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‘It’s Our Space, but It’s Their Show’

A new outdoor performance venue outside of Williamsburg, Raven Wolf Productions, plans to provide a place for everyone.

BY AVeRY GReGuRICH

If you want to accidentally start a performance venue amidst a pandemic, it’s best to start with a barn. Put it outside of the city a few miles where it’s quiet, on four acres of Iowa prairie, most of it pasture for horses, with plenty of places for people to park.

That’s how Nathan and Susan Kula started Raven Wolf Productions, an outdoor performance venue which will host the Awful Purdies on June 19 for the group’s first live show since before the pandemic hit. Tickets are $15.

“We took a break from performing in October 2019 to work on our 4th studio album and never expected the break from live performance to last 20 months,” Awful Purdies’ Katie Roche said in an email. “We’re brushing off the dust, and in our 15th year as a band, are looking at this as a fresh start, deeply appreciative of the perspective that such a long break gave us.”

Like many, the Kulas spent the first few months of 2020 staying at home. They started converting a large part of their century barn into a bar and event space for their friends and family to gather in, once it would be safe enough to do so.

“Our house is an old farmhouse, and it’s made up of lots of little rooms, so there’s no good place to sit and talk to 10 people,” Nathan Kula says.

The Kulas are both musicians who perform together in the nautical folk band A Rogue Wave. In the midst of their remodeling, and the continued, sometimes permanent, closures of area venues, they quipped that the only way they could get back to performing in front of an audience would be to build an outdoor venue.

“We had joked about how we should just have an outdoor stage. We thought that it would be funny that the only way we could get our band to play out is to build an outdoor stage for us to play on,” Kula said. “And then, if other bands felt comfortable, we would invite them in and whoever we could get to show up, that’s who we’d play to.”

And so, off the side of the bar that they had constructed in their barn, they built a stage that “faces nothing but cornfields,” and holds a simple sign that says “Raven Wolf Stage.”

They held their first official show on April 17, a split bill between their own band and the Iowabased Irish trio Blame Not the Bard. That day, 75 people showed up. There were even more at the next show a month later, and within a few weeks, Raven Wolf Productions had booked events every month until October. (See sidebar.) Quickly, the Kulas added event insurance to their space, and while it is currently “Bring Your Own Refreshments,” they are looking at expanding into being able to offer food and beverages.

Kula says they never had a conscious plan for the stage, just that they knew that this part of the area was in desperate need of a place for art and music, particularly an outdoor space where people could still gather safely.

“I lived in Iowa City for 19 years before we moved out here, and I just loved the music scene. I loved playing at the Yacht Club, at Gabe’s, at Public Space One. Being in Williamsburg after a couple of years, I mean, you’re just bored out of your mind,” Kula says. “There’s no live theater around here, there’s no inspiration for creativity around here—and I know for a fact, talking to the guys who work at the hardware store and the people who work with my wife at the veterinary

Jordan Sellergren / Little Village

Devin Hendricks

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Awful Pudies with Big Begonias Raven Wolf Productions, Williamsburg (105 Welsh St), Saturday, June 19, 6 p.m., $15

Riverbottom Ramblers and Cedar County Cobras July 17

The Feralings with the Ben Schmidt Trio

August 21

Alisabeth Von Presley

September 25

The Savage Hearts October 16

Prices for later shows TBD

clinic, you know it’s like, ‘We’ve got to drive to Iowa City or Coralville or Cedar Rapids to go get halfway decent live music.’” Currently, Raven Wolf Productions is scheduled to hold one event a month, but Kula says that various groups and performers are continually reaching out to try and hold other events at the We’ve used Kim as our real estate agent twice, and she was wonderful to work with both times! When we moved to Iowa City, we purchased a house from afar, and Kim “ venue. In the little time the stage has been operat- navigated the challenges of Skype real ing, the Kulas have been approached about host- estate with ease and aplomb. And, when ing stand-up comedy nights, burlesque shows we figured out that we would be in the and even a silks and lyra workshop. When asked if it felt like a risk to open up a area longer term and opted to move, she performance venue during a pandemic, Kula said worked with us and our leisurely schedule it was simply one of the only things that had of house-hunting for several months made sense to them in the last year. “It didn’t feel noble for us, it just felt like it was a common-sense thing that we can do and a to find just the right one in the right neighborhood. We’ve recommended her thing that we have a passion for. We’re not doing to friends and family - something we don’t it to make money, and we’re not even doing it to break even,” Kula said. “My wife and I agreed from the start that the artists are going to get 100 percent of the ticket sales. I’m super adamant about that. Basically it’s our space, but it’s their show. I’ve had a couple people tell me that’s crazy, and I’m like, it might be crazy, but it’s the do lightly. She has solid expertise and knowledge of Iowa City, local resources, and both buying and selling houses. She’s been great all around.“ way I want to live.”

The members of Awful Purdies found that Raven Wolf Productions offered everything they needed in order to come back to performing live.

“Awful Purdies have followed COVID-19 health and safety measures throughout the pandemic, so an opportunity to play an outdoor venue with control over capacity felt like the safest Kim will help you find your way HOME! way to come back to playing shows,” Roche said. “As it becomes safer to play indoor ven- Not a typo!Kim will help you find your way HOME! ues, we’ll be happy to play with a roof over ev- Not a typo! eryone’s head, but outdoor summer destination shows are a special vibe!”

After more than a year without events of any Not a typo! Not a typo! kind to look forward to, Raven Wolf Productions is offering a rare combination of intimate performances provided in a safe setting to experience LEPIC-KROEGE R, REALT ORS® LEPIC-KROEGE R, REALT ORS® live music and entertainment. It just happened Licensed to Sell in the State of Iowa. to all come together by accident, and that’s what makes it fulfilling for the Kulas.

“Being able to present a place that a small number of people can come and experience, that is just an awesome way to give back to our community,” Nathan Kula said. “I just want people Be to be able to come out and have a good time, and you know, cheer and yell and feel safe when they do.” famous. Avery Gregurich lives in Marengo, Iowa. He was raised next to the Mississippi River, and has nev- (Kinda.) er strayed too far from it.