NEED IDEAS FOR a gift for that special friend, dance partner or music lover on your list?
I suggest you check out the following venues for a place to get together or purchase a gift certificate. Live music can really cap off a special evening.
Port Angeles
• The Junction Roadhouse, junction of U.S. Highway 101 and state Highway 112 five miles west of Port Angeles, will feed your blues muse with a taste of the Soul Shakers from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday.
Mike Pace’s fret work and Cindy Lowders’ vocals will satisfy any blues appetite. $3 cover.
Barry Burnett does his Sunday Jam from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
On Wednesday, Jason and friends play roots music and more from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Tonight at Castaways Restaurant and Night Club, 1213 Marine Drive, the Sundowners will host a jam from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
These fellas really know how to have fun!
• On Saturday at Wine on the Waterfront, 115 Railroad Ave., SuperTrees headlines WOWstock 2: The Empire Strikes Back! — a benefit for the Port Angeles Food Bank.
Many local musicians will also be on hand to perform hits from the British Invasion of the ’60s and ’70s, including David Rivers, Scott Sullivan, Sarah Shea, Charlie Ferris and BBR.
Admission for the program is by nonperishable food items or a cash donation.
The event will run from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• On Saturday at Bar N9ne, 229 W. First Street, Dan Maguire and the Juan de Fuca Christmas Band will perform from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in a Juan de Fuca Festival Christmas Party.
Seasonal appetizers and egg nog punch will be featured. $15 cover.
• Every Tuesday evening at the Port Angeles Senior Center, Seventh and Peabody streets, the Port Angeles Senior Swingers presents “Wally and the Boys” playing ballroom dance favorites for the dancing pleasure of all seniors 45 years and older from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. $5 cover, first-timers free!
• On Wednesday at Dupuis Restaurant, 256861 U.S. Highway 101, Bob and Dave play blues with a brew and BBQ from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Dave and Rosalie Secord’s Luck of the Draw Band will explore the acoustic side of Jimmy Hoffman on Wednesday at Smuggler’s Landing Restaurant & Lounge, 115 Railroad Ave., from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. before leaving on its winter tour to the Southwest as working snowbirds. Come join the fun!
• Victor Reventlow hosts the acoustic jam at the Fairmount Restaurant, on U.S. Highway 101 west of Port Angeles, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Tuesday. 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.
Sequim and Blyn
• On Friday at the Oasis Sports Bar and Grill, 301 E. Washington St., Old Sidekicks performs from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
On Saturday, get your country up with Denny Secord Jr. and Haywire at 9 p.m. $3 cover.
On Monday, Wally and the Boys will play for your dancing pleasure from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Blue Hole Quintet jazzes up Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Celebrate Sequim’s First Friday Art Walk at Damiana’s Best Cellars, 143 W. Washington St., as Kevin Lee Magner, Mary Pender and Scott Bradley perform their Americana style from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• At The Buzz, 128 N. Sequim Ave., Kelly Thomas and Victor Reventlow host the very popular and rousing open mic Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• On Friday at Stymies Bar & Grill at 7 Cedars at Dungeness, 1965 Woodcock Road, enjoy the beautiful vocal stylings of Robin Lynn from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On Friday at Club Seven Lounge at 7 Cedars Casino, Blyn, hot classic rock party band Expertease will get you on the dance floor from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
On Saturday, the music changes to Motown with rhythm and blues and current hits from The Hitmen from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
On Sunday, it’s the rock-country style of the Jimmy Hoffman Band from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Port Hadlock
• Tonight at The Ajax Cafe, 271 Water St., Buzz Rogowski plays jazz and originals at 6 p.m.
On Friday, Howly Slim plays, starting at 6 p.m.
On Sunday, Jim Nyby plays blues, ballads, jazz and soul at 5:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, Jess is styling on the piano at 6 p.m.
• On Saturday at Ferino’s Pizza, 846 Ness’ Corner Road, NakiSSSqi plays with a flair for the Hawaiian from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Port Townsend
• Tonight at The Upstage, 923 Washington St., master sax, flute and piano musician Mark Lewis and his band play at 7 p.m. $7 cover.
On Friday, the Jazz Gals, Val James, Karin Sullivan and Carla Main perform with three separate voices, three different styles, with guest vocalist Alanna Daily backed by Herb Payson, Ted Enderle, Tim Sheffel, Pete Toyne and Joy Qualyle at 7 p.m. $6 cover
On Saturday, blues great Duke Robillard and his band play at 8 p.m. $25 advance, $30 at the door.
On Wednesday, Colin O’Brien will take you on a roller coaster ride through roots, blues and originals on fiddle, banjo and slide guitar at 7:30 p.m. $4 cover.
Phone 360-385-2216 for reservations.
• On Friday, Be Careful and Julia and the Dream play at 9 p.m. at Sirens, 823 Water St. These two diverse, genre-defying bands are sure to please. $5 cover.
On Saturday, Southern rock meets Northwest grunge with The Pitfalls at 9 p.m. $5 cover.
• On Saturday at Castle Key Restaurant, Seventh and Sheridan streets, the Four Professors Quartet plays jazz from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. $8 cover.
• The Blue Crows return to the Undertown, Water and Taylor streets, Saturday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. playing vintage jazz, blues and ragtime.
• On Friday at the Uptown Pub, 1016 Lawrence St., Locust Street Taxi plays its last gig this year in Port Townsend with swing, funk, ska, folk and rock at 9 p.m. $5 cover.
Music news
• A Concert of Holiday happiness will be presented on the Peninsula College campus, Port Angeles, on Sunday when the Peninsula College Music Department presents its annual holiday concert marking the end of the fall quarter. The concert will begin at 2 p.m. in the Little Theater.
• On Saturday, Black Diamond contra dance fiddler Lisa Ornstein and guitarist Dan Compton whip up contra dance tunes from Quebec and the American South at Black Diamond Community Hall, 1942 Black Diamond Road, Port Angeles. Beginners’ workshop at 7:30 p.m.; dance at 8 p.m. Suggested donation is $6 for adults, $2 for children.
For more information, phone 360-457-5667.
Ornstein and Compton will head down to Port Townsend to play a concert and hold guitar and fiddle workshops at the Fort Worden State Park chapel Sunday.
The workshops start at 11:45 a.m., and the concert will begin at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15 for the concert, $10 for workshop participants.
Visit http://tinyurl.com/39f4d7w for more information on the workshops and the show.
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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.