Need a study break? Make sure to check out these off-campus events
By Josh Hughes
The new school year is finally upon us, and with it comes an assortment of shows and events happening throughout Bellingham. While Western’s gears are just setting into motion for the onset of fall, there’s always an abundance of activities going on in town– house shows, art galleries, theater performances. With an emphasis on music and arts, here’s a roundup of some of the non-Western affiliated events occurring in the next couple weeks:
Paint B’ham Blue
When: Sept. 27, 4:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Where: 1100 Railroad Ave. What: The day that fall quarter begins, kick things off downtown, just across from Boundary Bay, for an afternoon of live music, pop up shops and a fireworks show. Every year the Herald sign rising high above Bellingham lights up blue in honor of Western starting school again, and this event also serves as a countdown for the switch. The event is free and for all ages.
The Wednesdays, Tag Along Friend, Hayden Eller, Oliver Elf Army
When: Sept. 28, 7:30 p.m. Where: The Alternative Library (519 E Maple St.) What: The Alternative Library, “an educational cooperative dedicated to expanding learning through counter-cultural literature and experimental art”, hosts an array of music and arts related events throughout each month, including Open Mic Nights and occasional workshops (soapmaking, sewing, etc.). They also host house shows, and this marks the first large event they’re putting on of the quarter. The Wednesdays, a local punk band fueled by their melodic female vocals and reverby guitars, will headline the event. Dream pop opener Tag Along Friend comes all the way from Boise, Idaho. Equally oddball pop duo Oliver Elf Army is coming up from Everett for the show, while Hayden Eller of Bellingham’s own Co-Founder will perform a solo set.
State of Bliss Three Year Anniversary Show
When: Sept. 29, doors at 6:30 p.m., show at 7 p.m. Where: The Alternative Library (519 E Maple St.) What: Local clothing brand State of Bliss is celebrating their third year anniversary with a concert that includes some of Bellingham’s more well known electronic artists, along with some surprises. Metsa, the headliner of the night, has performed at Western’s Underground Coffeehouse and last year’s BAMF! Festival, and has a continually growing Soundcloud page of dark, dreamy electronica. Rap group COSMOS, who won Seattle’s Battle of the Bands competition in 2016, will also make an appearance, as well as local electronic duo Noisywaters and newcomer punks Middle James.
Summer’s End Arts + Music Gathering
When: Sept. 30, 12 – 8 p.m. Where: Maritime Heritage Park (500 W Holly St.) What: Make.Shift is putting on their second annual Summer’s End fest on the edge of downtown Bellingham for a day and night of food, art, music, workshops, games and installations. With the intention of “beautifying” Maritime Heritage Park, the event is all ages and free. In addition to local food vendors and a beer garden, the park will be littered with craft vendors and the occasional silent disco set. Musical acts include Bob Fossil, La Fonda, Noisywaters, Metsa, ParisAlexa, Step Dads and Shadow Variable. Art installations include work from Prism, Clareity Expressions, CANDYPATH, Trevor Capps, Steven Baddley, Zay Kim, Gretchen Leggitt, Abby Kuchar and Zach Thompson.
Aerial Divisions: Artworks by Ashley Olason and Hannah L. Rivers
When: Oct. 6, 6 – 10 p.m. Where: Make.Shift (306 Flora St.) What: Make.Shift hosts art walks every first Friday of the month, and this month marks a double exhibit by two Western BFA alumni. “Through vividly textured multimedia paintings, Aerial Divisions is a study in borders and mapmaking”. Olason and Rivers’ work takes aerial views of natural land and the menacing implications of society to create a juxtaposition that suggests that no one can accurately map the globe because it always changes from our own impacts. Both artists additionally incorporate sewing into their work, and their distinctly unique pieces contrast well when placed in the same gallery. Be sure to keep updated with Make.Shift’s monthly art walks that go year round.
Honcho Poncho/Skelevision/Moon Darling
When: Oct. 13, 7 p.m. Where: The Mind Palace, (800 N Garden St.) What: One of the first Mind Palace shows of the school year, the three band bill spans a healthy dose of alt and psych rock from entirely non-Bham related groups. Headliners Honcho Poncho, a four piece from Seattle, explain their sound as fitting squarely in the crossroads of “modern day crooners like Mark Kozelek and Jeff Tweedy”, two influences that they proudly wear on their alt-country tinged sleeves. Skelevision, a Portland three piece band, owe as much of their sound to surf rock as they do ‘60s psychedelica (think Wavves), while Moon Darling plays it even cooler with ‘80s synth influences and slick, haunting vocals.
Tetrachromat, Slow No, ibtbwyn
When: Oct. 20, 6 p.m. Where: Make.Shift (306 Flora St.) What: Downtown music and arts venue Make.Shift prides itself as an all ages community that makes it accessible for artists (both musical and otherwise) to find spaces and niches within the Bellingham arts and music scene. One of the first notable shows of this coming quarter, Bham veterans Tetrachromat will headline with their technical, vibrant metal, whereas openers Slow No and I Buried The Box With Your Name come all the way from Salt Lake City to spread their lo-fi punk and aggressive, throaty metal, respectively.