Explore upcoming programs.

This is where you stay in the loop, see what’s coming up, find out how to pull up, and be part of the movement.

Janky Wheelhouse hosts showcases, workshops, and community gatherings that spotlight local talent and fuel creative connections.

icon of Wronda' Block program

Wrounda’ Block

icon of Wruckus program

Wruckus

Icon of YA HEARD! program

Ya Heard!

icon of WELL-Wrounded Wheelhouse Workshops

Well-Wrounded

Wheelhouse Workshops

animated program icon
animated program icon

Wrounda’ Block

Our flagship showcase — a recurring community event that feels like a mini festival. Live music, visual art, vendors, and food all come together under one roof, transforming the space into a celebration of culture and community. More than just a show, it’s about giving youth and emerging artists a stage while building bridges across the wider creative landscape.

Wrounda’ Block is more than a concert — it’s a cultural gathering and a festival-like experience. We intentionally design each lineup to include youth performers, emerging artists, and established talent so inspiration flows across generations and genres. The event blends live performances, visual art, food, and small businesses into one immersive night — creating an ecosystem where artists showcase their craft and audiences celebrate together.

Each showcase typically features:

  • Live Performances from local and rising artists who bring diverse sounds and perspectives.

  • Visual Art Exhibits from youth and community creators, turning the venue into a gallery.

  • Vendor Booths & Food spotlighting small businesses and local flavors that give the night its block-party vibe.

Raffles & Interactive Activities that bring the audience together and keep the energy flowing.

By centering voices from “janky” backgrounds — those often overlooked in mainstream spaces — Wrounda’ Block ensures that talent has a platform, community has a home, and culture has a stage. Every showcase feels like a mini festival, proving that even grassroots creativity can spark a movement.

animated program icon

Wrounda’ Block

Our flagship showcase — a recurring community event that feels like a mini festival. Live music, visual art, vendors, and food all come together under one roof, transforming the space into a celebration of culture and community. More than just a show, it’s about giving youth and emerging artists a stage while building bridges across the wider creative landscape.

Wrounda’ Block is more than a concert — it’s a cultural gathering and a festival-like experience. We intentionally design each lineup to include youth performers, emerging artists, and established talent so inspiration flows across generations and genres. The event blends live performances, visual art, food, and small businesses into one immersive night — creating an ecosystem where artists showcase their craft and audiences celebrate together.

Each showcase typically features:

  • Live Performances from local and rising artists who bring diverse sounds and perspectives.

  • Visual Art Exhibits from youth and community creators, turning the venue into a gallery.

  • Vendor Booths & Food spotlighting small businesses and local flavors that give the night its block-party vibe.

Raffles & Interactive Activities that bring the audience together and keep the energy flowing.

By centering voices from “janky” backgrounds — those often overlooked in mainstream spaces — Wrounda’ Block ensures that talent has a platform, community has a home, and culture has a stage. Every showcase feels like a mini festival, proving that even grassroots creativity can spark a movement.

animated illustration

Wruckus

Is our collective-driven showcase designed for settings where there’s already a lot happening — like street fairs, block parties, and festivals. Instead of long solo sets, Janky Wheelhouse artists weave in and out of the lineup, each returning to the stage multiple times throughout the hour. The result is fast-moving, unpredictable, and full of variety — giving audiences a wide sampling of talent in one continuous flow.

Wruckus was created to match the energy of community events: shorter, more flexible, and always in motion. Sets are intentionally broken into quick bursts so the crowd can experience a broad selection of artists without losing momentum. The woven structure ensures the stage never feels static — energy keeps shifting, performers pass the mic, and the audience stays engaged whether they’re hanging for the whole show or drifting in and out.

What makes Wruckus unique:

  • Nonstop Variety – instead of one long set per artist, the lineup is chopped into smaller moments, so audiences experience many voices in a short time.

  • Collective Energy – Janky Wheelhouse artists hype each other up, trade places, and share the stage in ways that feel collaborative and alive.

Festival Fit – the compact, flexible format makes it easy to plug into larger community events without requiring a full evening.

For the audience, WRUCKUS feels like a pop-up block party inside a festival — energetic, collaborative, and constantly shifting. For the artists, it doubles as a chance to sharpen their stage presence while showing out for the community.

illustrated microphone

Ya Heard!

Is an all-ages open mic designed with a special emphasis on uplifting BIPOC youth ages 14–25. It’s a space where young performers take the stage, share their craft, and grow their voices in a supportive, affirming environment. More than just a mic, Ya Heard! is about confidence, connection, and claiming space that often isn’t given.

