TOURISTS (GOD LOVE ’em) are chokin’ up the highways, and highway pavers are backin’ ’em up one or two miles, so you might as well stay in town and enjoy live music.
Port Angeles
■ My bad — I was one of those folks who went to the Junction Roadhouse, junction of U.S. Highway 101 and state Highway 112 five miles west of Port Angeles, last Saturday to hear Chantilly Lace and found out I crossed the wrong t’s and dotted the wrong i’s. Chantilly Lace is playing their ’50s through ’80s classic rock this Saturday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. They’ll keep you on the dance floor all night. $5 cover.
Johnnie Mustang hosts the Sunday Junction Blues Jam from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. There have been some great jams and blues improvisations lately. Come and join in.
On Wednesday, Ain’t Dead Yet plays from 7 p.m. to whenever.
■ Tonight at Castaways Restaurant and Night Club, 1213 Marine Drive, come on down for Jerry’s Country Jam (no jelly here) from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. If country’s your style, come and dance or play plugged or unplugged.
On Saturday, dance to the ’80s-’90s top 40 rock and originals of Sequim’s Turner Brothers Band from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
■ On Saturday night at Wine on the Waterfront (WOW) at The Landing mall at 115 Railroad Ave., the lovely Jenny Davis will render songs from the Great American Songbook at 7:30 p.m. She’ll take you back to “Your Hit Parade” when all the words in a song were understood and known by everyone. $5 cover.
■ On Friday at Bar N9ne, 229 W. First St., Cort Armstrong and Blue Rooster will play at 9 p.m. for the Second Friday Art Rock (2FAR). Three Legged Dog, a trio of artists, will be rendering in bold colors. $3 cover.
■ On Friday, Les Wamboldt and Olde Tyme Country will perform at the Fairmount Restaurant, 1127 W. U.S. Highway 101, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, Dave and Rosalie Secord and the Luck of the Draw Band will welcome guests Warren and Sierra Horsley (guitar and vocals) for a rousing evening of acoustic country, bluegrass and old-time music from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
■ You’re not going to believe this! Dave and Rosalie Secord and the Luck of the Draw band will be playing Sunday outside from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Landing mall on Railroad Avenue by Celestial Espresso, with special guests John and Willie (no, not my brother and me but two jackasses with wrangler Jackass Jill). I do understand they were named after us, though (of course, they are much younger than we are). Are they trying to tell us something? Bring the kids.
■ On Saturday, Howly Slim will be playing at The Landing Art Gallery, 115 Railroad Ave., at 6 p.m.
■ The Buckey Briggs Band plays Sunday at R Bar, 132 E. Front St.. The music starts at 10 p.m. and features Jen Smith.
■ On Monday, Rusty and Duke entertain at Smuggler’s Landing, 115 Railroad Ave., with some pickin’ and sweet singin’ from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
■ Every Tuesday evening at the Port Angeles Senior Center, Seventh and Peabody streets, the Port Angeles Senior Swingers present Wally and the Boys playing ballroom dance favorites for the dancing pleasure of all adults 45 years and older from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. $5 cover, first-timers free!
■ On Wednesday at Dupuis Restaurant, 256861 U.S. Highway 101, Bob and Dave play blues with a brew and barbecue from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sequim and Blyn
■ On Friday at the Oasis Bar and Grill, 301 E. Washington St., Fret Noir (Tulin and Yslas) will be playing from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
On Saturday, Denny Secord Jr. and Haywire play rockin’ country at 8 p.m. $3 cover.
On Tuesday, stop in for Irish Session from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Wednesday, the Denny Secord Trio plays from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
■ On Friday at Stymie’s Bar & Grill at Cedars at Dungeness, 1965 Woodcock Road, the lovely and talented Robin Lynn will sing for your dining pleasure from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
■ On Saturday at the Three Crabs Restaurant, 11 3 Crabs Road, Paul Sagen plays tunes from the Great American Songbook from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
■ On Wednesday, weather permitting, Howly Slim will perform at Alderbrook Bistro, 139 W. Alder St., at 5 p.m.
■ At The Buzz, 128 N. Sequim Ave., Kelly Thomas and Victor Reventlow will host the very popular and rousing open mic Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
■ On Friday at Club Seven Lounge, 7 Cedars Casino, Blyn, Dana Osborn and Changes will play all your favorites from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
On Saturday, dance to the mix of blues, country and rock of the Jimmy Hoffman Band from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
On Sunday, dance to the jazz of Sarah Shea and Chez Jazz from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On Monday, we be jammin’ with host Barry Burnett and friends, so bring your ax and/or vocal talents for the fun from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Port Townsend
■ Tonight at The Upstage, 923 Washington St., enjoy Cleome Bova. $5 to $10 sliding scale cover.
