The Exchange in Regina's Warehouse District an incubator for musicians

Maybe you were there for a punk rock show when you were younger. Perhaps you've gone to watch the Folk Fest concert series. Maybe it was a comedy night or your kid's band was playing its first-ever gig.

The Exchange in Regina holds countless memories for music lovers in the province. 

As one of the only licensed all-ages venues in Regina, the Exchange created a niche as one of the foundational members of the entertainment scene in the Warehouse District.

Zandra Kas works for the Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange Society managing the Exchange arts venue in Regina. The organization was founded decades ago by what Kas calls, "A bunch of hippies who wanted to get into the arts and support live music and different types of arts. It originated in a small form and flourished into what it is today."

The Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange Society is a non-profit arts organization responsible for laying the foundations for many great arts events across the province, including the Saskatchewan Fiddler Championships, The Emma Lake Fiddle Camp and the Saskatchewan Fiddlers' Association.

It also was the brainchild of Common Weal Community Plays, which morphed into Common Weal.

Today the Cultural Exchange takes art programs to rural communities across Saskatchewan. But for people in Regina, the Exchange refers to the brick building in the heart of Regina's Warehouse District.

The building contains a big venue where many touring bands take the stage, as well as The Club, a second smaller venue used for more intimate concerts and art shows. 

Kas said what makes the Exchange so unique is the incredible diversity of performances you'll see there. 

"In the past two weeks, we have seen grassroots shows hip hop, metal, comedy, Folk Fest shows ... no two nights are ever the same," she said. "Sometimes if both sides are going, you'll have a grassroots show on The Club side and a punk rock show in The Exchange." 

Kas has seen thousands of bands perform in The Exchange over the years, but it's not performances by the big name bands that stands out to her. She said The Exchange and Club are so special beacuse they are a place where local musicians can get their feet wet.

"For artists, it gives the youth an opportunity they wouldn't get elsewhere," Kas said. "They can come and perform on our stage. You can have friends in the audience their same age. It also helps the emerging artist grow into a touring artist, and we help mentor them and build their audience." 

Bar where kids are welcome

"We always encourage parents to attend the events with their children," Kas said. "They are a very safe environment and we want people to feel welcome here at all times." 

That means many of the kids now in their 20s started coming to The Exchange for concerts when they were just kids. 

"It's really like a huge family of the arts and you see people grow up in these walls and have formed many many friendships." 

Exchange home to iconic brick wall

One of the special places at The Exchange is the brick wall in the green room. The walls have been signed by hundreds of artists over the years. 

"People love this wall," Kas said. "People want to take photographs of this wall all the time." 

Kas said the only problem is that artists have now run out of bricks to sign. 

A few years ago, a band did a graffiti piece overtop of some of the other signatures and it caused quite a stir in the local music scene.

"A lot of musicians were very upset that they did that so they came in and removed their graffiti and fixed up the signatures," Kas explained. "People really take pride in this wall and so do we because it's such a piece of the history of this building."