Ya Heard! was launched towards the end of COVID as a way to boost morale and bring people back together through art and community. Founded by Elias Moreno-Lothe (I Am We Advocacy), Andre Middleton (Friends of Noise), and Jolly Wrapper (Janky Wheelhouse), the series has always been rooted in collaboration and collective care.

Too often, young BIPOC artists are sidelined or tokenized in traditional performance spaces. Ya Heard! flips that narrative by putting them at the center — giving them full ownership of the stage and the mic. While the event welcomes participants and audiences of all ages, its heart lies in nurturing the next generation of artists, with a focus on ages 14–25.

Each open mic includes:

  • Youth Performers – sharing original songs, poetry, rap, or spoken word.

  • Featured Artists – more established professionals perform a longer, intentional set and then open up to a Q&A, giving youth the chance to ask questions, gain inspiration, and build connections.

Community Connection – youth see peers and mentors side by side, sparking organic collaborations. Many artists first meet at Ya Heard! and end up creating together outside of the event.

group photo of youth cohort
group photo of youth cohort

Well-Wrounded

Wheelhouse Workshops

Workshops designed to give young artists the real-world tools they need to grow — not just as performers, but as complete creatives. The sessions combine elements you’d normally see handled by a creative agency or record label, but scaled down for emerging voices. From press kits and branding to merch, media, and release preparation, participants learn how to carry themselves like professional artists while building their own wheelhouse of skills, knowledge, and confidence.

Many young creatives come to us limited to one lane — maybe only making music, or only writing lyrics. These workshops expose them to the full range of creative possibilities: visual art, media, branding, performance strategy, and more. Along the way, participants discover the many job opportunities in the industry beyond being “just an artist.” For some, this sparks new passions and career paths they never even considered.

Talent is just the starting point. Our workshops equip youth with the structures that make artistry sustainable and visible. Instead of outsourcing to managers, labels, or agencies, participants get hands-on experience building their own foundation — learning by doing in a supportive, community-rooted space.

Each workshop is educationally broken down step by step so artists not only get the final product (a press kit, a photo shoot, a merch run), but also learn how it’s done. That way, they can take these lessons and apply them directly to their own wheelhouses — growing independence, confidence, and transferable skills they can carry into any creative endeavor.

Workshops cover areas like:

  • Press Kits & Branding – crafting bios, visuals, and artist identities that open doors.

  • Merch Creation – designing and producing items that help build both audience connection and financial sustainability.

  • Media Training – creating intentional photos, videos, and music videos that amplify an artist’s vision.

  • Release Prep – understanding the steps behind dropping a single, EP, or project — from rollouts and visuals to marketing basics.

Collaborative Projects – working in small cohorts on real-world challenges, mirroring how professional teams operate in the industry.

are designed to give young artists the real-world tools they need to grow — not just as performers, but as complete creatives. The sessions combine elements you’d normally see handled by a creative agency or record label, but scaled down for emerging voices. From press kits and branding to merch, media, and release preparation, participants learn how to carry themselves like professional artists while building their own wheelhouse of skills, knowledge, and confidence.

Many young creatives come to us limited to one lane — maybe only making music, or only writing lyrics. These workshops expose them to the full range of creative possibilities: visual art, media, branding, performance strategy, and more. Along the way, participants discover the many job opportunities in the industry beyond being “just an artist.” For some, this sparks new passions and career paths they never even considered.

Talent is just the starting point. Our workshops equip youth with the structures that make artistry sustainable and visible. Instead of outsourcing to managers, labels, or agencies, participants get hands-on experience building their own foundation — learning by doing in a supportive, community-rooted space.

Each workshop is educationally broken down step by step so artists not only get the final product (a press kit, a photo shoot, a merch run), but also learn how it’s done. That way, they can take these lessons and apply them directly to their own wheelhouses — growing independence, confidence, and transferable skills they can carry into any creative endeavor.

Workshops cover areas like:

  • Press Kits & Branding – crafting bios, visuals, and artist identities that open doors.

  • Merch Creation – designing and producing items that help build both audience connection and financial sustainability.

  • Media Training – creating intentional photos, videos, and music videos that amplify an artist’s vision.

  • Release Prep – understanding the steps behind dropping a single, EP, or project — from rollouts and visuals to marketing basics.

Collaborative Projects – working in small cohorts on real-world challenges, mirroring how professional teams operate in the industry.

Join and support us.

Want to bring Wheelhouse energy to your stage, community, or space? We’re open to bookings, collaborations, and tailored programming for your community.

Let’s build something meaningful.

Email: jankywheelhouse@gmail.com

Portland, Oregon.

© Copyright 2025

Site by @grmorales

Portland, Oregon.

© Copyright 2025

Site by @grmorales

Portland, Oregon.

© Copyright 2025

Site by @grmorales