THE LIVE MUSIC scene this week has both good news and bad news.
The good news is that the Esprit convention is still going strong and brings some live music with it as well as attracting live music to other venues.
The bad news is the Jazz in the Olympics Festival will not be held in April unless some angel steps forward to take over the extensive operation.
All of that aside, we have a full week of live music all across the Peninsula.
Port Angeles
• The official Grand Opening of Bar N9ne (formerly Crazy Fish and Lyre’s Club), 227 W. First St., is on Friday and Saturday. The club is larger with a longer bar and increased floor space, and it have the Nasty Habits rocking the place both nights from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. These women will rock, sock and knock you onto the dance floor and won’t let you go. $5 cover.
• Tonight at Castaways Restaurant and Night Club, 1213 Marine Drive, the Sundowners host a jam from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. These fellas really know how to have fun!
If classic (golden oldies) rock and country is your style, then bop on down Friday and Saturday for Chantilly Lace. This is not to say that all their tunes are old SEmD they’ve got newer ones, too. Dance to your heart’s content from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. both nights. $3 cover.
• On Friday, dance to the blues that’ll shake your soul at the Junction Roadhouse, junction of U.S. Highway 101 and state Highway 112, five miles west of Port Angeles, when the Soulshakers rock the house from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Cindi Lowder’s vocals are outstanding fall. $5 cover.
On Sunday, Barry Burnett invites you to come out early and dance to a variety of music during the open mic jam from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
On Wednesday, Jason Mogi plays a variety of instruments from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• It’s a two-diva week at Wine on the Waterfront, 115 Railroad Ave. “The Lynn Peterson Farewell Tour” takes another step closer to “We miss you already” today at 7 p.m. Al Harris and Ron Newton back up Lynn’s fine vocals. This is also in celebration of the “Girls Night Out” event in downtown Port Angeles. $3 cover.
On Saturday, vocalist Jenny Davis returns with an evening of great jazz from 8 p.m. $5 cover.
• Dave Secord and Rosalie and the whole Luck of the Draw gang are back at the Fairmount Restaurant, 1127 W. Highway 101, west of Port Angeles, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with the Tuesday acoustic jam. 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.
• Every Tuesday evening, the Port Angeles Senior Swingers present Wally and the Boys, playing ballroom dance favorites for the dancing pleasure of all seniors 55-plus from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Port Angeles Senior Center, Seventh and Peabody streets. $5 cover, first-timers free!
Forks
• On Saturday, The Jimmy Hoffman Band ventures west to the Mill Creek Bar and Grill, 1222 W. Forks Ave., rocking the Twilight zone with its classic country and rock style from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Cover.
Sequim and Blyn
• Tonight, don’t miss the jam hosted by Chantilly Lace at the Oasis Sports Bar and Grill, 301 E. Washington St., from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Any Thursday night you’ll find some of the best jammers and your favorite bands. Classic rock and country from the ’50s and ’60s, blues and pop from later decades are all in the broad repertoire honed over 35 years. Jammers come in early and sign in on the sign-up sheet.
On Friday, Gil Yslas and Rick May entertain on guitar and violin from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Later, Thomas Sparks and his friends play from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. $3 cover.
Next Wednesday, Final Approach plays its “Boomer Music” from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• At The Buzz, 128 N. Sequim Ave., Kelly Thomas hosts the very popular open mic Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Lynn Peterson’s Farewell Tour rolls on Friday, at Stymies Bar and Grill at Cedars at Dungeness, 1965 Woodcock Road, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Gert Wiitala on keyboards backs up Lynn’s Vegas-style tunes.
• Tonight at 7 Cedars Casino, Blyn, in the Club Seven Lounge, get your country up with Denny Secord Jr. and Haywire from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Back by popular demand Friday and Saturday is a band that’ll have you askin’ 4 More for more tunes from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. This is the band that plays all the newer dance tunes!
On Sunday, it’s time “fer yer scootin’ boots agin” when the Jim Hoffman Band plays from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Monday Night Jazz presents The Reflections from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Come out and dance ’til you can’t.
Port Hadlock
• Tonight at the Ajax Cafe, 271 Water St., Buzz Rogowski plays jazz and originals on piano from 6 p.m.
On Friday, Buzz returns with more jazz and originals from 6 p.m.
On Saturday, Barry Burnett and Friends will play and sing your favorite tunes from 6 p.m.
On Sunday, Jim Nyby plays blues, ballads, jazz and soul from 5:30 p.m.
Port Townsend
• Friday is a huge day at The Upstage, 923 Washington Street, with two great shows.
At 6:30 p.m. is the Willie “Big Eyes” Smith Band with 96-year-old legend Pinetop Perkins at the piano. This will be a performance not to be missed. $45 cover.
Then at 9:30 p.m., master slide-guitarist Roy Rogers and the Delta Rhythm Kings perform. Rolling Stone says of Rogers: “One of the rare guitar heroes who values feeling over flash.” $25.
On Saturday, enjoy the Mark Dufresne Band from 8 p.m. $12 cover.
For this Friday and Saturday, there is a two-day, three-show cover charge special for $70
On Sunday, Rex Rice’s Penultimate Sunday Jazz Jam holds forth from 2 p.m.
Next Wednesday, “Towns End” taping for May features Brett Pemberton and Water Street Trolley at 7 p.m.
Phone 360-385-2216 for reservations.
• Friday night is a hot time at Water Street Brewing, 639 Water St. Hot Club Sandwich is having a CD release party of its “And If Only” at 8:30 p.m. Hot Club Sandwich is celebrating 10 years of bringing you the jazz of Django Reinhardt, Stephane Grappelli’s hot club style and other influences. Cover.
• On Friday, get your country up with the Steel Madronas at Port Townsend Brewing Co., 330 10th St., from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Sunday, Gerald Braude performs at 3 p.m.
On Wednesday, catch the music of Lowire at 5 p.m.
• Ahmad Baabahar plays blues, funk folk and R&B Friday at Undertown, 211 Taylor St., from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• On Saturday, The Low Ones and special guests play folk at the Uptown Pub, 1016 Lawrence St., from 9 p.m. $3 cover.
• On Saturday, the Bruce Cowan Quartet plays at the Castle Key, Seventh and Sheridan streets, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. $8 cover.
Music news
• The Esprit convention in Port Angeles has two events open to the public.
On Friday, the Talent Show is at the Elks Naval Lodge, 131 E. First St., at approximately 8 p.m. $5 cover.
On Saturday, rock out to the Fabulous Boomers at the Red Lion Hotel, Lincoln Street and Railroad Avenue, at 9 p.m. $5 cover.
Proceeds from both covers will be donated to Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County.
• On Saturday, Swamp Soul plays for a Cajun/zydeco dance at the Quimper Grange, 1210 Corona St., Port Townsend, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. All ages welcome. $12 cover.
• The Washington Old Time Fiddlers play at the Tri-area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road, Chimacum, Saturday with an all-players jam from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and a free public performance from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Phone Hershel Lester at 360-417-6950 for more info.
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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.