Venue Details - The Tractor Tavern

THE TRACTOR TAVERN

5213 Ballard Ave NW
Seattle, WA

Phone: (206) 789-3599

Website: http://tractortavern.ypguides.net/

Long a promising space lurking on a pleasantly sleepy block in Ballard, the former site of the New Melody Tavern came into its own in 1994 when Dan Cowan took the place over and gave it a personality, both decoratively and musically. Now it's the central gathering place for Seattle's bubbling-under alternative-country scene, as well as a serviceable venue for all manner of roots, folk and traditional musical styles, from acoustic singer-songwriters to rockabilly rave-ups to Cajun-flavored zydeco to the traditional Irish music.

The layout is simple -- it's basically just one medium-sized rectangular room, divided by a wall in the back half but open in the front so that the stage on the left is visible to folks at the bar on the right. Tractor-oriented items and other rural-related paraphernalia hung from the walls give the place a refreshingly non-urban feel. The honorary "house band" is Ron Bailey's sizable Hank Williams Revue, which every few months plays on Wednesday nights for several weeks in a row and usually packs the place with a diverse audience that ranges from two-stepping grandparents to younger punkers searching a truer sound.

The Tractor hosts live shows 5-7 nights a week featuring a wide range of local and national acts. Check out all of your favorite Rock, Alternative Country, Rockabilly, Groove & Psychedelia, Celtic, Cajun & Zydeco, Folk, Blues, Jazz, and Bluegrass acts to name a few. And that’s not all… The Tractor purveys a fine assortment of liquor, beer & wine, and TV dinners. It ain’t elegant, but it’s darn good. They feature a variety of local micro brews, imports and domestic, bottles and draft. They also carry a selection of non-alcoholic beverages including juices and sodas. They have an on-site ATM and accept Visa and MasterCard.

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