On Friday, sensational blues/rock legend Alice Stuart and the Formerlys rock the house at 8 p.m. $12 cover.
On Saturday, Bertram Levy, Michael Townsend and Madelin Levy perform in a concert for continuing live music at The Upstage at 8 p.m. $15 cover.
On Tuesday, Anne Lynch, Michaela Anne and Serena Tideman play solo and in collaboration at 7:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, the sensational and zany Red Elvises carry on with Russian rock, punk and Russian klezmer at 8 p.m. $15 cover.
For reservations, phone 360-385-2216.
■ On Friday, Seattle’s Ian McFerren brings his band to the Port Townsend Brewing Co., 330 10th St., with songs evoking an alt/rock/Americana experience from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Sunday, dance to the Cajun and zydeco of the Alternators from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
On Wednesday, jazz it up with Chuck Easton from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
■ On Friday at Sirens Pub, 623 Water St., Seattle-based female indie-folk-grass band Gloria Darlings sing bright, vibrant, vocal harmonies with fiddle, mandolin, guitar, auto harp and mountain dulcimer at 9 p.m. $5 cover.
On Saturday, the Tomorrow People play at 9 p.m. $5 cover.
■ On Saturday at Castle Key, Seventh and Sheridan streets, the Mack Grout Trio plays jazz from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. $10 cover.
■ Cort Armstrong entertains with high-energy mountain and country music at the Undertown, 211 Taylor St., on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Cort will be followed at 8 p.m. by Tyler Richart and Kora Kana, and see what happens when African Kora meets American roots. Wow! $5 cover.
■ Steve Grandinetti will be performing at the Owl Sprit, 218 Polk St., today, Friday and Saturday from 5:30 p.m. till closing.
■ Today, Fret Noir (Tulin and Yslas) will be playing at the Clam Cannery, 111 Quincy St., from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
On Friday, Howly Slim picks and grins at Banana Leaf, 609 Washington St., at 6 p.m.
Area concerts
■ Today in Port Townsend’s Concert on the Dock series in the Pope Marine Park Plaza, dance to the ska and swing of Locust Street Taxi at 5:30 p.m.
■ On Tuesday for Music in the Park at Sequim’s James Center for the Performing Arts, Deadwood Revival will get you dancin’ on the grass with their roots rock, old-timey, new grass tunes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
■ On Wednesday in Port Angeles’ Concert on the Pier, swing to the dance music of the Olympic Express Big Band from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Farmers markets
■ On Saturday at the Port Angeles Farmers Market at The Gateway, Old Tyme Country performs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
On Wednesday, the Winterlings play from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
■ On Saturday at the Port Townsend Farmers Market, Lawrence and Tyler streets, Tony and the Roundabouts play from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
■ On Sunday, Steve Grandinetti returns to the Chimacum Farmers Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
High notes
■ Saturday’s benefit at Olympic Cellars Winery, 255410 U.S. Highway 101, will feature Cloverdale with country music at 7 p.m. Half the $10 cover goes to the Soroptimist Jet Set and Peninsula College Foundation
■ On Sunday at McComb Gardens, 751 McComb Road, Sequim, the Music at McComb 2011 series continues with the Marmalades, a clarinet quartet playing classical, jazz, modern, comical and show tunes. Would you believe a cowboy rhapsody? Catch them at 1 p.m.
■ The Second Saturday Quimper Grange Contra Dance, 1219 Corona St., Port Townsend, features Spare Thyme with Jo Yount calling from 7:30 p.m. to about 10:30 p.m. $6 adults, $3 for 3 to 18, younger than 3 get in free.
■ Check out the Jefferson County Fair program in last Friday’s Peninsula Daily News for its great lineup of live music.
■ The Clallam County Fair is having a variety and talent show at the fair Sunday, Aug. 21, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Wilder Stage. Those interested in performing can get more info at www.clallamcountyfair.com. Tune up that old guitar, tweak those tonsils and join the fun.
I’m going to be one of the judges, but be warned: I take no bribes.
Anyone got any cotton candy?
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John Nelson is a self-styled music lover and compulsive night owl who believes in “KLMA — Keep Live Music Alive” on the North Olympic Peninsula. His column, Live Music, appears every Thursday.
Are you performing in or promoting a live music gig? Contact John by phoning 360-565-1139 or emailing news@peninsuladailynews.com (subject line: John Nelson).
Also, check out “Nightlife,” a listing of entertainment at nightspots across the Peninsula, in Friday’s Peninsula Spotlight magazine.
