The Sweetwater Music Hall team announced this week that they’ve hired one of the most critically important cogs in the live music industry – the talent buyer.

Chris Porter, who spent 18 years booking Seattle’s Bumbershoot festival and currently books artists and more for San Francisco’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass among other events, has agreed to take the role just in time for the venue to celebrate the venue’s 50th anniversary.

It’s a return to the venue world for Porter, who will remain based in Seattle and continue booking HSB as well as The Town and The City Festival in Lowell, Mass., and the South Lake Union Block Party in Seattle, according to Pollstar.

In its 50-year history, the Sweetwater has survived several existential threats over the years, including losing leases, finding new homes and pandemic. With the help of a group of angel investors and part-owners, including ex-Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir, it’s survived as a much-loved music venue, restaurant and community center. 

It’s certainly got a storied place in music history: artists who have graced its stages include Weir, Bonnie Raitt, Aaron Neville, Big Mama Thornton, Carlos Santana, Clarence Clemons, Elvis Costello, Etta James, Gregg Allman, Huey Lewis, Jerry Garcia, John Hiatt, John Lee Hooker, Maria Muldaur, Mimi Fariña, Odetta, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Richie Havens, Robert Cray, Sammy Hagar, Townes Van Zandt, Van Morrison, and many more. 

Sweetwater originally opened in 1972 as Sweetwater Saloon and over time began to attract not only a loyal clientele but artists – many of whom made their way from San Francisco to Marin County in th early days. including Jerry Garcia, Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, Elvis Costello and more. In its current incarnation, former Grateful Dead guitarist and Sweetwater part-owner Bob Weir is known to pop in for performances and has recently – after an 18-month COVID-forced closure, hosted artists including David Grisman, Mother Hips, The Skatalites and Maggie Rose, among others.

“I’m thrilled to work with Sweetwater Music Hall,” Porter says. “I recently met with my longtime friend and earlier colleague Maria Hoppe and really learned about the storied history of Sweetwater. I knew this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

“Chris has tremendous experience as a talent buyer, and deep relationships with agents and musicians,” says Hoppe, Sweetwater’s executive director and general manager. “He carries a wealth of knowledge in arts programming and is a wonderful addition to our team. Along with his role as Talent Buyer, he is also our new Programming Director for the Sweetwater Music Hall Arts Fund, an arts education outreach program throughout Marin County and the greater Bay Area.”

Hoppe, who became Sweetwater’s executive director when the venue’s board established a non-profit organization during the pandemic, is lifelong music vet, best known as an artist manager and assistant to the late Herbie Herbert.

Want to know what’s happening around town? Click here to subscribe to the Enjoy Mill Valley Blog by Email!