Rhino's to release CD to fund its after-school program

Rhino’s Youth Media Center & All-Ages Club, Bloomington’s all-ages music venue and youth center, will host a rock show May 24 to raise funds for its after-school programs which benefit Bloomington teenagers. \nProceeds from the show will go toward costs for the release of a forthcoming Rhino’s compilation album, the sales of which will help fund club operation costs and after-school programs.\nMore than a music venue, Rhino’s “provides the youth with many unique opportunities” throughout the week, Rhino’s Director Brad Wilhelm said. \nThrough after-school programs, local youth can participate in many useful activities such as the production of “Rhinoplasty,” a youth public-access show, “The Antagonist,” a monthly youth newspaper, as well as a locally broadcast radio show on WFHB and an art mural program. Teens also learn how to manage and put together music shows through the after-school program.\n“It’s a safe place to be expressive, whether through art, digital media or music,” said Tim Pritchett, assistant director and head of booking for Rhino’s. “Kids can go and do really cool stuff but not have to worry about fights breaking out or people doing drugs.”\nTicket sales from the show will help pay for all the expenses incurred in the production of the compilation album. Aside from local acts, such as Murder By Death, the album will include unreleased tracks from prominent national acts such as Against Me! and The Unseen, which have played the venue in the past.\nIn a sense, the show is actually a “fundraiser for a fundraiser,” Pritchett said.\nThe compilation album will be the second distributed by Rhino’s. The first was released three years ago, to “somewhat dubious success,” Wilhelm said. \nHowever, Pritchett said that release was intended as more of “a history of Rhino’s.” \nHe hopes the upcoming album will reflect a more “contemporary Rhino’s look” and achieve more success.\nThe ultimate goal, Wilhelm said, is to raise additional funds to ensure Rhino’s can continue to serve the community. Money raised from the compilation album will supplement funds provided by various organizations such as Harmony Education Center, City of Bloomington Parks Department and United Way, among others.\nWilhelm has been with Rhino’s for 16 years, and described his experience with the youth as “life-changing.”\n“I’ve grown up with this place. I took the job thinking it would only last a couple months, and it has become an amazing career.” \nThe importance of the after-school programs Rhino’s provides cannot be overstated, Wilhelm said, but “the backbone will always be music.” \nBands scheduled to perform at Saturday’s show are Busman’s Holiday, Yells Fire, A Moment’s Affair, Change Thief, Sentinel and 4-Seamer, all of which will be featured on the upcoming album. The show starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 and will be available at the door.