The party’s sober in Yachats
By Chandler Davis
For the TODAY
When Lisha Rose and her band hosted an alcohol- and drug-free community dance last December at the Yachats Commons it was an attempt to address a concern that comes up frequently among local musicians.
Lisha is an iconic local vocalist who has been featured with many bands over the years. Her latest group, Lisha & the Outlaws, is a classic rock dance band that has become well known for its ability to create a lively party atmosphere anywhere it plays. But, like most local bands and musicians, the great majority of those gigs are in venues that serve alcohol.
Although the restaurants, bars, and taverns that actively support local live music on the Central Oregon Coast are well run (and vital to the survival of local music on the coast), they don't meet everyone's needs.
Lisha and her band manager Cheri Capron said they were hearing frequently from fans who felt left out of the vibrant local music scene in Lincoln County. They ranged from young singles looking for opportunities to meet people and dance in an alcohol-free environment, to people in recovery from substance-use disorders, to older folks who said they felt uncomfortable around people who are drinking, to couples who just wanted affordable opportunities to enjoy live music with the kids and the whole family.
Free, all-ages local community dances and concerts (and even theatrical productions) were common in Lincoln County as recently as 10 years ago, but they have largely disappeared as taxpayer-funded facilities in every community have imposed rental fees on these public venues that have made it nearly impossible for local groups and individuals to put on free events.
The December event, billed as a Sober Dance Party, drew more than a hundred people of all ages, but it would not have been possible without the cooperation of the City of Yachats which set aside its usual rental fees for the Commons' multi-purpose room.
Lisha and Cheri said before the December dance that they hoped it would set a precedent for similar events throughout the county and, at least in Yachats, that is now happening in the form of a just-announced follow up series of drug- and alcohol-free, all-ages community dances at the Yachats Commons.
The 2024 Central Coast Community Dance Party will feature four free, all-ages dances with live music by a variety of local dance bands, beginning with Lisha & the Outlaws this Saturday, May 4, from 7 to 10 pm
The City of Yachats has agreed to supply the venue and a special tip bucket for the City will be set up prominently for contributions to its clean-up costs, etc. There will be free coffee and other non-alcoholic beverages contributed by local businesses.
The whole thing is organized by local volunteers, sponsored by local businesses, and supported by the City of Yachats to create an open and safe place to be social with an upbeat flavor.
Now that sounds like the Yachats I remember being irresistibly compelled to move to when I first came to the Oregon Coast 50 years ago!
The Yachats Commons is located at 441 Hwy. 101 N. in the center of Yachats. For more information, contact Cheri Capron at 541-961-3047.
Chandler Davis is a former newspaper and magazine journalist, a retired addiction and mental health counselor, and a prominent local musician in Lincoln County.
To learn how you can influence other Lincoln County and Central Coast public entities to help facilitate live entertainment events for the whole community, contact me via Facebook Messenger or at chandler@chandlerdavis.com.
Central Coast Community Dance Party
When: 7 pm, Saturday, May 4
Where: Yachats Commons, 441 Hwy. 101 N.
Cost: Free
Call: 541-961-3047