How Sid the Cat Auditorium Plans to Redefine the 500-Cap Experience for Artists and Fans in L.A.

In South Pasadena, a long-dormant school auditorium is about to get a second life as a new independent music venue.

Sid the Cat Auditorium, slated to open within the next two months, takes its name from co-founder Kyle Wilkerson’s late cat, Sid — a pet remembered as much for his cool demeanor as his longevity. “He passed away just before the pandemic at almost 15,” Wilkerson says. “He lives on with the brand and the shows we do. He was a special cat.”

For Wilkerson and business partners Brandon Gonzalez and Sean Newman, the venue represents a culmination of 10 years of building Sid the Cat Presents, their independent concert promotion company. Since 2015, the duo has booked shows at more than 70 different Los Angeles-area spaces, from women’s clubs to churches, often hauling in sound systems themselves. The new space finally gives them a permanent home base — and the chance to control their own calendar. “We’re still going to work with other venues, but this is our baby,” says Wilkerson.

The building housing Sid the Cat Auditorium was originally constructed as one of South Pasadena’s first ground-level schools and later converted into a local school district’s administration offices. Its auditorium, once used for student performances, hadn’t hosted a show since 1979. Now, after a careful restoration, it’s being repurposed as a 500-capacity live music venue with an adjacent bar, two green rooms and an outdoor patio.

The 500-capacity room retains its historic charm, including a proscenium stage measuring 35 feet across and 21 feet deep and recently rediscovered ceiling murals by early 20th-century artist Lucille Lloyd. “Everyone thought the murals were gone, but we found them about a year and a half ago,” Gonzalez says. “They’re the only four left.”

The venue will also feature three modular bar locations and an easy load-in ramp directly onto the stage — all rare luxuries for a space this size. Outside, the site offers nearly 150 parking spots and sits just steps from the Metro A Line, making it accessible from across Los Angeles.

Sound has been a priority from day one. Rat Sound, the company led by veteran engineer Dave Rat, is overseeing the installation of an L-Acoustics loudspeaker system designed to rival larger rooms. “We think this is going to be one of the best 500-cap rooms in the country,” Wilkerson says.

Just as important is accessibility for fans. The venue will operate as an all-ages room — a rarity in L.A., where 21-and-over policies dominate. “We want people coming here over decades, not just one night,” Wilkerson explains. “Maybe their first show is here when they’re 17, and they’re still coming back at 47.”

Ticketing will be handled by Dice, chosen for its anti-scalping policies. Wilkerson says the partnership has already proven itself during smaller shows, where secondary market resale was virtually eliminated. Average ticket prices will hover around $25, keeping the focus on emerging talent and established acts looking for an intimate setting

The decision to stay independent was deliberate, Wilkerson tells Billboard. As Live Nation and AEG continue to consolidate control of mid-sized and large venues, few operators are opening 500-cap rooms. “It’s never been harder to open a venue than it is right now,” Wilkerson says. “The economics have changed, and a lot of independents have been swallowed up. But we’re committed to remaining independent forever. That’s in our DNA.”

That ethos extends to booking. “We’re intentional about everything we book,” Gonzalez says. “If we don’t believe in the art, it won’t be on our stage.”

The surrounding community has embraced the project, seeing it as an alternative to chain restaurants and big-box redevelopment. “South Pasadena is an artist community. They want a small business in this space,” Wilkerson says. “Every neighbor we’ve talked to is excited about having live music in walking distance.”

They plan to operate six nights a week, with programming that stretches beyond concerts to include comedy, podcasts and mini-festivals. On dark nights, the bar will still spin vinyl for the neighborhood.

For Gonzalez, who grew up in nearby El Sereno, and Wilkerson, who moved to L.A. from Texas 16 years ago, the venue is the realization of a dream after renting other venues and building their business one show at a time. “We’ve literally done this the hardest way possible — renting spaces, hauling in gear, building productions from scratch,” Gonzalez says. “Now we can finally do it at the quality we’ve always envisioned.”

The founders funded the project themselves, without outside investors, supplementing with a GoFundMe to cover rising construction costs. They see the venue as a legacy for the community as much as for their company. “Culture has taken a hit, and living day-to-day in this city is hard,” Wilkerson says. “We want a space where people can celebrate nightly, where the next great band might be discovered.”

As Sid the Cat Auditorium prepares to open its doors, it’s set to become more than just another venue in L.A.’s crowded market. For the San Gabriel Valley, it’s the first new room of its size in more than 40 years. And for Wilkerson and Gonzalez, it’s a tribute to a beloved pet, a decade of DIY perseverance and a belief that independent music can still thrive — one night, and one community, at a time.