JOHN NELSON’S LIVE MUSIC COLUMN: Dampen the drizzle with melody mixes

JUST BECAUSE SPRING has sprung doesn’t mean you’re going to spend all your time outside because — remember now — April showers bring May flowers.

So on those dark, dreary, rainy days, get out and listen to — or dance to — live music.

No matter where you live on the Peninsula, there’s surely a venue you can get to for a good dose of live music to cure those rainy-day blues.

It may be April, but I’m not foolin’!

Port Angeles

■ Today at Castaways Restaurant and Night Club, 1213 Marine Drive, it’s Jerry’s country jam with guest singer and musician Les Wamboldt from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

On Saturday, dance to the blues, Motown and rockabilly of the Soul Ducks. John Rollston, Peter Larsen and Phyllis Gale will get you moving to the groove from 8 p.m. to midnight.

■ On Friday at the Junction Roadhouse, 242701 U.S. Highway 101, boogie down to the rollicking, rocking blues of Blues County Sheriff, back by popular demand, from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Too far to drive? All Points Charter & Tours will provide free transportation starting at 7 p.m. Phone 360-775-9128.

■ On Friday at Barhop Brewing, 124 W. Railroad Ave, the Soulshakers will beat your blues with their resounding deep-down and gritty blues from 8 p.m. to midnight.

■ On Friday at R Bar, 132 E. Front St., enjoy the dance party with the “Science of Funkonology” of Seattle’s Splatinum (Andrew Luck, Adam Houghton and Ilen Halogram) at 8 p.m.

■ On Friday at the Fairmount Restaurant, 1127 W. U.S. Highway 101, Dave and Rosalie Secord and Luck of the Draw are joined by Jim Lind crooning those golden-oldie country tunes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

On Sunday, join the country jam from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, Jim Armstrong and friends play rock ’n’ roll from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

■ On Saturday at Elliott’s Emporium, 135 E. First St., Hawaii Amor performs songs of Hawaii on the ukulele from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

■ On Tuesday at the Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 E. Seventh St., the Port Angeles Senior Swingers present Wally’s Boys playing ballroom dance favorites from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. $5 cover; first-timers free.

Sequim and Blyn

■ Today in Club Seven lounge at 7 Cedars Casino, Blyn, put on your dancing shoes and get that spring back in your step with the “Pearl of the Peninsula,” the Stardust Big Band, playing Top 40s and swing music from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

On Saturday in Seven, the show every one’s been waiting for, Heart by Heart, will have you thinking it’s great to go retro. Catch the show from 10 p.m. to 11:45 p.m.

On Friday in the Rainforest Bar, Julie Dukes plays blues and classic rock from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

On Saturday, Rachael Jorgenson plays favorite contemporary tunes from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

■ Today at Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W. Washington St., Cort Armstrong and Jim Faddis entertain from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

On Friday, Taylor Ackley plays 1960s and ’70s honky-tonk from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

On Saturday, the Robin Bessier Jazz Trio from Port Townsend performs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

On Wednesday, Bill Volmut showcases original tunes and covers from the 1960s and ’70s from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

■ On Friday at The Oasis Bar and Grill, 301 E. Washington St., the Old Sidekicks perform the golden oldies of country and rockabilly from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

On Saturday, Blues County Sheriff brings its rocking blues for a great night of dancing from 8 p.m. to midnight.

On Wednesday, dance to the jazz tunes of the Blue Hole Quintet from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

■ On Friday at Stymie’s Bar & Grill at Cedars at Dungeness, 1965 Woodcock Road, R and B (Rachael and Barry) play classic rock and Motown from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

■ On Saturday at Nourish, 1345 S. Sequim Ave., Sarah Shea and Al Harris of Chez Jazz perform popular standards from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, Victor Reventlow hosts the open mic from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with sign-ups at 6 p.m.

■ On Saturday at the VFW, 169 E. Washington St., dance to the old-time country of Round Trip twanging away from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. No cover.

Port Ludlow

■ Today in the Fireside Room at the Resort at Port Ludlow, 1 Heron Road, Trevor Hanson plays classical guitar from 4 p.m. to closing.

Port Townsend

■ On Friday at the Uptown Pub, 1016 Lawrence St., singer/songwriter Sue Logg performs originals and covers from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Later Friday, the Dirty Beat Duo plays new disco and indie dance music from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

■ On Saturday at the Cellar Door, 940 Water St., get down with Mongo­Smash and friends starting at 9 p.m.

On Tuesday, and this is no April Fools’ joke, the Ed Donohue/Chuck Easton Jazz Quintet plays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. No cover.

On Wednesday, come and join the jazz jam from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

■ On Saturday at Sirens Pub, 823 Water St., Dan and the Juan de Fuca Band play local blues and dance rock starting at 9 p.m. $5 cover.

■ On Saturday at Hilltop Tavern, 2510 W. Sims Way, Three Chords and the Truth plays vintage country, Western, honky-tonk and rockabilly for dancing from 8 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. No cover.

■ Every Monday, Trevor Hanson plays guitar at Alchemy, 842 Washington St., from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

■ On Wednesday at Highway 20 Road House, 2125 Sims Way, perform, play along or watch Ukuleles Unite! from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

High notes

■ On Sunday, Washington Old Time Fiddlers Association District 15 is producing its annual spring show, “Strait Fiddlin’,” in a new location this year to promote old-time and traditional fiddling.

The show begins with the Dungeness All Stars Folk Dance Band at 1:30 p.m. in the Port Angeles High School auditorium, 304 E. Park Ave. A suggested donation is $5 for individuals or $10 for a family.

________

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 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.

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