![The noted band Playing for Change is one of the offerings across the North Olympic Peninsula for St. Patrick’s Day festivities tonight. [Peninsula Spotlight cover design by Heather Loyd/Peninsula Daily News]](https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/news_303179999_AR_0_0.jpg)
Around here, St. Patrick’s Day comes in many colors, from Irish kelly green to many shades of the blues. Here are some of the options for live music — and rejoicing in spring — across the North Olympic Peninsula tonight.
■ The big-ticket item is the arrival of Playing for Change, the phenomenon that came to the world’s attention via one viral video.
Santa Monica, Calif., filmmaker Mark Johnson started it all by recording a string of street musicians singing “Stand by Me,” the Ben E. King song, and went on to produce videos of “One Love,” “Higher Ground,” “Imagine” and many other songs, with performers in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.
Johnson then formed the 10-piece Playing for Change band, featuring Grandpa Elliott from New Orleans, Clarence Bekker from the Netherlands, Titi Tsira from South Africa, Jason Tamba and Mermans Mosengo from the Congo and Louis Mhlanga from Zimbabwe.
Tickets to see Playing for Change in the Little Theater at Peninsula College, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., are $85, with proceeds supporting the children’s camps, concerts, workshops and other events presented by Port Angeles’ Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts.
Outlets include Port Book & News, 104 E. First St., Port Angeles, and the Juan de Fuca Festival website, JFFA.org. Tickets also will be available at the theater tonight.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for refreshments and music by Clark Driese and his band; Playing for Change will take the stage at 7 p.m.
■ The Kokopelli Grill, 203 E. Front St., Port Angeles, is also hosting a benefit concert for St. Patrick’s Day.
This one features the Cruzin Bluzers, a danceable-blues band built around harmonica man Corey Crozier.
With guitarist Mike Pace, bassist Tom Swinford, drummer Craig Dills and rhythm guitarist Patrick McCarty, the outfit cruises through numbers like “Born to Boogie” by Mike Morgan & the Crawl, Professor Longhair’s “She Walks Right In,” “Phone Booth” by Robert Cray, “Smokestack Lightning” by Howlin’ Wolf, “Crosscut Saw” by Albert King and “King Bee” by Muddy Waters.
The music starts at 8:30 p.m. and goes till 12:30 a.m., with a portion of the $10 admission going toward programs for parents and children at First Step Family Support Center.
For more details about dinner discounts before the show, visit Kokopelli’s Facebook page or phone the restaurant at 360-457-6040.
■ Wine on the Waterfront, upstairs in The Landing mall at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Lincoln Street in Port Angeles, has “Jason O’Mogi and Paul Stehr-Green-Shaughnessy: The Leprechaun Experience” starting at 8 p.m.
These two, also known as Jason and Paul from Deadwood Revival, will dish up rootsy music by the likes of Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead and Johnny Cash, plus Deadwood Revival originals such as “Daisy” and “Ginny Aphrodite.”
Stehr-Green’s wardrobe, he says, may include a green bowler hat and coordinated tie-dyed shirt.
The cover charge for the three hours of music is $5, and all ages are welcome at Wine on the Waterfront, aka WOW.
For more information, phone the venue at 360-565-8466.
■ At Castaways, 1213 Marine Drive, Port Angeles, the Badd Dog blues band continues its “calling all strays” tour with a show at 8 p.m.
Tim Halpin plays guitar while Todd Fisher handles the bass.
The dance floor makes this venue one of Badd Dog’s favorite places.
For details, phone Castaways at 360-452-1177.
■ The Upstage, 923 Washington St., Port Townsend, will host an evening of songs about Irish culture, struggle, home, emigration and evolution from 7 p.m. till 11 p.m.
“The corned beef and cabbage will start early; there will be a well of Guinness,” added club owner Mark Cole.
The Unknown Fiddlers are among the performers. Singers and players are invited to sign up to perform as well.
“Bring your songs and voice,” Cole said, promising that cash and other prizes will go to players of the best instrumental, the best multi-instrumental, best song of revolt and revolution, best humorous song and best song of love or loss.
Pre-registered players receive free admission while listeners pay $5 at the door.
For details, phone The Upstage at 360-385-2216 or visit UpstageRestaurant.com.
■ Port Townsend Brewing Co., 330 10th St., Port Townsend, is bringing in the Alternators, a Cajun and zydeco band featuring George Radebaugh on the accordion and Peter Evasick from the Delta Rays on the fiddle.
Corned beef and cabbage and Port Townsend Brewing’s beer — which will not be green — go with the music from 5 p.m. till 9 p.m.
There’s no cover charge, and details can be had at PortTownsendBrewing.com or 360-385-9967.
■ The Castle Key, inside Manresa Castle at 651 Cleveland St. in Port Townsend, presents the Sam Marshall Trio’s progressive blues and roots music — with undercurrents of jazz, rock, funk and even hip-hop — from 7:30 p.m. till 10:30 p.m.
The cover charge is $10 and more details can be had by phoning the Castle Key at 360-379-1990.