Eau Claire DIY Music Venue Merges 'Graham Fest' with River Prairie Festival
the May 9 event – now in Altoona – will serve as a "see you later" to the underground, independent music hub
The Graham Jams class of 2025-2026 – an effort between core organizers Godwin Agbara, Izaiah Hooper, Mason Nachtwey and Caine Hoffman – will be going out with a bang this spring. Welcome to Graham Fest, a one-day event to bring together its regular crowd of student attendees and the broader Chippewa Valley community.
On Saturday, May 9, this DIY basement venue – that leads the local charge to offer alternative and emerging musicians a platform – will expand to a festival-style offering, in partnership with the annual River Prairie Festival.
“The basement shows are our bread and butter and we love doing them,” Agbara, Graham Jams' artist booker and event coordinator, said. “But Graham Fest gives (us) an opportunity to expose our artists and Graham Jams to a new audience.”
Chad Duerkop, the City of Altoona's parks and recreation director, agrees – noting “River Prairie Fest is a celebration of art. Music is a big part of that.”
“Having Graham Fest lead the music portion of our event brings much more diversity in genres and musicians than we have had in the past,” Duerkop said. “This year five different musical acts will grace the stage, compared to one in past years.”
“People from all walks of life and all ages have gotten a chance to hang out and find a place for themselves (at Graham Jams).”
godwin agbara
artist booker and event coordinator of Graham Jams
Throughout the month of April, Agbara and friends have unveiled the starting lineup of musicians – many of whom have graced the house venue’s stage – for Graham Fest. Local listeners can look forward to Eau Claire’s own moody pop-rock duo, Affidavit and punk and hardcore trio Home Stretch.
These two groups will be paired with the sounds of Varsity Club, Ira, Connor McLaren and special guests yet to be revealed.
“We have some Graham Jams alums involved in the event, bringing the Graham Jams house style to this new environment,” Agbara said. “We were also able to include acts who have been wanting to play at Graham Jams for a while and aren’t from the area.”
As the festival draws near, Graham Jams organizers will continue to – via social media (@grahamjamec) – reveal featured food trucks, vendors, sponsors and the festival-style event's greater purpose: community-driven fundraising efforts.
Currently, the Graham Jams portion of the River Prairie Festival will also act as a fundraiser for the L.E. Phillips Career Development Center. While a free event, locals can donate funds toward its vocational services.
For die-hard Graham Jams fans, the festival carries a bittersweet note: The basement venue hosted its final concert on April 25, concluding the run of a beloved local house show space. Graham Fest, in turn, will be one of the final local curated efforts from the team in the Chippewa Valley, for now…
With the organizers of Graham Jams – who are also local university students – set to graduate this spring and move to Minneapolis, Minn., Agbara reflects on development of the Graham Jams platform and its future direction.
“People from all walks of life and all ages have gotten a chance to hang out and find a place for themselves (at Graham Jams),” Agbara said of the house show venue. “I think it’s awesome getting to see all these different types of people come together to enjoy music.”
“We’re actively trying to find ways to stay connected to the city and the scene, (to) continue to grow and support it after we leave,” he continued. “So don’t just think cause we’re moving, that we’re done here.”
Minneapolis independent music lovers are in luck: the Graham Jams crew is set to bring their punk, alternative and Eau Claire connections to the PILLLAR Forum Cafe & Bar, among other venues.
But for now, us Chippewa Vallians will come together on the second weekend of May for Graham Fest – a unified effort of friends, musicians and “chosen family” which builds a bridge between the third space and our region’s vibrant creative community.
“We just love Eau Claire and we wouldn’t be here – or doing what we’re doing – without the support from the community,” Agbara said.
On May 9, Graham Fest will partner with the River Prairie Festival (Front Porch Pl, Altoona) for its one-day event. Keep up with the Graham Jams social media platforms (@grahamjamec) to learn more about the Graham Fest event schedule and new shows scheduled in Minneapolis, Minn. this summer.
