About

  • Sound Transit The Roadhouse

The Roadhouse is a live performance space at the Angle Lake Station’s architecturally distinctive garage. The Roadhouse anchors a music and audio program focused on South King County and the communities surrounding the Federal Way Link Extension (FWLE). The program highlights and celebrates the many cultures and musical styles in the area, artists and musicians living and working in South King County and connects transit riders with the places they are traveling through. 

The venue name, “The Roadhouse”, is a nod to the musical history in this area. In the 1930s through the 1960s a number of dance halls were located in South King County, midway between the urban centers of Seattle and Tacoma. The most well-known was the Spanish Castle, which featured local musicians and national acts, as well as the first on-stage appearance of a young Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix’s song “Spanish Castle Magic” was inspired by the Spanish Castle. 

Check out The Roadhouse Calendar for monthly and quarterly events. 

Our Guiding Principles 

  • INCLUSION: create a sense of belonging through music and performance 
  • COMMUNITY: focus on South King County audiences and musicians 
  • HISTORY: highlight the musical history and culture in South King County   
  • CONNECTION: create a bridge between transit and the places that it serves
  • CELEBRATE: create a space to share and build South King County culture

Who We Are

Venue Management 

Show Brazil Productions, an internationally respected organization based in South King County, is The Roadhouse’s venue management group, co-founded and led by Eduardo and Ana Paula Mendonça. 
 
Eduardo Mendonça, the co-founder and event producer of BrasilFest at Seattle Center for nearly 30 years, co-founder of Show Brazil Productions, has performed for world leaders including the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela, and has worked extensively with young people through music and arts education. In addition to his artistic career, Eduardo brings deep administrative leadership experience, having served for 10 years as a K–12 Principal at Escola Parque, one of the largest public schools in Latin America, internationally recognized for its strong focus on arts-integrated education.
Ana Paula Mendonça was a co-owner of Café Brasil Restaurant in Seattle and has been the co-founder and Booking Manager of Show Brazil Productions since 1999, promoting arts and education in the U.S. and Canada. She is also the co-founder of Brazil Center/BrasilFest, widely known for organizing the popular BrasilFest at Seattle Center for nearly 30 years. The organization is guided by an immigrant- and women-majority leadership team whose lived experience informs its commitment to culturally informed, inclusive, and community-rooted programming. Aline Pereira is also part of the Show Brazil Productions leadership team.

Advisory Committee

Eight community leaders, music and production industry professionals, and performing artists are providing invaluable guidance on how to get The Roadhouse up and running while staying true to Guiding Principles. Members are: 

  • Margot Jones
  • Jeff Ross
  • Jordan Leonard
  • Rahel Ambachew
  • Peter D’Aigle
  • Michael Jones
  • Darryl Crews