault,” the venue sits inside an old Swedish bank that was built in 1910. The Twin Cities lack all-ages venues but will suddenly have two strong options along Payne Avenue, as Caydence Records sits down the street.
Catalyst Music is in its 5th year of operations and has seen over 45,000 people attend shows at The Garage in Burnsville. This expansion will reinforce the nonprofit operational model to “bring music to the people,” and increase accessiblity for young people in our metro area. We got an early look into the progress and layout for the space.
Unique Features
The Vault is located in the basement of the historic building. Walking through the low-key side door and down the stairs, one is immediately greeted by an existing fireplace. The walls to the main room feature two funnel-shaped arches that frame where the stage will sit. At 193 for capacity, it feels cozy and intimate. Behind the space where the mixing board will be is the green room. It’s medium sized, and already has green countertops in place as it was the old break room at the bank.
Moving past the main room, there will be two restrooms, soon to be built. The hallway leads to another cool feature that ties into the name of the venue. A thick concrete doorway frames a room that used to be the actual bank vault. There is a possibility that it could be used as a recording studio, much like the facility that is its Burnsville partner. The back of the venue features another entrance and existing handicap accessible elevator. The overall flow of the space feels smooth and unique.
Community Support
Across the street, Executive Director Jack Kolb-Williams led an evening of fundraising for the venue. The room was filled with a community rallying to support this new endeavor. Currently, they are working to raise money for an HVAC system to be installed in the space. We heard from young artists who shared their experiences at The Garage and how important it is to have all-ages venues. For many young musicians, getting a gig at The Garage makes them feel like professional artists. It’s there chance to promote, connect, and be apart of the passions.
Jack showed photos of the deconstruction that took place a couple of weeks ago when 22 volunteers joined him for the weekend to tear down the original walls in the basement. Looking at the rubble and photos is a reminder of the hard work it takes to bring music to the people.
As a huge supporter of what music venues do for our communities, I encourage you to please consider donating to The Vault by clicking here. Your contribution directly supports local music and the development of our young adults.
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