Nestled between Houghton and Marquette, a small town has become an unexpected destination for national comedians and musicians. The EXTRA, an event venue, opened in L’Anse three years ago after owner Trevor Uren sold his sports news website, hoping to provide entertainment for the communities between the two Upper Peninsula cities.
Uren has transformed the space into a gathering place that performers and patrons alike have embraced. “We’ve done a lot of changes and we just made it a venue that feels like home,” Uren said. “It’s a smaller venue, but at the same time, when you get the national acts in here and they say that they had more fun performing here than they did at the bigger venues, it always feels great.”
The EXTRA offers a variety of entertainment options throughout the year. Recently, the venue hosted comedians Max Kolondy, Haley Macias, and Carl Merrick. Concerts also fill the small dance floor with crowds eager for live music.
The venue’s format sets it apart from larger entertainment spaces. “Every show is like almost like a mini festival because we have like three or four acts before the headliner,” Uren said. “But now we’re adding on some extra dates to allow locals perform here and also try to raise money to keep the venue going because obviously it’s tough doing one show a month when you have an entire building.”
Despite its success attracting national talent, The EXTRA has faced financial challenges in recent months. After receiving encouragement from regulars and residents in the community, Uren decided to launch a fundraiser to keep the venue operational.
“There was people that reached out and were like, just do it, just start it, you know, we’ll help out, we’ll push it, we’ll donate,” Uren said. “So it was the last thing we wanted to do, but at the same time, you know, when we’ve had this support from people, it was hard to not just be like, okay, let’s give this a shot.”
Uren and his staff continue to plan concerts, comedy shows, and community events. He says he has a passion for bringing people together and wants to build a feeling of community inside The EXTRA’s walls.
The venue occupies the former site of a local teen center and a bar before that. Those interested in learning more about The EXTRA can find concert details, hours of operation, and information about the fundraiser online.
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