The Palouse Grange is a place for the community to come together for large social activities. One Garfield resident took it upon herself to bring in activities to the Grange for people of all ages, starting with “The Grange Shows.”

Organizer Anneliese Zook grew up in the Palouse area. While she was in school, she participated in talent shows hosted in the Grange, which gave her vivid memories and connections with the building.

Tonight kicks off the first live event with three local bands performing in the large, open venue. The headlining band, Mister Handshake, includes four members from Moscow, Zook said.

Each of the bands play music that is mostly rock-based, she said.

The first two bands to take the stage include Misé, an increasingly popular band on tour originally from Moscow, and then Jessie James, a group who plays a mixture of blues and swampy rock with 40 years of music experience, Zook said.

When Zook attended last year’s Rendezvous’ Showcase at the Kenworthy Theatre in Moscow, she overheard the performing band members talking about how much fun they had playing with multiple other bands, and wishing they had this opportunity in the area more often.

“I put the two together,” Zook said. “I thought if we could generate some liveliness in there and be able to pay the rent, pay the rental fee and insurance, it can stay open doing what it’s doing.”

Unfamiliar with how to organize and plan large events, but determined to help keep the Grange around, she spent several months doing research. In December, she contacted various bands within a 100-mile radius and managed to set up three for each of the next three months, starting with tonight’s performances, Zook said.

“We have a beautiful theater here that is going obsolete right now, and I just see it going further that way if people don’t start stepping in,” she said.

Zook hopes to add more bands further down the line, including high school bands for potential openers. She would also like to see acoustic jam sessions happen after the performances, where music players who want to bring their instruments can join and make music together.

“It’s fun to see people grab their instruments and see what happens,” Zook said. “Like, ‘oh you play drums? You play guitar? Let’s hang out!’ “

The Palouse Caboose, a restaurant and bar, is located a few blocks from the Grange, where people can go to anytime throughout the event. They may cater drinks for people 21-years-old and up in future shows.

If there is a good turnout, Zook would like to work with public transit to get buses to pick up and drop off people at the Palouse Grange.

“I love live music,” Zook said. “Most people are their happiest when they have music on or are involved in something musically.”

The cover charge is $5 at the door for adults and $3 for students under 18. For a family of four, the cost is $12. Music starts at 8:30 p.m. tonight at the Palouse Grange. This is not a Grange-sponsored event.