BACK TO BACK MUSIC. Thanks to the determination of longtime and emerging musicians in the Chippewa Valley, we predict The Venue (209 Graham Ave., Eau Claire) will continue to become a space that demands the attention of our local creative community. (A moshing crowd at a gash plus Gully Boys show in The Venue, pictured. Photo by Danny Marchewka)

For anyone lucky enough to be amidst the chaotic attack of the latest Daikaiju takeover at The Venue (209 Graham Ave., Eau Claire) alongside local bands Drunk Drivers and Astronotever, I’m harboring some serious envy.

These days it feels rare to find a crowd which truly values the spectacle of instruments lit with fire (yes, literally) and pure, unadulterated volume – things Daikaiju specializes in – and it's even rarer to find spaces for that energy to flourish.

This hole-in-the-wall spot in downtown Eau Claire (despite being marked as “permanently closed” on Google) has resurrected itself as a retreat for pure DIY spirit.

The Venue appears as an unassuming alleyway-style room where the remains of former area businesses linger in its worn out floors and weathered walls. The space now includes new sound systems, a DJ booth and an eclectic stage design with stained glass window panes as a backdrop.

Thanks to longtime pillars of the Eau Claire music scene, I predict The Venue will continue to evolve into a space that demands the attention of our local creative community.

“Let’s cultivate something that’s sustainable and no matter what you see there, it’s going to be fun.”

cullen ryan

booker, the plus & the venue in downtown eau claire

“It’s structured to be a very DIY space, which has its benefits,” Cullen Ryan, the booker for live entertainment at The Plus (208 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire) and now The Venue, said. “I would love it if we had a rotating cast of Sunday night shows with four bands in town; once a month they are bringing in friends from other cities.”

“Let’s cultivate something that’s sustainable and no matter what you see there, it’s going to be fun,” he quipped.

Cullen, with the help of The Plus owner Benny Haas, has manifested this vision through a deep dive into modifying The Venue for live performance.

“It feels like a secret venue that would have been there at the beginning of punk rock in Hell’s Kitchen in 1976,” Cullen said. “It just has these vibes of early punk rock – and it sounds great back there too, without too much reverb.”

Benjamin Hinz (left) was joined by Mitch Smuhl (right) for a sequence of residency-style shows in October 2025 at The Venue. (Photo by Frank H. Robinson)

An addition of faux leather red seats provides that “pièce de résistance”: an option to lounge in-between sets or chaos of the mosh pit.

The Venue’s first big push to introduce live music was back in the fall of 2025, anchored by an Astronotever residency. That October, longtime local creative Benjamin Hinz invited fellow musicians to share the stage and help define the room’s emerging identity.

Reflecting on that experience, Hinz said The Venue provides an accessible barrier to entry and, echoing Cullen’s thoughts, the sound remains a major selling point of the space.

Hinz noted, “you can hear and feel what those songs are going to be once they escape the practice room or studio.”

“I think most importantly The Venue is a judgement-free room,” Hinz continued. “I didn't get an ounce of side-eye or pearl-clutching about the extreme things I was presenting in there.

“I’m hoping that Eau Claire, The Venue and all the true freaks around here can continue to push the envelope in that lovely, strange, dark room,” he said.

Since then, the room has hosted both up-and-coming and established acts. From its earliest bills featuring Fawn Haus, Ardeth Bay and Home Stretch respectively, to Marijuana Death Squad, gash and Gully Boys during the Eaux Claires festival this past July.

Speaking as an attendee of many of these shows, it’s felt like a truly unparalleled way to explore new sounds and better understand the unique subcultures which fuel each band’s craft.

If you were in the crowd for Public Meltdown’s “Cut My Hair” video shoot at The Venue – where area stylists gave attendees haircuts live – you know the kind of atmosphere I’m talking about.

Plus, events at The Venue have consistently been held on Sunday afternoons and evenings. This feels like a massive win for all the punk rock “early birds” – I know you’re out there!

It’s worth noting that 209 Graham Ave. can host more than just live music sets. For Baylee Cannon, a co-collaborator behind The Hyper Folk, the room proved an ideal setting to unveil their debut record, Interknit, through an album listening experience this past May.

“I think it’s super instrumental to an artistic community, to have a place where the little guys – the more experimental guys or people just starting out – can go to showcase what they're doing,” Cannon said. “The Venue is a place where people get to take risks and that’s why it’s super important that a place like that exists.”

“I’m hoping that Eau Claire, The Venue and all the true freaks around here can continue to push the envelope in that lovely, strange, dark room.”

benjamin hinz

frontman for astronotever

“The only thing they could really use is air conditioning, I’m not going to lie,” Cannon half-joked. “But part of the experience of The Venue is sweating through it, you’re there to really consume the rawness of whatever is happening.”

Cullen and company anticipates the evolution of this DIY stage will only gain momentum (and perhaps some AC?) as more events get booked and traveling musicians begin to use the space more consistently.

After a year and some change of regular hosting, it’s clear The Venue remains open to whatever creative risks the community chooses to manifest beyond the realm of music. With that in mind, the real question lies in what untapped possibilities you’ll choose to actualize at this not-so-hidden gem.

The bandmates of Public Meltdown enjoy a quick break on The Venue's red leather seats before performing their new single, "Cut My Hair." (Photo by Evelyn Nelson)

gash's Breckelle Bathke (center) falls to The Venue's stage floor as she performs, surrounded by a hundred-or-so guests for an impromptu performance on July 25 following the 2026 Eaux Claires festival. If you were present that night, the energy (both dancing and screaming) was felt through the floorboards. (Photo by Danny Marchewka)

Intentional listening from attendees at The Hyper Folk's release party for Interknit, the duo's debut album. (Photo by Luong Huynh)

The Venue's unassuming front entrance, located at 209 Graham Avenue in downtown Eau Claire. (Photo by Luong Huynh)

Head over to volumeonetickets.org to secure tickets to future shows at The Venue (209 Graham Ave., Eau Claire). Or, simply wander past its entrance to scope out the latest batch of handmade flyers for upcoming performances.