It started with two guys, a love for music, and a basement. Izaiah Hooper and Godwin Agbara have taken an ordinary college house on Graham Street and turned it into a mecca for music, fun, and the ever-growing punk scene.

“I had been wanting to put on a basement show for a while, and the first thing I did when I moved into my new house in June was go downstairs and check out the basement,” Hooper said. “It was perfect, it had a little cutout area for the stage, and I said to myself, ‘yeah, we're definitely doing something.’ I reached out and asked Godwin if he wanted to perform, and boom, the rest is history.”

Agbara and Hooper have long had connections in the Eau Claire music scene — they're both musicians — so getting their venue started was pretty easy, they said.

Following a previous show at Abraxas Wax 9320 Graham Ave., suite 102, Eau Claire), local group Public Meltdown reached out to play with Agbara. With a perfect location to play, the venue spoke for itself.

“(Graham Jams is) leading the charge in returning house venues to Eau Claire. The art is what keeps the underground scene moving.”

Simon butler

founder of ec punx

ALIVE AND WELL. The first spring show at Graham Jams this year, a venue hosting invite-only shows, brought all the energy for performers Casual Sex, 9th & Vine, and Home Stretch. The March 29 show benefited LA firefighters. Photo by Simon Butler)

Soon after, local band Gash was returning from tour and reached out to Agbara to see if they could play Graham Jams, intrigued by the basement venue.

“Gash was our first official show under the Graham Jams name. With Gash being one of the original bands out here that stayed here after COVID, it was great to have them posting about it, really pushing the boulder (up) the hill,” Agbara said.

The name Graham Jams stuck after that. The duo was able to line up a few weekend shows, and more bands and artists reached out to them. Agbara and Hooper said they are lucky people want to play at their venue; they are yet to struggle finding new talent.

Performing artists get paid through cover fees, unless the show is dedicated to a relief effort or charity, Agbara said. The venue also established the “Graham Stand,” where bands can sell any merch they bring before or after the show.

“The vibe has been more punk and rock because those are the bands that are reaching out. I also feel like that's more the scene out here, but we’ve done jazz shows, DJ sets, and rap shows,” Hooper said.

The energy of a Graham Jams show is unmatched, they said. Hooper said Graham Jams has become a forgiving space full of people who appreciate all genres of music.

“You can physically feel the energy that the crowd is giving back to you,” Agbara said. “The audience is so close and so ready for whatever is about to happen.”

Graham Jams hosts artists running the whole gamut of genres, from punk and alternative to heavier rock, DJs, and more.  (Photo by Simon Butler)

Simon Butler, founder of the EC PUNX zine, said Graham Jams has quickly become a staple in the local punk scene.

“Graham Jams is really a flagship spot for these DIY events right now,” Butler said. “They are leading the charge in returning house venues to Eau Claire. The art is what keeps the underground scene moving.”

Hooper and Agbara title themselves as more“DIY” than punk, but they are happy to host the scene.

Eau Claire has a wide array of young talent, and Graham Jams has served as a catalyst, uniting a diverse array of creative individuals from all corners of the city, the hosts said. Among those drawn to the venue’s creative energy were Ben Leurquin and Jack Fentress, two creatives whose passion for their respective arts made their involvement in Graham Jams an inevitability.

Leurquin designs graphics for Graham Jams, while Fentress runs a branding agency and has been working to create video and branding for the venue.

WE HAVE A WHOLE ARMY OF PEOPLE HERE THAT COULD BE DOING SOMETHING AMAZING, BUT THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM. THEY JUST NEED A HUB – AND BOOM – GRAHAM JAMS.

Izaiah hooper

graham jams

Gossip Bench, Public Meltdown, and The Doghouse, pictured, performed on April 11. Godwin Agbara, Graham Jams co-organizer, is a member of The Doghouse. (Submitted photos)

Agbara and Hooper acknowledged that Graham Jams wouldn't be possible without the enthusiastic individuals in the area willing to come to their shows, and the influx of talent from their peers attending the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The venue was created by a group of passionate young people, fueled by their love, creativity, and passion for the project.

“If you have an idea, you have people in your corner, and the more committed you all are, the more you are going to take off. You don’t need to contact Hollywood, you just need to talk to your friends,” Agabara said.

Looking ahead, the venue has big things planned. Graham Jams has started community collaboration efforts and hopes to work with other venues in bringing local bands to more spaces, like at Azara (205 N. Barstow St., Eau Claire) and LIVE at LEONA'S (406 Galloway St., Eau Claire).

While they look forward to working with businesses in Eau Claire, they hope to get more house shows added to this year’s schedule too. If their weekly turnout is anything to go off of, Graham Jams is clearly what the scene is craving.

Keep up with the house show venue on Instagram (@GrahamJams).