Lots of fun shows are coming up, with the first full weekend of music at Boundary Bay Brewery and some big events on campus. Also, another headliner has been announced for this summer’s Northwest Washington Fair.
News
Boundary has been testing the waters of live music, but they are launching back full strength with a packed weekend they’re calling Spring Fling. Friday, April 29 is Celtic/folk-oriented music, and Saturday will focus on old-timey jazz, ragtime and blues.
In addition to bringing rock legend Pat Benatar to the Northwest Washington Fair, Christian pop duo For King and Country will join the Grandstand lineup Wednesday, August 17. If that’s your thing, tickets are on sale now.
Picks of the Week
Renowned percussionist and composer Mark Stone joins the Western Washington University Percussion ensemble for a Wednesday, April 27 concert on campus.
Local metal favorites Dryland are going to be taking a bit of a break, so their show Thursday, April 28 at the Shakedown will be your last chance to see them for a while.
The Honey Moon has great triple bills of singer-songwriters on both Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30. Saturday also has Beautiful Freaks headlining a wild rock lineup at the Blue Room and the Schweinhaus is packing in three of Bellingham’s best newer rock bands.
Down at the Conway Muse, Kyle Findley-Meier, the singer-songwriter best known for his work with Skagit stalwarts The Sky Colony, will be doing a solo show.
Sunday, May 1 at the Wild Buffalo you’ll find a tribute to Cream featuring Ginger Baker’s son and Eric Clapton’s nephew. Fans of high-octane ’70s blues rock will want to check that show out.
In other news, AS Productions at Western is going to be holding a Battle of the Bands, with the winner getting a spot at the big Lawnstock festival. Applications are due by the end of the month.
There are also a couple of strong new local releases that I wanted to bring to your attention. The Rhetorician just dropped a new album, “Fluid Associates,” full of the jazzy, introspective tracks that have made him one of the leading lights of our local hip-hop scene. Fans of groovy, bluesy pop-funk are going to want to check out “So, Anyway” by The Margaret Wilder Band. If you’re looking for something harder, Done to Death’s new album “Anti-Heroic Self Destruction” serves up metal with some noticeable punk and hardcore influences and political lyrics.
Live music listings
Wednesday, April 27
Boundary: 6 p.m., Aaron Guest on piano
Greene’s Corner: 6 p.m., J.P. Falcon Grady and Jan Peters (blues/folk/rock)
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Open Mic
Rockfish: 6 p.m., Janette West (jazz)
Sylvia Center: 7 p.m., Ben Rosenblum Trio (jazz)
Thirsty Badger: 7 p.m., Open Mic
Underground Coffeehouse: 7 p.m., Analog Brass
WWU PAC: 8 p.m., Mark Stone and WWU Percussion Ensemble
Thursday, April 28
Blue Room: 6 p.m., Open Mic
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Bluegrass Jam
Kulshan Trackside: 6 p.m., One Lane Bridge (classic rock)
Leader Block: 6 p.m., Michael Dayvid (acoustic covers)
Shakedown: 9 p.m., Dryland, Githyanki, tba (metal)
Twin Sisters: 6 p.m., Salt Pine
That’s What I Like: 6 p.m., J.P. Falcon Grady and Friends (folk/rock)
WWU PAC: 7:30 p.m., Gloria Cheng (new piano music)
Friday, April 29
Aslan: 8 p.m., Cardova (R&B/soul)
Beach at Birch Bay: 6 p.m., Tom and Adrian
Blue Room: 8 p.m., Bullets or Balloons, Himiko Cloud, Thoughts for the Builders (rock)
Birdsview: 6 p.m., Conrad Gruener
Boundary: 5 p.m., Bottle of Smoke, Devilies, India Glover (folk)
Eagle Haven: 5 p.m., For What It’s Worth (classic rock)
Fireside: 7 p.m., Fritz and the Freeloaders (acoustic rock)
Greene’s Corner: 6:30 p.m., Michael Dayvid (acoustic covers)
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Brian Straw, Marlo Mudd, Jonny McIntyre
Karate Church: 8 p.m., Film School, somesurprises, New Age Healers (rock)
Lighthouse: 7:30 p.m.,Tim Volpicella (jazz)
Littlefield Celtic Center: 7 p.m., Gerry O’Connor and Richard Mandel (traditional Irish)
Shakedown: 9 p.m., TWRP, Rich Aucoin (synth rock)
Skylark’s: 7 p.m., Jeffrey Slough (acoustic covers)
That’s What I Like: 7 p.m., Angelica Rene
Thirsty Badger: 8 p.m., Paige Woods (folk)
Vault: 7 p.m., RJ Rex (blues/ jazz/ classical)
Wild Buffalo: 9 p.m., Washed Out (DJ set)
WWU PAC: 7:30 p.m., WWU Symphony Orchestra featuring Gloria Cheng
Saturday, April 30
Beach at Birch Bay: 4 p.m., North Star
Blue Room: 8 p.m., Beautiful Freaks, Mobilities, Apology Wars (rock)
Birdsview: 6 p.m., Cascade Cody
Boundary: 1 p.m., Stone, Sue, and Pals, Dumpster Joe, Champlin’s Pickle Diggers, Brittany Collins (folk)
Brown Lantern: 8 p.m., The 7:20 String Band (folk)
Conway Muse: 8 p.m., Kyle Findley-Meier (folk)
Firehouse: 6:30 p.m., Sonja Lee Band (jazz/blues)
Fireside: 3:30 p.m., Singers’ Saturday
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Philip Hofmann, Havilah Rand, David Donohue (song swap)
Lighthouse: 7:30 p.m., Marvin Johnson (jazz)
Main Street: 8 p.m., Shannanagins (classic rock)
Paws for a Beer: 6 p.m., Vendovi, Book of Shred (rock)
Rockfish: 7:30 p.m., Astley-Lagen Band (blues/ country)
Schweinhaus: 8 p.m., The Hookups, Bird Senses Danger, Fossil Fire (rock)
Shakedown: 9 p.m., Carrier Wave, Grim Earth, Maldisdeun (metal)
Skylark’s: 7 p.m., Rick Allyn (acoustic rock/ blues)
Sunday, May 1
Culture Cafe: 7 p.m., Open Mic
Kulshan: 5 p.m., The Devilies (Irish/folk)
Mount Baker Theatre: 3 p.m., Bellingham Symphony Orchestra
Wild Buffalo: 8 p.m., The Music of Cream
Monday, May 2
Firehouse: 3:30 p.m., David Feingold
Kulshan: 6 p.m., RJ Rex (blues/jazz/classical)
Tuesday, May 3
Aslan: 8 p.m., Jazz Night
Beach at Birch Bay: 6:30 p.m., Open Mic
Boundary: 6 p.m., Paul Klein on piano
Before heading out to listen to live music, check with individual venues to make sure the event is still taking place as scheduled.
Jesse Stanton’s music column, The Beat Goes On, runs Wednesdays. Email: jsbhammusic@gmail.com or Twitter: @JSBhamMusic
