Put Your Hands in the Air and Raise the Roof for BT Block Party

Erin Phillips

After a storm caused major damage to the roof of well-loved all-ages venue Basement Transmissions, the musicians and artists who call the place home have banded together to help fundraise to cover the cost of repairs. With a full day of music, art, and entertainment planned. You'll have a great time supporting a great cause.

SATURDAY, JUN. 15

Housed in one of Erie's finest westside buildings, Basement Transmissions (BT) has become a mecca for musicians, artists, and other cultural creatives, but their roof recently required repair. That cost the organization a pretty penny, so to help pay for it, they're throwing a Raise the Roof for BT Block Party in conjunction with OddCity Entertainment.

"This event is to raise the money back from a $17,000 hit that Basement Transmissions took repairing roof damage from a storm," said Cypher Eihwaz, the owner and event manager of OddCity Entertainment.

They continued, "…having entertainment venues accessible is [OddCity's] world. Bob Jensen, the owner of BT, is a wonderfully beautiful person, and we wanted to be sure he doesn't have to handle these finances alone."

This two-venue party will not only take place in the Basement Transmissions building, but also next door in Lavery's Bunker, and will feature nonstop local live music, art galleries, live painting, tattoo artists from Bayfront Tattoo, vendors hawking their wares, and food.

For a $25 entry fee, attendees can take in a lineup that includes local rockers Gelatin Skeleton, Fastfall, Odd Atrocity, Optimistic Apocalypse, Mala Sangre, and so many more.

If you cannot attend the block party but would like to contribute to Basement Transmissions' roof repair fund, you can do so by donating via PayPal to @bttheater or via their ticketing website.

Said Eihwaz, "BT is home for so many of us, with studios downstairs. It being one of the only all-ages venues, one of the only wheelchair accessible areas as well, some bands would simply not be bands without BT!"

Basement Transmissions' roof may not be your son, but you can help raise it come mid-June by attending their Block Party or by simply making a donation.

2 to 10 p.m. // Basement Transmissions, 145 W. 11th and Lavery Brewing's Bunker, 128 W. 12th St., Rear  // $25 // All ages // For tickets and info: oddcityentertainment.org