DON’T LET THE madness of March and basketball brackets get you down.
Instead, make your own bracket of live music venues for dancing and listening this weekend.
If you haven’t been out to take in some live music, it’s another way to enjoy the beauty of our Olympic Peninsula.
Port Angeles
■ Today at Castaways Restaurant and Night Club, 1213 Marine Drive, Jerry’s country jam is hosted by Classic Country — with Terry Roszatycki, Jim Rosand and Jerry Robison — from 5 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
On Saturday, trip out to the classic rock of Chantilly Lace from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
■ Today, start your weekend at the Junction Roadhouse, 242701 U.S. Highway 101, with multi-instrumentalist Ches Ferguson from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
On Friday, Junkyard Jane returns from 8 p.m. to midnight. Cover
Phone All Points Charters & Tours at 360-775-9128 or 360-460-7131 for a free ride out and back.
On Sunday, MRB (Mick, Rachael and Barry) perform country, folk and classic rock from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
On Wednesday Jason Mogi and Paul Stehr-Green entertain as Deadwood Experiment from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
■ On Friday, Les Wamboldt and Olde Tyme Country play with guest Howly Slim 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 Friday and Saturday at Dupuis Restaurant, 256861 U.S. Highway 101, Bob and Dave play blues from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
■ Every Tuesday at the Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 E. 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.
Sequim and Blyn
■ Today, it’s all country in Club Seven lounge at 7 Cedars Casino, Blyn, when Denny Secord Jr. and Haywire get you on the dance floor from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
On Friday, Billy Shew Band plays Top 40 blues and classic rock from 8 p.m. to midnight.
On Saturday, Freddy Pink plays Top 40 dance hits with a big-band sound from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
On Sunday, swing to your favorite dance tunes with the Stardust Big Band from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
■ On Friday at the Oasis Bar and Grill, 301 E. Washington St., The Old Sidekicks play classic country from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Saturday, the Olympic Express Big Band will get you dancing to 1940-’50s pop standards at 5:30 p.m., followed by Billy Shew and No Left Turn at 9 p.m.
On Wednesday, the Blue Hole Quintet performs smooth jazz at 5:30 p.m.
■ On Saturday at Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W. Washington St., Mary Tulin plays Celtic folk noir from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
■ On Friday at Stymie’s Bar and Grill at Cedars at Dungeness, 1965 Woodcock Road, Brian “Buck” Ellard performs 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.
Port Townsend
■ Today at The Upstage, 923 Washington St., Abby Mae and Dillan Witherow make the short trek to Port Townsend to perform from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. $5 to $8 sliding-scale cover.
On Friday, Scenes, featuring John Stowell, plays jazz from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. $8 cover.
On Saturday, vocalist, composer and performer Sunny Loudin and her band belt the blues from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. $6 to $8 sliding-scale cover.
On Sunday, singers/songwriters Lauri Lee Nastri and Jane Justice with Tamahra Martin on drums perform original indie folk rock from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Cover by donation.
Phone 360-385-2216 for details and reservations.
■ On Friday at Sirens Pub, 823 Water St. , enjoy the reggae music of the Highlife Band from 10 p.m. $5 cover.
On Saturday, banjo and guitar picker Kendl Winter performs at 10 p.m. $5 cover.
On Monday, it’s an April Fools’ party with the country and rockabilly music of Miss Lonely Hearts from Santa Cruz, Calif., at 9 p.m. No cover.
■ Today, Steve Grandinetti plays guitar at the Owl Sprit Cafe, 218 Polk St., 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.
■ On Thursdays and Fridays, Steve Grandinetti plays and sings at the Northwest Maritime Center Cafe, 431 Water St., from noon till 2 p.m.
High notes
■ On Saturday, visit Finnriver Farm & Cidery, 62 Barn Swallow Road, Chimacum, and enjoy the Latin jazz of Porto Alegre from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. $5 cover.
■ On Saturday, Folichon will perform at a Cajun/zydeco dance at 7:30 p.m. at the Quimper Grange, 1219 Corona St. in Port Townsend. Cover.
________
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.