SUMMER. AHHH, GLORIOUS summer is finally here this weekend.
We can kick off our shoes and walk barefoot on the grass.
Better yet, we can kick up our heels and dance to live music as more and more opportunities take place outside in the form of community concerts, open-air beer gardens, fairs and special events.
Dancing in the fresh air gives you a great feeling.
Now, follow your muse at one or more of the following venues:
Port Angeles
■ Today at Castaways Restaurant and Night Club, 1213 Marine Drive, Jerry’s country jam welcomes special guests High Country with Rusty and Duke playing country classics from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On Saturday, the Soul Ducks play hopping rockabilly and blues from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. following the annual Classic Car Show in the afternoon.
■ Today at Cafe New Day, 102 W. Front St., Dan Maguire, singer/songwriter of Dan and the Juan de Fuca Band, goes solo from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
■ Today at Bella Italia Restaurant, 118 E. First St., Pat Neal and the Nightcrawlers rend hillbilly humor on electric guitar and bass at 8:30 p.m.
■ On Friday at R Bar, 132 E. Front St., Jim Lind and the Trespassers play country for your dancing pleasure from 8 p.m. to midnight.
On Wednesday, Jim Lind hosts a country jam at 7 p.m.
■ On Friday at Barhop Brewing, 124 W. Railroad Ave., the Soul Ducks entertain with their rockabilly and blues from 8 p.m. to midnight.
■ On Friday at the Fairmount Restaurant, 1127 W. U.S. Highway 101, Serendipity hosts a country jam from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., followed by Serendipity with special guest Jimmy Hoffman from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Sunday, join the country jam from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
■ On Saturday at Coog’s Budget CDs, 111 W. First St., MCFD, Decapitate the Disciples, Dah Wyrdoz and Koozbane perform at 6 p.m. $5 cover; for all ages.
■ 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.
Joyce
■ On Friday, Chip Norris hosts a jam at the Salt Creek Saloon and Grill, state Highway 112 and Camp Hayden Road, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Sequim
■ Today at Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W. Washington St., Cort Armstrong and friends entertain with Americana, blues and folk music from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
On Friday, the Taylor Ackley Trio plays jazz from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. No cover.
On Saturday, the Robin Bessier Trio comes from Port Townsend for some vocal jazz from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, Bill Volmut performs original tunes and covers from the 1960s and ’70s from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. No cover.
■ On Friday at The Oasis Bar and Grill, 301 E. Washington St., the Old Sidekicks will get you stomping to country classics from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
On Saturday, get out your dancing shoes and swing and sway to the Stardust Big Band and the classic pop tunes of the 1940s and ’50s from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, the Buck Ellard Band plays classic country and originals from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
■ On Saturday at the Sequim VFW, 169 E. Washington St., the public can dance to the classic country of Silver and Gold from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. No cover.
■ On Saturday at Nourish, 1345 S. Sequim Ave., join the fun at Jason’s Jazz Jam 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.
Blyn
■ Today in Club Seven lounge at 7 Cedars Casino, 270756 U.S. Highway 101, mix a little blues, a little country and you’ve got the country blues of the Hayshakers from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
On Saturday, rock to the classics of the 1970s through the 2000s with Jet City Rock Show and their high-energy dance music from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
On Sunday, Buck Ellard goes solo in Seven from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. following brunch.
On Friday, Julie Dukes performs in the Rainforest Bar from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
On Saturday, Jason Mogi performs classic folk and Americana on banjo and guitar on the Rainforest Bar stage from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Port Ludlow
■ Today in the Fireside Room at the Resort at Port Ludlow, 1 Heron Road, Trevor Hanson plays classical guitar from 6 p.m. to closing.
Port Townsend
■ On Friday at Port Townsend Brewing, 330 10th St., Locust Street Taxi will have you singing along with its pop-rock style from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Sunday, the Alternators (George Radebaugh and Peter Evasick) get their Cajun and zydeco up for your listening/dancing pleasure from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
On Wednesday, enjoy the roots, blues, soul, gospel, rock and country of Locos Only from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
No cover for customers.
■ On Friday at the Uptown Pub, 1016 Lawrence St., the old-time bluegrass, funk, jam-band improv of Joy in Mudville will get you groovin’ from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
On Saturday, Blue Holiday offers up blues, jazz and rhythm and blues at 9 p.m.
■ On Friday at the Cellar Door, 940 Water St., Moongrass performs at 9 p.m.
On Tuesday, Tony Petrillo and the Roundabouts play from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
■ On Friday at Sirens Pub, 823 Water St., Seattle-born poet and songwriter Ethan J. Perry performs from his 2009 debut CD and other original works at 9 p.m. $5 cover.
On Sunday, Aubrey Debauchery plays music for the heartbroken and heartbreakers at 8 p.m. No cover.
■ Every Monday, Trevor Hanson plays guitar at Alchemy, 842 Washington St., from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
High notes
■ On Friday, the Young Fiddlers perform near the Flagship Landing on Water Street in Port Townsend from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. as part of the “Shop Til 7” event.
■ On Friday, Ukuleles Unite! performs from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to welcome the Furniture Society guests at Haller Fountain, corner of Washington and Taylor Streets, Port Townsend, as part of “Shop Til 7.”
■ On Saturday at the Port Angeles Farmers Market, The Gateway plaza at Front and Lincoln streets, Howly Slim sings his Americana originals from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
■ On Saturday at The Landing, 115 E. Railroad Ave., Port Angeles, Jim Lind and his country friends (Gerald Pierce, Curt Miller and Harold Davis) celebrate the 100th anniversary of the sluicing of the hogback with great music, great barbecue and a great time from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
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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 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.