The Cave Cafe is more than just a stage in the corner of the Fish House. The venue provides students with the opportunity to engage with art, as performers and audience members alike.

The Cave Cafe hosts free concerts, open mic nights, comedy shows and various other creative events every Thursday night. Its Facebook page says, “We aim to cultivate our college’s artistic culture by creating a safe space for students to showcase and hone their talents while engaging with Grand Rapid’s dynamic artist community.”

The Cave gives students many occasions to share their creative talents. At open mics, students can sign up to sing a couple songs, read poetry, tell jokes, perform a dance routine or do whatever they might desire. Periodically, one or two more established student bands will play longer sets for a full concert.

Various professional acts are also invited to perform at the Cave. These events provide students with an opportunity to engage with musicians, comedians and other performers from Grand Rapids and all over the country. Some notable acts in the Cave’s 28-year history include an early project of Sufjan Stevens, Pedro the Lion and, of course, legendary “trash glam” supergroup The Orthopedics.

The Cave Cafe is not just for performers, though. The Cave seeks to engage with students who may not be musicians or performers by expanding the scope of events beyond just music. One example is the recent “story slam” event, during which students had an open mic and five minutes each to tell true stories from their lives.

Those who have no interest in getting on stage are also encouraged to participate in events as audience members. Students can stop by to see some of their very talented classmates and professional acts. Events happen nearly every Thursday around 8 p.m. and they are always free.

Event information can be found on the Cave Cafe Facebook page. The next event will be a comedy show, hosted by senior Grant Stiles, on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 8:30 p.m.