Nestled on Main Street in the heart of Ellensburg stands Old Skool’s; the only place in town where you can buy a record and thrift a vintage jacket all while listening to live music. Old Skool’s represents the life, passion and dedication of business owner Carol Cox. Since 2005, Cox has owned and operated the small business that has grown into a staple of the Ellensburg music scene. “So much community involvement and support” was Cox’s unhesitant response when asked what kept her motivated. In turn, she serves her community through a unique outlet by offering the backroom of her shop for open mic nights and shows.
For CWU students and Ellensburg locals alike, weekends are synonymous with visits to Old Skool’s as both entertainers and audience members. The unassuming venue provides an intimate atmosphere for the local talent. “It’s a great place for people to share their work,” Ruth Bresee, a senior communication major, said. As a frequent audience member at the weekly open mic nights, Bresee described Old Skool’s backroom performance space as a low-pressure environment. “It was very supportive of artists just trying to find their voice and their style,” Bresee said. “I think that’s really cool because you don’t see that in a lot of places.” Her point of view reflects a popular consensus.
Repeat open mic night performer, vocalist and guitarist Brenden Fuller, felt similarly. “I really like how open everybody is to like hearing new things and new people go up,” he explained. Fuller encourages seasoned and rookie performers to visit Old Skool’s any chance they get. “It’s really nice because once you start doing it a couple times people start recognizing you and people get excited to see you play, and they are like ‘Oh my gosh please come out the next time.’”
What keeps performers and audiences coming back to Old Skool’s week after week, and garners the praise of Bresee and Fuller, is the diversity. “There’s something for everyone here… they all have their unique interests,” Cox fondly remarked. Fuller describes the music scene in more detail, explaining that “You don’t have to feel like it has to be punk, it doesn’t have to be country, it can be whatever. It’s very flexible that way…” Each night at Old Skool’s is different, you’ll never get the same performance twice.
Besides weekly open mic nights on Sundays at 7 p.m., Old Skool’s enthusiastically hosts shows that feature local bands and solo acts. “We pretty much do a show every weekend,” Cox said. These shows highlight talent from around the Ellensburg area such as local bands House of Ash and The Sleepers. Cox also graciously offers her venue to touring acts, never charging the artists for use of her space. Upcoming shows include Boogie Man and Windy City Sound on May 3 at 7 p.m.
