ON THESE (NOT so) hot August nights the best way to mellow out and chill is to visit your favorite live music venue and keep time with your toes or dance your socks off.
Port Angeles
• Tonight at Castaways Restaurant and Night Club, 1213 Marine Drive, The Sundowners host a jam from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. These fellas really know how to have fun!
The Jimmy Hoffman Band returns to its roots Friday and Saturday to dish out some tasty country rock along with sides of country soul and Jimmy’s own sweet originals from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. $3 cover.
• Got blues on the brain? Then head out to The Junction Roadhouse, junction of U.S. Highway 101 and state Highway 112 five miles west of Port Angeles, for some soul-shaking blues with The Soul Shakers and some mind-bending picking and vocals that’ll wrench out your heart. $5 cover.
• On Sunday, Barry Barnett will be doing his Sunday Jam from 8 p.m. to midnight.
Jason Mogi is on summer hiatus and is not appearing every Wednesday
• Like to reminisce? Then join Charlie Ferris and Charlie’s Angels at Wine on the Waterfront, 115 Railroad Ave., tonight from 7 to 10. He’ll have some anecdotes, too, about your favorite pop, soft rock and country tunes from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. $3 cover.
Friday is jazz with the Coltrane- and Davis-inspired music of The Bluenotes at 8 p.m. $5 cover.
On Saturday, party down with the jazz, funk, salsa and you name it sounds of Bdumpbump at 8 p.m. $5 cover.
• Tonight and every Thursday, Larry and Rene Bauer direct the goings on at the open mic hosted by The Cracked Bean, 108 DelGuzzi Drive, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Welcome to the live music mix.
• On Saturday at the Port Angeles Farmers Market at The Gateway center, Front and Lincoln streets, Chez Jazz performs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Dave and Rosalie Secord and the whole Luck of the Draw Gang are back at the Fairmount Restaurant on U.S. Highway 101 west of Port Angeles from 6 to 9 p.m. with the Tuesday acoustic jam. Don’t be left out!
• On Friday night, The Veela Cafe, 133 E. First St., has Jim Lind providing both rock and country, fast and slow, from his impressive repertoire at 7:30 p.m.
• Every Tuesday evening, The Port Angeles Senior Swingers present “Wally and the Boys” playing ballroom dance favorites for the dancing pleasure of all seniors 45 years plus, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Port Angeles Senior Center, Seventh and Peabody streets. $5 cover, first-timers free!
• At R Bar, 132 E. Front St., The Big Fine Daddies will perform at 9 p.m. Friday. $3 cover.
Saturday night sees the legendary Jerry Miller, a former guitarist for Moby Grape, performing “fusion jazz rock” at 9 p.m. Cover is $5.
Sequim
• Tonight, don’t miss the jam hosted by Chantilly Lace at the Oasis Sports Bar and Grill, 301 E. Washington, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Any Thursday night you’ll find some of the best jammers from your favorite bands joining in the fun.
Classic rock and country from the ’50s and ’60s, blues and pop from later decades are all in the broad repertoire honed over 35 years. Jammers come in early and sign in on the sign-up sheet.
On Friday, Gil Yslas and Rick May entertain from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
At 9 p.m. Friday, the Oasis goes metal with four bands, featuring headliners Northern Bastards. $4 cover.
Next Wednesday, enjoy the old-time country and bluegrass of Jubilee from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Howly Slim performs at Alderwood Bistro, 139 Alder St., every Tuesday, weather permitting, at 5 p.m.
At The Buzz, 128 N. Sequim Ave., Kelly Thomas hosts the very popular and rousing open mic Wednesday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
• On Friday at Stymies Bar and Grill at Cedars at Dungeness, Woodcock Road, the Chez Jazz duo of Sarah Shea and Al Thomas work their music magic from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• On Friday at 7 Cedars Casino, Blyn, in the Club Seven Lounge, Northwest blues and rock legend Nicole Fournier and her band will have you movin’ and ‘a-groovin’ on the dance floor from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Her pickin’ will amaze you.
On Sunday, enjoy the country side with The Jimmy Hoffman Band from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On Monday, No Inhibitions will get you dancin’ Dixielandstyle from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Port Hadlock
• Tonight at the Ajax Cafe, 271 Water St., Buzz Rogowski plays at 6 p.m.
On Friday, Ahmad Baabahar plays a mix of blues, folk, funk and rhythm and blues at 6 p.m.
On Saturday, Peter Evasik and George Radebaugh will play bluegrass on fiddle and accordion at 6 p.m.
On Sunday, Jim Nyby plays blues, ballads, boogie-woogie and more at 5:30 p.m.
Every Tuesday, Jess Styles is on the piano at 6 p.m.
Port Townsend
• Forty-some-odd years ago, I did the announcing and some commercials on “The Grover Jackson Show” with Country Music Saturday Night on channel 13 out of Tacoma.
The other country music show in the Northwest was “Evergreen Jubilee with the Evergreen Drifters” on Channel 4.
Why bring this up?
Well, the Evergreen Drifters is having a reunion concert at 7:30 tonight with Pat Roberts at The Upstage, 923 Washington St. A special extra band is The Wolf Gang. Cover.
On Friday it’s roots, indie-folk and rhythm and blues from Boulder Acoustic Society at 8 p.m. $10 cover.
On Sunday, The Twisters mix gospel, reggae, rockabilly, urban blues and West Coast swing at 7:30 p.m. $10 cover.
Rex Rice hosts the jazz jam Wednesday at 7 p.m. $3 cover
Phone 360-385-2216 for reservations.
• On Friday at Port Townsend Brewing, 330 10th St., the blues stylings of The Delta Rays prevail from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Sunday, enjoy the singular style of Gerald Braude from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Next Wednesday, get down with Low Ones from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• On Friday, the Uptown Pub, 1016 Lawrence St., has some tasty jazz on tap by Downbeat at 9 p.m. $3 cover.
• On Saturday at Castle Key Restaurant, Seventh and Sheridan streets, Jenny Davis sings to your heart’s content from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. $8 cover.
Community Concerts
• On Saturday, Dana Lyons will captivate young and old alike with his guitar and vocals at 7 p.m., compliments of Friends of Fort Flagler at Battery Bankhead, Fort Flagler State Park, Marrowstone Island.
• Next Tuesday in Sequim, MLR plays multigenerational classic rock and roll at Carrie Blake Park, 202 N. Blake Ave., from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• In Port Angeles’ Concert on the Pier series next Wednesday, SuperTrees will rock from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Bring chairs and your favorite fur-lined wool coat.
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John Nelson is a self-styled music lover and compulsive night owl who believes in SDLqKLMA — 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.
