SAY, HERE’S A great idea:
Take someone out for live music and dancing or dinner.
I wish I could tell you to take in what I received as an early Christmas present.
My sister, Arlis, took my brother, Willie, and me to see the Port Angeles Community Playhouse production “Chaps! A Jingle Jangle Christmas,” complete with a band and an array of 1930s-’40s cowboy songs.
It was great fun and well done.
Alas, the run ended Sunday, but there are great opportunities out there.
Consider giving experiences this year.
Port Angeles
■ A perennial Peninsula favorite, Junkyard Jane, returns to the Junction Roadhouse, junction of U.S. Highway 101 and state Highway 112 five miles west of Port Angeles, on Saturday with powerhouse roots rock, blues and more from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Need a ride? All Points Charters & Tours will be providing free transportation from within the city and west to Freshwater Bay. Phone 360-775-9128 to make a reservation. Pickups start at 8 p.m.
On Tuesday, Ches Ferguson stops by for some picking and grinning at 7 p.m.
■ Tonight at Castaways Restaurant and Night Club, 1213 Marine Drive, come on down for Jerry’s Country Jam from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. If country’s your style, come and dance or play plugged or unplugged.
On Saturday, Sequim’s Turner Brothers Band comes to Port Angeles one night only with classic rock from the 1970s to ’90s. Dance away from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
■ On Friday at Wine on the Waterfront, 115 Railroad Ave., Cort Armstrong and guest Jim Faddis play bluegrass and more at 8 p.m. $3 cover.
Ches Ferguson (Tongue and Groove, Deadwood Revival) shares his original tunes and familiar Dead songs on 12-string guitar, tongue drums and cedar flutes Saturday at 8:30 p.m.
■ On Sunday, Kim Trenerry hones her solo gig at the Next Door gastropub, 113 W. First St., at 3 p.m.
Check out this latest transformation of the multitalented, lovely lady we know as our Kim.
■ On Friday, Les Wamboldt and Olde Tyme Country perform at the Fairmount Restaurant, 1127 W. U.S. Highway 101, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, Dave and Rosalie Secord and the Luck of the Draw Band play old-time music with guest Strider Yocum of Ramblin’ Maggies for an old-fashioned good ol’ time from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
■ Every Tuesday evening at the Port Angeles Senior Center, Seventh and Peabody streets, the Port Angeles Senior Swingers present Wally and the Boys playing ballroom dance favorites for the dancing pleasure of all adults 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 barbecue from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sequim and Blyn
■ On Friday at the Oasis Bar and Grill, 301 E. Washington St., Fret Noir (Gil Yslas and Mary Tulin) blend English Celtic folk with originals, blues, rock and jazz at 5:30 p.m.
Irish Session holds forth Tuesday at 6 p.m.
The Denny Secord Jr. Trio countries up Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
■ Judy Clark sings Christmas standards, smooth jazz and a variety of songs from her new CD “Bag O’ Tunes” on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Sequim Starbucks next to The Home Depot.
■ Ming’s Buffet, 10181 Old Olympic Highway, presents seasonal stylings by Judy Clark on Wednesdays and Thursdays in December from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Friday and Saturday, enjoy the holiday expressions on the keyboard of Sandy Lockwood 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 Stymie’s Bar & Grill at Cedars at Dungeness, 1965 Woodcock Road, The Discovery Bay Pirates capture your attention from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
■ On Friday in Club Seven Lounge at 7 Cedars Casino, Blyn, groove to the dancing muse of GruVbox from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
On Saturday, continue dancing to one of the casino’s favorite bands, Pop Culture, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., playing classic rock, country and pop rock dance tunes.
On Sunday, Lorrie Kuss and All About Me play a host of contemporary songs from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On Monday, join Barry Burnett and world-class drummer Tom Svornich for We Be Jammin’, so bring your ax or tickled tonsils and join the fun from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Port Townsend
■ Tonight at The Upstage, 923 Washington St., Skip Morris and Robin Bessier team up for an Upstage live music fundraiser at 7 p.m. It’s the Holly Days Spirit Show with swing, Latin, bop, jazz, blues and holiday favorites.
On Friday, Patsy Cline and Billie Holiday meet up with Mia Nicholson and Torch and Twang in a unique blending of jazz and old-school country and western swing. Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Paul Simon, Billie Holiday, k.d. lang, Henry Mancini, Willie Nelson and Roger Miller are all at home in this show. Feel the love at 8 p.m. $10 cover.
On Saturday, two bands play — Mantra, a Santana tribute band, plays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. ($10 cover), and Blacky Sheridan plays in a Jefferson Food Bank fundraiser at 9:30 p.m. $5 cover.
On Sunday, the Penultimate Sunday Jazz Jam fills the house at 6 p.m. $5 cover.
On Wednesday, George Rezendes, Jack Reid, Roger Pryatt and Dave Meis play roots and country blues at 7:30 p.m. $5 sliding-scale cover.
Phone 360-385-2216 for information and reservations.
■ On Friday at Sirens Pub, 823 Water St., Nathaniel Talbot, Oregon tunesmith, plays his original tunes at 9 p.m. No cover.
On Saturday, Port Angeles’ Deadwood Revival is gonna pack the house at 9 p.m. with “feel-good” old-time Appalachia, roots, jam band improvisations and a whole lot of hootenanny that’ll have you grooving among the tables. $5 cover.
On Sunday, Carolyn Mark sings throwback country in an outspoken way a la Loretta Lynn. $5 cover.
■ Tonight, the Crow Quill Night Owls play at 8 p.m. at the Undertown, 211 Taylor St.
On Friday, Simon Lynge performs at 8 p.m.
On Sunday, local fiddle orchestra Unknown Fiddlers plays Christmas tunes at 2 p.m.
■ Steve Grandinetti plays guitar at the Owl Sprit Cafe, 218 Polk St., today and Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
■ Tonight, 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.
■ Steve Grandinetti plays and sings at the Northwest Maritime Center Cafe, 431 Water St., Port Townsend, on Thursdays and Fridays from noon till 2 p.m.
High notes
■ On Saturday, the Washington Old Time Fiddlers play live music at the Sequim Prairie Grange, 290 Macleay Road, Sequim, with an all-players jam from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and a performance from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Donations support scholarships. More information is at their website, www.wotfa.org.
■ On Saturday, local musicians are coming together to play in a benefit in support of rebuilding the fire-damaged home of Penny Huether at the Moose Lodge, Eighth and Pine streets, Port Angeles. The party starts at noon and ends when everybody goes home.
For more information, phone Joe Jester at 360-461-6881.
■ This holiday season, as with every season, be responsible for yourself and others and have a designated driver when you party. If not that, then call a cab, friend, Mom or Dad to get you home safely.
Do this, and you’ll have a happy holiday!
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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 new 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.
