Scene&herd

New live venue to open at Reno Live

Although it’s known as a multi-floor dance club, Reno Live will once again add live music to the complex.

The new venue, Rock Bottom, will have its grand opening March 15, according to Las Vegas concert promoter Robert Cherrie. Cherrie plans to bring national and regional touring acts into the space and open shows to concertgoers ages 18 and older. He said he’s working on bringing up-and-coming acts such as Union Underground and American Pearl, as well as retro bands such as Missing Persons and Berlin, to town.

“My main goal is for Reno to get back on its feet … [to be a place] where every band will want to stop,” he said. “A lot of bands won’t stop [here] if it’s not 18 and above.”

He said that strict curfew laws prevent young adults between the ages of 18 and 20 from attending live gigs in the downtown corridor. But he believes that by providing a downtown space for those younger than 21 to attend the shows, touring bands may be more willing to play here.

On Thursday nights, Rock Bottom will be open to those 18 and older. It will also be open to this age bracket during special events, particularly when national touring acts come to town. No alcohol will be served on these nights, according to Cherrie. Fridays and Saturdays will be reserved for adults 21 and older.

6 Gig, Arch, Keen and Lapse of Reason are scheduled to perform on the club’s opening night. Arch, Fat Black Pudding and Arthur Funkarelli are slated for March 16, when the club will be open to those 21 and up. Call 329-1952 for details.

Tahoe film festival moves to fall

The Tahoe International Film Festival has moved its event from spring to fall.

The fifth annual independent film festival will run Sept. 27 through Oct. 2 at venues around the north shore. Elizabeth Rogers, president of TIFF, said that the date change was prompted by several factors, including weather and the participation of local sponsors. Rogers said that one of the biggest complaints about last year’s festival was that many filmmakers weren’t used to the late-season snow showers that can strike the Sierra in April. She also said that local sponsors were not prepared to devote their time and resources to the event since it comes so soon after a busy winter ski season. Plus, Rogers added, the local population tends to leave the area during the spring months.

A classic film festival, the south shore-based Lake Tahoe Pioneering in Film Festival, raised a few eyebrows last year when it made its debut the same week as TIFF. The Lake Tahoe Pioneering in Film Festival is once again scheduled for April. Although Rogers admitted that the close dates caused some confusion last year, she downplayed its effect on TIFF.

“[The date change] is more an added benefit for us to be able to distinguish ourselves from other events,” she said, but stressed that the classic film festival was not a motivating factor to move TIFF to fall.

She said these extra few months will allow the organization to offer the community a better festival.

TIFF is accepting film submissions through June 29. For more details on TIFF, call (530) 583-3378 or visit www.tahoefilmfestival.org.