POSTED: Tuesday, Mar. 23, 2010

WhAAM throws final Old Foundry concert, searches for new home

BELLINGHAM - Local nonprofit Whatcom All-Ages Arts and Music will host its last show at The Old Foundry building Saturday, March 27, as it searches for a new home.

WhAAM, which started in spring 2005 to create a safe all-ages arts and music venue in Bellingham, has been housed at The Old Foundry, 100 E. Maple St., for more than three years.

The move is fueled by WhAAM's desire to have more flexibility in scheduling shows and to expand its services to provide a recording studio, practice and workshop space and resource center for musicians and artists. The nonprofit has yet to find a new home, but the search for a location is focused on downtown.

"The search has been on for a while. When it comes to a permanent space, we're looking for the right space not just a space," said WhAAM president Amanda Kalkwarf. "We have a timeline for when we would like to be in somewhere, which is within the next six months, but we're just trying to find a space that fits our needs. Until we find it, we're just going to be nomadic like we were at the beginning of the organization."

WhAAM is partnering in the move with Bellingham-based nonprofit Make.Shift, which supports local musicians and helps them lessen their impact on the environment. Make.Shift will be headquartered at the new shared location and hopes to offer a low-cost practice space for musicians. For both groups, the goal at the top of the list is providing resources for budding artists: how to book a tour, how to record an album, who to talk to and connect with for industry questions.

"We figured we should be working together on this," Kalkwarf said of the two groups moving in together. "When we combine our efforts, we'll end up stronger together than we could as individual groups."

While searching for a new home, WhAAM will try to put on two shows a month in various venues around town. The organization wants to make sure that people of all ages still get access to local music and art.

"We've always stressed that WhAAM is not a building; it's an idea," Kalkwarf said. "We were always WhAAM at The Old Foundry. Wherever we go we'll be WhAAM at wherever. Sustainable all-ages music is a concept; it's not four walls. It's just important to get those four walls, and it is really important to have a place that people can identify with us."

BIKE GENERATOR WORKSHOP

Bellingham nonprofit Make.Shift is offering a workshop for its bike-powered generator from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 28, at the American Museum of Radio and Electricity, 1312 Bay St.

Make.Shift uses a bike-powered generator to help power its live shows in a sustainable way, and licensed electricians will be at the workshop to show participants how to build their own to power household appliances.

The workshop is open for all ages and costs $15, which includes building instructions to take home. The previous workshop sold out in advance.

For a reservation, call (510) 499-0535 or e-mail info@makeshiftproject.com. Proceeds will benefit Make.Shift and the museum.

HELP WHAAM MOVE OUT

WhAAM will host its last show at The Old Foundry at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 27, featuring No-Fi Soul Rebellion, Lumpkins and Dog Shredder. Cost: $5.

Volunteers are wanted to help move the organization out of the Foundry and clean up the space Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. The group is always looking for new volunteers; check its Web site, whaam.org.