Events like this were ‘always the goal’; Ashland Armory plans to present more concerts in the new year after pandemic hiatus
By James Sloan, Rogue Valley Times
The Historic Ashland Armory is setting up an end-of-year celebration to remember with eight DJs from across the state and Washington performing on two different stages on two different floors and bringing electronic music into the new year.
Officially titled Elevation New Year’s Eve, the experience will not only have music for grooving, but vendors, a full bar and more.
“It’s something we wanted to make a really fun and diverse event, and we try and make it a ‘festival in a box’ with lots of different elements in there,” said Jason Gallagher, co-owner of Live at the Armory, the music production company in charge of putting on multiple events and concerts at the 120-year-old venue.
The great hall (ground floor) stage will be set for DJs The Housewife, Soulbotic, DJ Samuel Lawrence and Codi Carroll, while the upstairs Launchpad Lounge stage will feature performances by DJs G-Rad, C Quake, Billy Wood and NoWa.
“I’m most excited to come together with a ton of talented artists that are from here,” said Gerad Stebbins, aka G-Rad. “Our stage upstairs is going to be loaded with local talent from 10-plus years ago who are still playing now and have really made a name for themselves in the West Coast underground scene.”
“There’s going to be a lot of energy exchange and it’s awesome,” said DJ Samuel Lawrence.
The NYE Elevation event is scheduled for 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at the Historic Ashland Armory, 208 Oak St.
Tickets ($35 per person) can be purchased at liveatthearmory.com.
The event will have a full bar; people must be 21 or older to attend.
While Elevation is the first event of its kind for the Armory, organizers have been planning to put on shows like this for years, especially after COVID-19’s impact on live venues.
“This was always the goal. We were on track for a remodel and were getting going before the pandemic shutdown … five years later and we’ve opened up with a headliner series and two bigger concerts downstairs a month and local and touring artists, and it’s a really fun time,” Gallagher said.
The Armory reopened last year with fully revamped lighting, equipment and the new upstairs portion that will be used during the New Year’s Eve party.
“We will have little zones and areas with live painting, festival vending and chocolate from Lulu’s Chocolates,” Gallagher said, adding that they are also planning to add a photo booth and places for people to take photos.
The event will showcase many of the Rogue Valley scene’s DJs, including longtime Southern Oregon performers G-Rad (Stebbins) and DJ Samuel Lawrence.
“I have been a DJ in the Rogue Valley for 25 years and two years in Oahu, Hawaii,” Stebbins said, adding, “I have played a wide variety of music over the years. From hip-hop to dubstep … My favorite tunes are the bass tunes — the wonky, drippy kind.”
“I’ve been writing music for — gosh, it’s been a while — the last 15 years (in San Francisco and the Rogue Valley) and I’ve had residences at Burning Man and played all over the place and the West Coast, up and down,” Lawrence said.
“I represent ‘blue collar’ beats, that’s what I consider it; it’s not about glam,” Lawrence added.
Going into the new year, the Live at the Armory organization has plans to present more concerts and continue its reputation as a premier music venue in the region.
“2026 is going to be the most wonderful year of art ever with the new space and a broader showcase of art for the whole community and showcase the whole town as an attraction,” Gallagher said. “This (coming) year, what we’re trying to do is have two bigger shows a month.”
The Armory will host Whitey Morgan and The 78’s on Jan. 31; Beats Antique, Feb. 13; Moontricks, Feb. 22; and TopHouse, March 28.
For details on upcoming shows at the Armory, or to find further information about the venue and more, visit liveatthearmory.com.
Reach reporter James Sloan at [email protected]. This story first appeared in the Rogue Valley Times.
