COME RAIN OR come shine, this is the weekend we’ve been waiting for all winter and spring.
Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start to summer and the five-day Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts in Port Angeles, begins tonight.
With more than 70 performances of mostly live music, the festival is the premier entertainment event of the year on the Peninsula.
For a complete listing of the performers, stages and after-hours in the clubs, check last Sunday’s Peninsula Daily News for a complete program, visit www.jffa.org for details or tickets, or phone 800-838-3006 to purchase tickets.
Extra programs are available at the Peninsula Daily News’ office, 305 W. First St. in Port Angeles.
I’ll be driving the shuttle Saturday and Sunday, so see ya there!
Port Angeles
■ Today at Castaways Restaurant and Night Club, 1213 Marine Drive, it’s Jerry’s country jam with guest singer and musician Les Wamboldt singing popular country swing music with new summer hours from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On Saturday, Crossfire spits some class country, classic rock and originals from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
■ On Friday at R Bar, 132 E. Front St., Scott Sullivan plays the blues from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
On Wednesday, enjoy Marie’s “Let the Good Times Roll” open mic/jam, hosted by Jim Lind, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
■ On Friday at Coog’s Budget CDs, 111 W. Front St., Mos Generator has a CD-release party for its new “Electric Mountain Majesty” CD at 7 p.m.
■ On Friday at Coo Coo Nest, 1017 E. First St., Mos Generator with Teepee Creeper plays at 10 p.m.
■ On Friday at the Fairmount Restaurant, 1127 W. U.S. Highway 101, Dave and Rosalie Secord and Luck of the Draw welcome the barbershop quartet NBR (No Batteries Required) for a good ol’ time from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Sunday, join the country jam from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
■ On 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.
■ For music at Bar N9ne, 229 W. First St., see the Juan de Fuca Fest program.
■ For music at Next Door Gastropub, 113 W. First St., see the Juan de Fuca Fest program.
■ For music at Barhop Brewing, 124 W. Railroad Ave., see the Juan de Fuca Fest program.
Joyce
■ Today at Salt Creek Saloon and Grill, state Highway 112 and Camp Hayden Road, Chip Norris hosts the music jam from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Sequim
■ On Friday at The Oasis Bar and Grill, 301 E. Washington St., the Old Sidekicks will get you kickin’ up a storm on the dance floor from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
On Saturday, the Whiskey Minstrels (Nolan Murray and Bruce Coughlin of Tiller’s Folly) perform from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, country up to the country covers and originals of Buck Ellard from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
■ Tonight at Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W. Washington St., Cort Armstrong and Jim Faddis entertain from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Friday, Rufus and his Blue Hares of Sequim play rhythm and blues from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On Saturday, Stringology plays Gypsy jazz with duo Terrianne Stratton and Eric Bogart from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On Wednesday, Bill Volmut showcases original tunes and covers from the 1960s and ’70s from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
■ On Friday at Stymie’s Bar & Grill at Cedars at Dungeness, 1965 Woodcock Road, R and B (Rachael and Barry) play classic rock and Motown from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
■ On Saturday at the Sequim VFW, 169 E. Washington St., Round Trip (Jim Noble, Rodger Bigelow and Dee Coburn) plays a variety of music from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The public is welcome. No cover.
■ On Wednesday at Nourish, 1345 S. Sequim Ave., Victor Reventlow hosts the open mic from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with sign-ups at 6 p.m.
Blyn
■ Today in Club Seven lounge at 7 Cedars Casino, 270756 U.S. Highway 101, the Jim Hoffman Band will get your country juices flowing from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
In the Rainforest Bar on Friday, Jason Mogi delivers a full dose of Americana on various string instruments from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
On Saturday at Club Seven, enjoy the rock, funk and soul sounds of Freddy Pink, a band celebrating 30 years of making music, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., while Justin Kausal-Hayes plays some old, some new and some in-between from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday in the Rainforest Bar.
Port Hadlock
■ On Saturday at the Ajax Cafe, 21 N. Water St., Trevor Hanson plays classical guitar from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Port Ludlow
■ Today in the Fireside Room at the Resort at Port Ludlow, 1 Heron Road, Trevor Hanson plays classical guitar from 4 p.m. to closing.
Port Townsend
■ On Friday at the Uptown Pub, 1016 Lawrence St., Paul Benoit gives two performances of original blues, roots and Americana from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
■ On Friday at Port Townsend Brewing, 330 10th St., get down with your Cajun self with the Delta Rays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Sunday, continue your Cajun and zydeco vibe with the Alternators from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
On Wednesday, move to the groove of the Better Half from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
■ On Friday at the Cellar Door, 940 Water St., Friends of the Highway Poets perform at 9 p.m. $5 cover.
On Saturday, Locos Only rocks at 9 p.m. $5 cover.
On Tuesday, Skip Morris with Porto Alegre, a five-piece Latin jazz band, performs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. No cover.
On Wednesday, Combo Choro gives you a taste of Brazil from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. No cover.
■ On Friday at Sirens, 823 Water St., catch the cabaret SourMash Band combine Central European violin technique with 1820s/’30s jazz and Yiddish theater at 9 p.m. $5 cover. For those 21 and older.
On Wednesdays, check out the open mic at 9 p.m. No cover. For those 21 and older.
■ Every Monday at Alchemy, 842 Washington St., Trevor Hanson plays guitar from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
High notes
■ Today, friends, family and the public are invited to a fundraising event for Carl Levine, who lost his timber-frame home and belongings in a fire last month.
The event will be held at the Highway 20 Roadhouse, 2152 W. Sims Way, Port Townsend, at 7 p.m.
All are welcome. A $10 donation is suggested for the night of music by Jack Reid and Joe Breskin, Meredith, Mark Hering, Matt Sircely, Dave Sheehan, Ahmad Baabahar, Craig Dell and Musical Lunch.
■ On Saturday at the Quimper Grange, 1217 Corona St., Port Townsend, the New Iberians provide zydeco, blues, soul and New Orleans rock ’n’ roll for your dancing pleasure from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. $12 cover; kids are admitted free.
________
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.