Live music and more: Polecat Tavern in Carson City to celebrate rescheduled grand opening Saturday
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Tue, 07/30/2024 - 10:50am
Event Date:
August 3, 2024 - 6:00pm
Carson City’s newest live music venue is excited to announce the rescheduling of their grand opening party, which was postponed from earlier in July due to road construction. The grand opening celebration of Polecat Tavern will be held this Saturday, August 3, 2024.
The event will take place at 260 W Winnie Lane, Carson City between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Guests will be treated to live music in the parking lot with MiXed Company between 6 and 9 p.m. and inside from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. with Canyon White. Delicious Candy Burger will be the Food Truck on site for your enjoyment and we will have tables and chairs available outside
“We have been open since Dec. 14, 2023. but wanted to wait for summer to have our Grand Opening Party so we could have it outside.” Says Keith Barnett, Polecat Tavern owner along with his wife and partner, Chrissi. “We wanted to have a nice big party with everyone to celebrate our new music venue. Then a week before the party, W Winnie Lane was torn up down to the dirt and we had to postpone. We rescheduled as soon as we knew the street would be accessible.”
Polecat Tavern is already becoming known in Carson City and surrounding areas as “a place for live music”, having had live music up to 4 nights each week since December.
“We have Open Mic Night on Thursday for Music, Poetry, Comedy, or etc., lively Karaoke on the second and fourth Fridays of the month, with the awesome Keith Alan Barnett and others performing on alternate Fridays, wonderful guest performers on Saturdays (such as High Desert Habit, The Starliters, & Carson Chandler recently, with regional acts like the fabulous Mr. Johnson and his Loaded Dice based in Reno, & Psych Folk Singer/Songwriter J.Ezra out of San Diego coming up), and a relaxing acoustic jam on Sunday Evenings with Songwriter Workshops, Ukulele Jams, and more planned for the future.
With a seating capacity of only about 60 persons after staff and performers, the venue is quite intimate. “We even were nominated in the Nevada Appeal’s “Best of Carson City” in the “Best Place for Live Music” category after only being open for 5 months. That was such a thrill!” said Chrissi about the nomination.
Polecat Tavern has a Full Cocktail Bar, plus a menu of yummy Mocktails, and non-alcoholic Cocktails made with Ritual Spirits. How about a Rum & Coke or a Gin & Tonic that tastes like the real thing but is alcohol free? There is Bar-Top Video Gaming available as well. We also have a large game table with an assortment of board games available. We do not serve food except for pre-packaged chips and snacks but you are welcome to order in and make a night of it.
Polecat Tavern was opened by Keith and Chrissi Barnett as a way to help provide more live music in the Carson City area. Their dream is to give a supportive space for musicians and other artists. The Stage and Mic are always available when there are no scheduled events. We have a full PA with up to four microphones, an electronic drum kit, and a keyboard set up.
It’s a great place for musicians to try out new material or just get comfortable on stage. All of our performers have told us that they just love the way the room sounds. We have a Showcase Wall for visual art such as paintings and such that can be purchased. Currently T. Anderson Arts is being featured, so come take a look.
Polecat Tavern is also available on Mondays and Tuesdays for meetings or events. Keep in mind that we are a 21 and over only venue, although the patio is all ages. Contact us for more information about facility rentals. We can provide a bartender or caterer for your event as well.
Keith and Chrissi moved to Carson City a little over 18 years ago. The plan was to move to Reno/Sparks but after spending a few days in Carson City while their RV was being repaired, they both fell in love with the town and stayed. Keith is a musician who has performed as Keith Alan Barnett in the US and Australia as a solo artist. He has a single “No Place to Fall” published, as well as an album “Three Days out of Gerlach” with the Lonesome Polecat Band, both available on most streaming services.
He also performs with MiXed Company who will be playing outside on August 3rd at the Grand Opening. You can catch him performing around Carson City, such as the Farmers Market, Levitt Amp concerts at the Brewery Arts Center, and many other venues. Keith also works in the Audio-Visual Tech industry. Chrissi is a bookkeeper by trade and works on the side in graphic arts and jewelry making. “I’m called right brain/left brain” She laughs. She has been active in several non-profits since moving to Nevada and is currently Director of Finance for Sierra Association of Foster Families. “My goal is to retire in a few years and concentrate on making art.”
You can find Polecat Tavern on Facebook, Instagram, Next Door, and the website Polecattavern.com.
Go here for info about Keith Alan Barnett and here for Chrissi’s Graphic Arts website.
