THIS IS THE final column of my 10th year, and with the good Lord willing and if the creek don’t rise, I’ll be starting my 11th year next week, letting you know where you can find your own musical muse.
Once again, the Peninsula is rife with music, including a first-ever blues festival in Port Angeles and a 40th anniversary event.
Port Angeles
■ Today at Castaways Restaurant and Night Club, 1213 Marine Drive, Jerry’s Country Jam lasts from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with country’s golden oldies.
■ Today and every Thursday at the Junction Roadhouse, 242701 U.S. Highway 101, Jason Mogi headlines the Deadwood Experiment with special guests at 8 p.m.
On Friday, rock to Testify from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Cover.
All Points Charters & Tours will provide free transportation to and from the Junction. Phone 360-460-7131 for a pickup.
■ On Friday at Wine on the Waterfront, 115 Railroad Ave., Ches Ferguson of Hazelnut Grove goes solo on six-string and 12-string guitars along with a cedar flute and maybe a tongue drum, too, at 7:30 p.m. $3 cover.
Saturday marks probably the final Peninsula appearance of Fret Noir before the band heads south for warmer climes. It will have a “sweet, dark blend” of Celtic, English and American folk, originals and select covers of blues, rock and jazz at 8 p.m. $3 cover.
■ On Friday at Front Street Alibi, 1605 E. Front St., the Jimmy Hoffman Band plays country, country rock and classic rock to get you movin’ and groovin’ on the dance floor from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
■ At Bar N9ne, 229 W. First St., Justin Scott Rivet goes solo Mondays from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
■ On Sunday at Next Door Gastropub, 113 W. First St., the Blackberry Bushes play your favorite bluegrass tunes at 6 p.m.
■ On Friday, Les Wamboldt and guest Gary Prosser play and sing old songs at Fairmount Restaurant, 1127 W. U.S. Highway 101, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
On Sunday, join the country jam from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, Dave and Rosalie Secord and special guest the Fiddle Kids play old-time music with musical guests from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
■ Every Tuesday evening at Port Angeles Senior Center, Seventh and Peabody streets, the Port Angeles Senior Swingers present Wally’s Boys playing ballroom dance favorites from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. $5 cover; first-timers free.
■ At Dupuis Restaurant, 256861 U.S. Highway 101, Bob and Dave play blues Wednesday through Saturday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sequim and Blyn
■ On Friday at Oasis Bar and Grill, 301 E. Washington St., dance to the Dixieland of the Dukes of Dabob at 5:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Awesome Bob entertains from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, country up to the Denny Secord Jr. Trio from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
■ On Saturday at La Vina Cafe, 111 River Road, there’s a back-to-school special featuring Mydlyfe, Crysys, Fluffy & Diimmel; Trinity Avenue; Inside Defiance; and Trioxin at 7 p.m. All ages; $5 cover.
■ It’s “All the Buzz” Wednesdays at the Sequim Senior Activity Center, 921 E. Hammond St., with Kelly and Victor hosting the open mic from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
■ On Friday at Club Seven Lounge at 7 Cedars Casino, Blyn, have a Rolling Stones experience with Midnight Rambler from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
On Sunday, dance to the country of the Buck Ellard Band from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Port Townsend
■ Tonight at The Upstage, 923 Washington St., Gerry Sherman performs blues/folk ballads from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. $5 voluntary cover.
On Friday, former Port Townsend Mayor Barney McClure brings his B-3 Quartet for superb live jazz. The B-3, of course, is his Hammond B-3 organ. You can hear Barney’s work in “An Officer and a Gentleman” and “Mr. Holland’s Opus.” Catch ’em from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Cover.
On Saturday, an all-star contemporary blues band from Seattle, The Boneyard Preachers, will get your happy feet dancing at 8 p.m. $9 cover.
On Sunday, enjoy the indie/rock and ballads of Royal Blue at 7:30 p.m. $6 adults; $4 youths.
On Wednesday, Mary Flower returns to Port Townsend following her featured appearance at Centrum’s Country Blues Festival as well as blues in the clubs. Local George Rezendes opens at 7:30 p.m. $10 cover.
Phone 360-385-2216 for details and reservations.
■ On Friday at Sirens Pub, 823 Water St., the Horde and Harem create danceable folk pop with harmony at 10 p.m. $5 cover.
On Saturday, Dead Man and guests perform at 10 p.m. $5 cover.
■ On Friday at Port Townsend Brewing, 330 10th St., Port Townsend’s own Cajun and blues band Delta Rays performs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Sunday, Leslie Wake plays a mix of jazz, blues and folk from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
■ On Saturday at Castle Key, Seventh and Sheridan streets, the Craig Buhler Quartet has a CD-release performance from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. $8 cover.
■ Steve Grandinetti plays guitar at Owl Sprit Cafe, 218 Polk St., today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
■ Today, classical guitarist Trevor Hanson plays at Ichikawa Japanese Cuisine, 1208 Water St., from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
■ Every Monday, Trevor Hanson plays guitar at Alchemy, 842 Washington St., from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
■ Steve Grandinetti plays and sings at the Northwest Maritime Center Cafe, Port Townsend, on Thursdays and Fridays from noon till 2 p.m.
High notes
■ The first-ever Port Angeles Blues Festival takes place at the Clallam County Fairgrounds on Friday and Saturday.
Friday’s lineup features Richard Allen and the Louisiana Experience from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., followed by the West Coast Women’s Blues Revue, featuring Northwest blues legend Alice Stuart as well as Seattle’s Lady A and Vicki Stevens.
Saturday’s schedule starts at 1 p.m. with the Cruzin’ Bluzers, followed by slide guitarist Nick Vigarino at 2 p.m. and West Coast Women returning at 4 p.m. The Strange Ones pick up the pace at 5:30 p.m., with the Delta Rays taking the stage at 7 p.m. The Lloyd Jones Struggle closes out the festival from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
The $65 two-day and the $35 one-day tickets are available in Port Angeles at Port Book and News and in Sequim at Pacific Mist Books.
■ It’s now the Third Saturday Quimper Grange (1219 Corona St., Port Townsend) Square Dance. On Saturday, the Rose Street Ramblers with Seattle caller Gabe Strand will square you up at 7:30 p.m. $5 adults; younger than 6, free.
■ On Friday, the Olympic Express Big Band fills the Port Angeles Library Art Blast, 2210 S. Peabody St., at 7 p.m. with standards, swing, Dixieland, rhythm and blues, boogie woogie and more.
■ Olympic Game Farm, 1423 Ward Road, Sequim, celebrates 40 years Saturday with live music by Magic Carpet Ride from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Also performing are Dave and Rosalie Secord and Luck of the Draw Band. $13 adults; $10 kids/seniors presale; $20 and $15 at the gate.
■ On Saturday, Tim Fast performs at the Port Angeles Farmers Market at The Gateway, Front and Lincoln streets, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
■ Local band the Hookys won the Puget Sound Battle of the Bands recently at Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn. They won $30,000 in cash, prizes and a year’s contract to play at the casino, beating hundreds of applicants.
A final note
These past 10 years have seen many changes in music venues and some musicians passing on, but there is one thing that is still true today: The North Olympic Peninsula is a hotbed of musical talent — from our school music programs all the way to retirees keeping live music alive.
My first column was 491 words, and I haven’t been below 1,500 since.
On behalf of the musicians and venues, thanks for Keeping Live Music Alive.
________
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, with John Nelson in the subject line. And note: Nelson’s deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. preceding Thursday’s column.
