Bellingham’s Blue Room Finds Its Rhythm as New Downtown, All-Ages Venue

Formerly the site of the Glow and Studio B night clubs, the space above KPOP Chicken and Beer is now The Blue Room, an all-ages performance venue. Less than two months into operations, the space is bringing a diverse array of live entertainment to downtown Bellingham.

It’s all due to the work of Hodwall Productions, a brain trust comprised of twentysomething musicians Nick Hastings, Ben Hodson, and Martijn Wall.

The three met as music students at Western Washington University, playing together in band and orchestra settings. Wall, 22, plays oboe, while 23-year-old Hodson plays trumpet, and 21-year-old Hastings plays tuba.

Wall and Hastings are still finishing degrees at WWU, while Hodson graduated last year with a marketing degree. They founded Hodwall last fall, after a successful history of hosting shows together.

The first month of performances, which Wall says relied heavily on local performers and a strong relationship with WWU’s music department, was an experimental undertaking that ranged from rock to jazz, hip hop to classical, and comedy to electronic dance.