Abakis, a singer-songwriter from Port Townsend, brings her vintage folk and pop to the second show in Port Angeles’ Concerts on the Pier series. (Diane Urbani de la Paz/Peninsula Daily News)

Abakis, a singer-songwriter from Port Townsend, brings her vintage folk and pop to the second show in Port Angeles’ Concerts on the Pier series. (Diane Urbani de la Paz/Peninsula Daily News)

Concerts on the Pier return in Port Angeles

Blues, rock, reggae fill eight-week lineup

PORT ANGELES — Pato Banton, the internationally known reggae artist, can hardly wait to arrive in Port Angeles, where he and his band, the Now Generation, will be part of the eight-week Concerts on the Pier lineup.

“We’re very excited to bring our positive vibration,” the London-born Banton said in an interview from Lake Elsinore, Calif., where he lives.

The Now Generation will take the City Pier stage at 6 p.m. July 28, at the tail end of Banton’s West Coast tour. He has longtime friends who live here, so he’ll stay for a few days, just to enjoy the place.

Banton’s concert comes at just about the center of the series of free shows, which begin July 7. The music in these two-hour concerts will range from reggae and gypsy jazz to classic rock and country swing, with artists from Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Sequim — and Brooklyn, N.Y., where Banton’s bandmate, Antoinette Rootsdawtah, grew up.

“I just booked Aba Kiser,” former Juan de Fuca Foundation executive director Kayla Oakes said excitedly, right after she’d added the Port Townsend singer-songwriter to the mix. Kiser, aka Abakis, offers a set that ranges from covers of Sam Cooke and Beyonce to her own original songs.

Oakes finished assembling the Concerts on the Pier before resigning from her post as executive director of JFFA; her last day was June 15. JFFA Administrative Manager Kari Chance is orchestrating the Concerts on the Pier while Oakes’ successor is found.

JFFA, the presenter of the series, had to cancel last year’s shows due to the pandemic. The 2021 rebirth is a little shorter in length than previous years — two months instead of three — but “luckily it’s an outdoor series,” Oakes said.

Concert-goers who aren’t full vaccinated are asked to keep 6 feet from people outside their households; if they’re unable to do so, “we ask that you wear a mask,” Oakes said.

If the weather turns wet, the Concerts on the Pier move under the Gateway pavilion at Front and Lincoln streets, she added.

In mid-August, the band Backwoods Hucksters will appear, with Sequim’s Cort Armstrong leading the way. Armstrong relishes talking about his bandmates: Eric Bogart, “an astonishing guitar player,” bassist Paul Stehr-Green, fiddle players Jon Parry and Joe Gish and harmonica player Sean Divine. That musician has a heavenly name, but “he’s a sinner like you and me,” Armstrong quipped.

As for the Hucksters’ music, “we refer to it as mountain blues,” he said, adding that Divine “loves bluegrass music, though it’s not his main thing … so he sings the bluegrass songs we do in a classic Chicago blues kind of style.

“Sean and I have been singing together for many years,” said Armstrong, so “the band is kind of the intersection of our personalities.”

Here’s the Concerts on the Pier lineup, while more information can be found at JFFA.org under “Concerts” and by phoning 360-457-5411.

• July 7: AntBath brings underground garage surf music.

• July 14: Country swing and vintage pop with Abakis.

• July 21: Alternative folk/rock with Crushwater.

• July 28: Positive reggae with Pato Banton and the Now Generation.

• Aug. 4: Gypsy jazz with Ranger & the Rearrangers.

• Aug. 11: Americana and blues with Backwoods Hucksters.

• Aug. 18: Rock ’n’ roll covers with Three Too Many.

• Aug. 25: Classic hits with Black Diamond Junction.

________

Jefferson County senior reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-417-3509 or durbanidelapaz@peninsuladaily news.com.

More in Entertainment

Zak (Zack Gottsagen) and Tyler (Shia Labeouf) near the raft they built together to travel by water. (Port Townsend Film Festival)
Nonprofit to screen film with insights into their work

Port Townsend Film Festival, Olympic Neighbors partner for movie

“Floral Flight,” a digital painting by Larry Davidson, the artist of the month at the Port Ludlow Art League.
Reception set Wednesday for artists of the month

The Port Ludlow Art League will host a reception… Continue reading

Port Angeles textile artist Merrie Jo Schroeder, installing the “Beatlemania” walk-by exhibit at 675 Tyler St., Port Townsend. The display of Beatles memorabilia and Beatles-themed art quilts and textile pieces will continue through November.
Fiber artists install Beatles walk-by exhibit

Peninsula Fiber Artists have installed “Beatlemania: 60th Anniversary,” a… Continue reading

Tom Melancon will perform at Candlelight Concerts on Thursday evening.
Melancon to perform at Candlelight Concerts

Tom Melancon will perform during a Candlelight Concert at… Continue reading

Sequim photographer Randy Tomaras points to a photo featured in his two-volume course “It Is NOT the Camera.” Tomaras’ home studio will be featured in the Strait from the Artists Studio Tour today and Sunday. (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim artist looks for life outside of frame

Photographer will be part of Strait from the Artists tour

Sue Ritter Milling’s quilt, “Ole,” is part of the exhibit “Find Your Story” opening at Bayside Gallery on Sunday.
Bayside Gallery to host reception for ‘Find Your Story’

The Bayside Gallery will host a reception for the… Continue reading

Caitlin Warbelow will perform Tuesday evening at Rainshadow Recording on Fort Worden.
Warbelow, Ranney to perform at Rainshadow Recording studio

Caitlin Warbelow will perform at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Warbelow,… Continue reading

Carol Marshall - "Crowned Crane"
Harbor Art Gallery to host reception on Saturday

Harbor Art Gallery will host a reception for its… Continue reading

The Black Ends to perform at Quilcene Lantern

The Black Ends will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday. The… Continue reading

Magical Strings to open Concerts in the Woods season

Concerts in the Woods will begin its 2024 schedule with… Continue reading

Stage productions highlight weekend events

Stage productions, bands and art shows will be on the Peninsula this… Continue reading

Cast members, from left, Stephen Browning, Christie Lang, Glenn Gilbert, Jim Gormly and Kelly McNees rehearse for the Port Ludlow Players’ production of “”Its a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.”
Ludlow Village Players to stage radio play

The Ludlow Village Players will stage a production of… Continue reading