Twofer of talent at the Bike
Two bands with well-known players from Vashon and Seattle will take the stage at 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 22, at Red Bicycle Bistro & Sushi. The show, presented by Vashon Events, includes Society of the Silver Cross, led by husband and wife duo Joe Reineke and Karyn Gold-Reineke, known for running Orbit Audio, a Seattle recording studio. The band also includes Sebastian Brown Blad and Tim Nurczyk. The band’s inspiration comes from the music of India; its instrumentation includes the 12-string acoustic guitar, harmonium, synthesizers, B3 organ, mellotron and shai baaja, an Indian autoharp. The other band on the bill, Loose Wing, plays a blend a psychedelic Americana, old-school college rock and indie-pop. The bandleader Claire Tucker will be joined by Jack Peters on bass, Rusty Willoughby on drums and Bill Patton on pedal steel and guitar. All the musicians have pedigrees with other well-known groups, including Black Nite Crash, Battle Hymns, Cobirds Unite and Fleet Foxes. The show is free and is open to all ages until 11 p.m., and 21 and older after that.
Makana island hops to show on Vashon
Makana, a Hawaiian musician who blends traditional slack-key guitar work with bluegrass, rock, blues and raga, will play a concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at Open Space & Community. For more information and tickets to the show, visit openspacevashon.com. To read more about Makana on Vashon, visit bit.ly/2TKhFk5.
A Brazilian master plays Vashon
Three-time Latin Grammy nominee Jovino Santos Neto, a Brazilian pianist, composer and arranger, will bring his trio and guest Kiko Freitas, a renowned Brazilian guitarist, to play a concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 28, at Vashon Center for the Arts. Neto’s music is a mélange of energetic grooves, harmonies, improvisation, melodies and ensemble playing. His compositions have been performed by the Seattle Symphony, chamber ensembles and jazz orchestras around the world. Advance tickets, $10 to 22, are on sale at vashoncenterforthearts.org. All tickets at the door cost $26.
Tip the Scales with Bill Davie and Carter Castle
Revered Seattle and Vashon singer-songwriters Bill Davie and Carter Castle will take the stage for a Tip the Scales concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 31, at the Vashon Havurah. Both have performed widely throughout the Northwest and beyond. For more information about the concert and to reserve tickets, email keggleston@kateggleston.com.
Poetry news
Vashon will be one of hundreds of locations throughout the country to hold a poetry reading and open mic to address poetry and democracy issues, in conjunction with the Academy of American Poets Coalition’s celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Walt Whitman. Vashon’s reading will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, at Vashon Bookshop and feature island poets Ann Spiers, Jessika Satori, Linera Lucas, Yvonne Leach, Sandra Noel, Hunter Davis and Lynn Carrigan. Contact mernaanna@yahoo.com to sign up as a reader to share original poems or those by Whitman at the open mic.
Poetry lovers should also save the time and date of 5 p.m. Saturday, June 1, when nationally and internationally acclaimed Northwest poets Alice Derry and Tess Gallagher will appear at the bookshop for a reading and book signings.
Merna Hecht, a leader in Vashon’s poetry community, has also announced Vashon’s own Poetry Festival, typically held every two years, will not take place this year as it would too closely coincide with Vashon Center for the Arts’ LitCon event, which will include appearances by well-known poets Holly Hughes and Gary Lilley.
DIY demos will close fiber show
A group exhibit by island fiber artists, at Vashon Center for the Arts, will close this weekend with a free, hands-on demonstration and activity, “Yarn Spinning and Yarn Dyeing,” taking place at VCA from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 23. The show includes the work of 40 island artists. For more information, visit vashoncenterforthearts.org.
Calling all music-makers
Vashon Events is looking for musicians to play at Strawberry Festival, slated for July 19, 20 and 21. Applications are now being accepted at vashonevents.org. Follow the prompts “For Musicians” and then “Apply for Strawberry Festival.” The deadline for application is April 30 and Vashon Events encourages early applications.
Summer Arts Fest wants you
Vashon Center for the Arts has issued a call for artists for its second Summer Arts Fest, a series of rotating exhibits, performances and workshops spanning July 5 to Aug. 25, at the arts center. Last year, 125 Vashon artists participated in 40 solo and group shows, plus weekly demonstrations and workshops. To find out more and apply to participate, visit bit.ly/2OcybmX. The deadline is March 29.
