SINCE I BEGAN this column, I’ve seen live music venues go dark and others born to carry on the live music vibe.
Likewise, bands have come and gone, but I believe live music is stronger today due, in part, to the many festivals providing greater opportunities for bands to perform.
I bring this all up because this is my last column — of my sixth year.
Next week, I’ll begin my seventh year of this labor of love, covering the live music scene across the North Olympic Peninsula.
Port Angeles
• Remember teenage guitar phenom, Cody Rentas? Well, he’s back in town this week end with the Cody Rentas Band rockin’ in Castaways, 1213 Marine Drive, Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. No cover.
• The Trevalan Triangle rocks the Junction Roadhouse, junction of U.S. Highway 101 and state Highway 112 five miles west ofPort Angeles, Friday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Junkyard Jane’s Leanne Trevalyane headlines this band, so you know it’s going to be rockin’. $5 cover.
All Points Charters and Tours will be providing a shuttle service for this great show, so call 360-775-9128, or 360-460-7131 to get a ride out to the Junction starting at 8 p.m.
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 Tuesday, Rusty, Duke, Crash and Dale, the High Definition Band plays from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
On Wednesday, Jason and Ches and friends play from 7 p.m.
• Tonight, get your Memories and Melodies fix with Charlie Ferris’ doo-wop, pop, jazz, blues and rock show that will send you down that ’50s-’60s-’70s memory lane at Wine on the Waterfront, 115 Railroad Ave., from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Tonight at the Lyre’s Club, 229 W. First St., stop in for the blues jam at 8 p.m.
On Monday, Craig Logue hosts the open jam from 8 p.m.
Lynn Peterson and the Phatt Kattz are playing next Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Tonight, Rene and Larry Bauer host the intimate open mic at the Itty Bitty Buzz, 110 E. First St., from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• On Friday night, the Veela Café, 133 E. First St., has Jim Lind providing both rock and country, fast and slow from his impressive repertoire, from 7:30 p.m.
• Get your acoustic bluegrass and old time music fix every Tuesday at Dave Secord’s Acoustic Jam at the Fairmount Restaurant, on U.S. Highway 101 west of Port Angeles, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Forks
•Crescent Blue is alive and pickin’ and they’re at Café Paix/ A Work in Progress, 71 N. Forks Ave., on Saturday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Ken Lambert, Mary Meyerand Barney Munger play some real hair-raisin’ bluegrass music that will keep your toes a tappin’ and your hands a clappin’.
Sequim and Blyn
•Howly Slim performs Saturday at Las Palomas Mexican Restaurant, 1085 E. Washington St., from 6 p.m.
•Kelly Thomas hosts the very popular open mic at The Buzz, 128 N. Sequim Ave., Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• On Friday, Lynn Peterson teams up with Phatt Kaatz keyboardist George Lindemood for the last time (at least for now) at Stymies Bar and Grill at Cedars at Dungeness, 1965 Woodcock Road, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Funky blues, folk and rock band Junkyard Jane plays tonight at Club Seven Lounge at 7 Cedars Casino, Blyn, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
On Friday, Sonic Funk, the ultimate disco and funk experience will get you dancin’ from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
And on Saturday, Sonic Funk will give you “Saturday NightFever” from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. This is a disco dance party with cash prizes for costume and dance contests.
On Sunday, Final Approach plays its nostalgic baby boomer music from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Ted Vigil, backed by Final Approach, performs his tribute to John Denver at 8:30 p.m. No cover.
Monday’s jazz program features Lynn Peterson and the Phatt Kattz, welcoming back keyboardist Gert Wiitala, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Port Hadlock
• At the Ajax Café, 271 Water St., Friday, Ahmad Baabahar performs from 6 p.m.
Saturday, Mark Holman and Bruce Cowan perform jazz standards from 6 p.m.
Sunday, Jim Nyby plays blues, ballads jazz, and soul from 5:30 p.m.
Port Townsend
• Tonight at the Upstage, 923 Washington St., the Rex Rice Quartet with vocalist Sarah Shea performs jazz from 7:30 p.m., $6 cover.
On Friday, Zydeco super star Curley Taylor and his band Zydeco Trouble, whoop it up from 8 p.m. $15 cover.
On Saturday, Jim Nyby and the F Street Band plays blues, Big Easy style, from 8 p.m. from 8 p.m., $8 cover.
On Sunday, jazz it up with the Penultimate Sunday Jazz Jam from 6 p.m. $3 cover, jammers free.
Call 360-385-2216 for more info.
• Jazz it up this week at the Castle Key, Seventh and Sheridan streets. Friday, Bruce Cowan and Jim Oliver play jazz standards, ballads and blues from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., $8 cover.
On Saturday, the New Jazz Trio plays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. $8 cover.
• For some soothin’, groovin’ funk and soul turn on the Tapwater Friday at Water Street Brewing, 639 Water St. from 9 p.m.
On Saturday, explore the grooves and vices of the Grateful Dead with Jack Acid from 9 p.m.
•Locust Street Taxi is on tap Friday at Port Townsend Brewing, 330 10th St., from 5 p.m.
Howly Slim performs next Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
•Howly Slim peels off some great tunes Sunday at Banana Leaf Asian Bistro, 609 Washington St., from 6 p.m.
Music news
• On Friday the Port Angeles Eagles Aerie483, 110 Penn St., is having an open membership drive from 6 p.m.
At 7 p.m. enjoy the Reincarnation of Rock SSRqn’ Roll greats Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly and other tunes from that era to dance to. $10 presale or $15 at the door.
•Olympic Peninsula Dance (formerly The Port Townsend Jitterbug Dance Club) presents an End-of-Summer Downtown Dance on Saturday with the Delta Rays at the American Legion, 209 Monroe St., Port Townsend, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The Delta Rays play blues-flavored rock and roll, zydeco, Cajun, and swing music. Open to all ages, smoke free, adults $15, 12 and under $7. There will be two free (with admission) pre-dance lessons beginning at 7 p.m. Call 360-385-6919 or 360 385- 5237 for more info.
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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 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.