LIVE MUSIC REIGNS as we run headlong into summer with festivals, fairs and community concerts — not to mention the lively club scene.
Port Angeles
nBlueswoman Nicole Fornier gracesthe Lyre’s Club, 229 W. First St., on Friday with her “soaring, stinging guitar and heart-felt vocals.”
She will take the stage followingFriday’s Art Walk from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Lyre’s Club owner Stephany Anthony is the featured artist. Cover.
On Saturday, rockers Amsterjam from Port Angeles, and Mad Marathon and Stone Axe from Bremerton rock from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Cover.
Tonight, Smokin’ Joe’s Rhythm and Blues Review lights up at 8 p.m. to midnight.
On Monday, Craig Logue hosts the open jam from 8 p.m.
Wednesday belongs to Lynn Peterson and the Phatt Kattz from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. with favorites from the 1940s through 1960s.
nAt Castaways, 1213 Marine Drive, the Jimmy Hoffman Band returns Friday and Saturday. $3 cover.
nTonight at Wine on the Waterfront, 115 Railroad Ave., catch the new young fiddle-playing duo, Jammin’ Salmon, which has been wowing people on open mic night, earning them their first headlining gig.
Accompanied by David Rivers, they play bluegrass from 8 p.m.
Wine on the Waterfront celebrates its first anniversary Saturday with special guest musical appearances from 7 p.m. to very late.
nThe Junction Roadhouse, junction of highways 101 and 112 five miles west of Port Angeles, has its usual entertainment this week.
On Sunday, Barry Burnett hosts the open mic jam from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Then on Tuesday, Rusty, Duke, Crash and Dale — the High Definition Band SEmDplay from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
On Wednesday, Jason and Ches of Deadwood Revival have a guest as they play from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
nTonight, Rene and Larry Bauer host the intimate open mic at the Itty Bitty Buzz, 110 E. First St., from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
nOn Friday night at the Veela Café, 133 E. First St., Jim Lind provides both rock and country, from 7:30 p.m.
nGet your acoustic bluegrass and old-time music fix every Tuesday at Dave Secord’s Acoustic Jam at the Fairmount Restaurant, on Highway 101 west of Port Angeles, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Forks
nA Work in Progress/Café Paix, 71 Forks Ave., has a Therapy Session Saturday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dave Lenahan, bass, Pete Larson, blues harp, and Rog Lien and Sally Milici, guitar and vocals, provide country blues and an eclectic mix.
Sequim
• On Friday and Saturday at the Oasis Bar and Grill, 301 E. Washington St., rock out to Thin Ice from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Tonight, Charlie Ferris presents his Memories and Melodies Show from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Dine and dance to Charlie’s renditions of 1950s, 1960s and 1970s classic crooner, doo-wop, jazz, rock and rhythm and blues songs.
nIf you like Charlie (and who wouldn’t?) or if you miss him, catch him Saturday at Damiana’s Best Cellars, 143 Washington St., from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• On Friday, Pete Barthell is pickin’ and singin’ those good ol’ tunes from pre-World War II at Galare Thai, 120 W. Bell St., from 5:30 p.m. to closing.
nKelly Thomas hosts the very popular open mic at The Buzz, 128 N. Sequim Ave., Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
nDenny Secord Jr. does his solo thing Friday at Stymies Bar and Grill at Cedars at Dungeness, 1965 Woodcock Road, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
nTonight you can catch Denny Secord Jr. and the Haywire Band in the Club Seven Lounge at 7 Cedars Casino, Blyn, for great country sounds from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
On Friday and Saturday, take a ride with the classic rock of the Magic Bus — complete with go-go dancers — from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
In another of 7 Cedars’ Sunday Concert Series, Chris Ward and his band bring their polished country show to Club Seven from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. They’ve been the opening act for Kenny Chesney and others.
Monday’s jazz style is Dixieland with the Dukes of Dabob. For those new to the area or just visiting, it’s pronounced day-bob, from the bay of the same name on the Peninsula’s East End.
Port Hadlock
nTonight at the Ajax Café, 271 Water St., Buzz Rogowski plays jazz on the piano from 6 p.m.
On, Friday, Mark Holman and Bruce Cowan play jazz standards from 6 p.m.
On Saturday, the Dwyer Family Band performs bluegrass with a mandolin, bass, fiddle and banjo.
And on Sunday, Jim Nyby plays blues, ballads jazz, and soul from 5:30 p.m.
Port Townsend
nTonight, catch the blues of a one-man band, Rollie Tussing, former national slide guitar champion known for his “Hillbilly Blues,” at the Upstage, 923 Washington St., from 8 p.m. $10 cover.
On Friday, Jim Nybyand the F Street Band play blues in the style of the Big Easy from 8 p.m. $6 cover.
Then on Saturday, gear up for a fusion of poetry, blues, jazz and theater with Sandy Diamond and Quasimodo and the Bellringers, when they present “Doestoevsky’s Cat,” from 8 p.m. $10 cover.
Next Wednesday, blues legend Magic Slim and the Teardrops, proponents of the intense, electrified Mississippi-to-Chicago blues style, play from 8 p.m. $25 cover.
Phone 360-385-2216 for more info.
nOn Friday, Eldridge Gravy and the Court Supremes play funk and soul at Water Street Brewing, 639 Water St., from 9 p.m.
On Saturday, Booker and Hooker return after a three-year absence with a fabulous rhythm and blues review and tribute a la the Blues Brothers, from 9 p.m. $3 cover.
nOn Sunday, Gerald Braude performs at Port Townsend Brewing, 330 10th St., from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
nThe Todd Fisher Duo infuses jazz into Castle Key Restaurant and Lounge, Seventh and Sheridan streets, Friday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. $5 cover.
On Saturday, Seattle blues diva turned jazz diva, Katy Bourne and noted jazz pianist Randy Halberstadt celebrate some of the greatest jazz songs ever written, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. $8 cover.
Community concerts
Tonight’s Concert on the Dock in Port Townsend features world rhythms and percussion by Rhythm Planet, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday’s Music in the Park at the James Center Bandshell next to Carrie Blake Park in Sequim features the jazz and Dixieland of the Dixi-Blu Jazz Band from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
nIsland rock by Green Light Situation performs Wednesday in Port Angeles’ Concert on the Pier, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Music news
nRuddell Auto Mall, U.S. Highway 101 and Golf Course Road, Port Angeles has its 13th Annual Cruise-In Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
There’s live music at the free event: The Way Back Machine with special guest sax player Lonnie Anderson and a special guest guitarist.
It should be fun with all those wheels, guitars, drums, horns, keyboards and great vocals.
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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 e-mailing 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.