JOHN NELSON’S LIVE MUSIC COLUMN: Don’t warm the bench; heat up the floor

FOR SOME REASON, people in Seattle are dancing in the streets yet seem so blue.

Here on the Peninsula, we dance to the blues and country and jazz and big band and rock ’n’ roll and more in venues that are dry and warm.

We are so fortunate to have so much talent in a small area.

Having said all that, go Seattle Seahawks!

Port Angeles

■ Today at Castaways Restaurant and Night Club, 1213 Marine Drive, sing and pick country-style at the jam hosted by High Country from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

On Saturday, the Jimmy Hoffman Band will rock you country-style with songs from Hank Williams to today’s favorite country artists from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

This is Ron Casey’s last gig with the band after about six years. Gonna miss ya, Ron!

■ Today at the Junction Roadhouse, 242701 U.S. Highway 101, Jason Mogi and Paul Stehr-Green light up as Deadwood Experiment from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

On Friday, Cold Case returns with blues from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Call All Points Charters & Tours at 360-775-9128 or 360-460-7131 for a free ride out and back.

■ On Friday, 2FAR (2nd Friday Art Rock) at Bar N9ne, 229 W. First St., features Dan and the Juan de Fuca Band with folk, rock, blues, jazz, country, Latin and more at 8 p.m.

Katie Carlson is the artist-in-residence for the first 2FAR of 2013. $3 cover.

On Monday, Justin Scott Rivet goes solo from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

■ On Saturday at Elliott’s Antique Emporium, 135 E. First St., stop by between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to listen to Hawaii Amor, Hawaiian music and love songs solo on ukulele.

■ On Friday at Wine on the Waterfront, 115 Railroad Ave., Witherow, the duo of Abby Latson and Dylan Witherow, makes its venue debut at 7 p.m.

■ On Friday, Les Wamboldt and Olde Tyme Country play and sing old songs at the 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 Wednesday, join in the fun with Dave and Rosalie Secord and the Luck of the Draw Band as they host a CD-release party for Marty Kaler and Bob Lawrence-Markarian of Twisted Roots from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

■ Every Tuesday at the Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 Seventh St., 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 Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Sequim and Blyn

■ On Friday at the Oasis Bar and Grill, 301 E. Washington St., the Dukes of Dabob jazz it up Dixieland-style from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

On Saturday, keep those dancing shoes on for the Olympic Express Big Band, also from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, trade in your dancing shoes for some boots and dance country-style to the Denny Secord Jr. Trio from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

■ It’s “All the Buzz” Wednesday at the Sequim Senior Activity Center, 921 E. Hammond St., with Victor hosting the open mic from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

■ On Friday at Stymie’s Bar & Grill at Cedars at Dungeness, 1965 Woodcock Road, enjoy the music of Locos Only from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

■ Today in Club Seven Lounge at 7 Cedars Casino, Blyn, this month’s Second Thursday Dance Night features the Olympic Express Big Band from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

On Friday, the Michael Anthony Pratt Band will have you boot scooting with its up-tempo country dance music from 8 p.m. to midnight.

On Saturday, the Fun­Addicts return from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

On Sunday, Hell’s Angels is back with its AC/DC tribute show and more from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Port Townsend

■ Today at The Upstage, 923 Washington St., Judith-Kate Friedman and friends perform.

On Friday, New York City jazz vocalist Alexis Cole makes a rare intimate club appearance with innovative jazz interpretations at 7:30 p.m. Ted Enderle (bass) and Tim Sheffel (drums) will accompany Ms. Cole (piano and vocals). $15 cover.

On Saturday, stop in for the retooled Southbound and its country, blues and hillbilly jazz at 7:30 p.m. Opening the show will be Portland, Ore.-based troubadour Kory Quinn. Sliding-scale cover of $4 to $10.

Phone 360-385-2216 for details and reservations.

■ On Friday at Sirens Pub, 823 Water St., enjoy the five-piece Seattle-based band The West at 10 p.m. $5 cover.

On Saturday, Port Townsend’s Crow Quill Night Owls brings the sounds of the ’70s at 10 p.m.

■ On Friday at the Uptown Pub and Grill, 1016 Lawrence St., Les Izzmore plays cover tunes on a combination of stand-up bass and guitar from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

■ Steve Grandinetti plays at the 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 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

■ On Saturday, Port Townsend’s Quimper Grange Hall, 1219 Corona St., has an all-ages community dance with the Last Chance String Band and Jo Yount calling at 7:30 p.m. Adults, $6; 3 to 18, $3; younger than 3, free.

On Wednesday, kids of all ages can boogie down to the strain and antics of The Harmonica Pocket at 10:30 a.m. at the Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave., and at 6:30 p.m. at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St.

________

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.

Also, check out “Nightlife,” a listing of entertainment at nightspots across the Peninsula, in Friday’s Peninsula Spotlight magazine.

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