Customers at McMenamins pubs and hotels often look around in wonder at how nothing matches, but everything goes together. They contemplate unusual objects from floor to ceiling and marvel at bars intricately carved. In episode 4 of The Red Shed Tapes, host Shannon McMenamin delves into where it all came from. She talks to antiques dealers and a local historian

Check out the transcript & photos here on the BLOG

Produced by McMenamins, Gretchen Kilby and Jess Is Creative

Host: Shannon McMenamin

Sound design & audio editing: Gretchen Kilby

Writing: Jess Lyness of Jess Is Creative

Video production: Kat Nyberg

McMenamins archival audio, video & photos: Kat Nyberg

McMenamins archival photos: Liz Devine

McMenamins production team: Kat Nyberg, Michelle “Jake” Robbins, Renee Rank Ignacio

Art: Lillian Ripley

Get in touch with The Red Shed Tapes: podcast@mcmenamins.com

Website: www.mcmenamins.com/podcast

What kind of pub/hotel/handcrafting/live music business has a history department? And why? In Episode 3 of The Red Shed Tapes we’re talking about how history is an integral part of the McMenamins experience and how 28-year historian Tim Hills built a department from the ground up as the company was restoring buildings from the roof down. We’ll meet staff historians, hear from superstar drag queen Poison Waters, and stop by the second biggest UFO festival in the U.S. But first, a story about the Godfather of Soul, James Brown.

Check out the transcript & photos here on the BLOG

Produced by McMenamins, Gretchen Kilby and Jess Is Creative

Host: Shannon McMenamin

Sound design & audio editing: Gretchen Kilby

Writing: Kat Nyberg and Jess Lyness of Jess Is Creative

Editing: Michelle “Jake” Robbins

Video production: Kat Nyberg

McMenamins archival audio, video & photos: Kat Nyberg

McMenamins archival photos: Liz Devine

McMenamins production team: Kat Nyberg, Michelle “Jake” Robbins, Renee Rank Ignacio

Art: Lillian Ripley

Read more about Tim Hills’s evening with James Brown in his essay.

McMenamins UFO Fest

McMenamins History Pubs

Get in touch with The Red Shed Tapes: podcast@mcmenamins.com

Website: www.mcmenamins.com/podcast

Creating a place to hear music is a lot like creating music itself: You have to know when to leave space for drama and resonance, and every decision counts. In Episode Two of The Red Shed Tapes, we’ll hear about reopening the legendary Crystal Ballroom during the height of Portland’s indie rock era. We’ll find out why curating playlists for each McMenamins pub is a lot like mixing the perfect cocktail, and Scott Avett of the Avett Brothers will tell the tale of a yearslong friendship that all started with a meeting at McMenamins. 

Check out the transcript & photos here on the BLOG

Produced by McMenamins and Maxwell

Host: Shannon McMenamin

Featured Guests: Jimi Biron, Scott Avett, Dan McMenamin, Mike McMenamin, and Tim Hills

Audio Editor: Gretchen Kilby

Writer: Jess Lyness, Maxwell

Archival Recordings: Kat Nyberg

McMenamins team: Renee Rank Ignacio, Kat Nyberg, Jake Robbins

Maxwell team: Jen Maxwell-Muir, Kate Castillo, Janelle Jordan, and Tyler Brewington

Podcast theme music by Jim Brunberg & Ben Landsverk of Wonderly

Additional music from Epidemic Sound and AudioHero

Artwork by Lillian Ripley

Thanks to the staff at McMenamins Crystal Hotel.

A special thank you to all of the artists who have played at McMenamins!

And we’re especially grateful to Scott Avett of the Avett Brothers for joining us on this episode.

Get in touch with The Red Shed Tapes: podcast@mcmenamins.com

Website: www.mcmenamins.com/podcast