Live music and more for Mother’s Day weekend
Vashon’s new Dig Deep Gardens & Art, located at 19028 Vashon Hwy, S.W. will have a pop-up market, live music, and kids’ activities to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend. The mostly outdoor event will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9.
On Saturday, from 2 to 4 p.m., local musician JD Hobson will bring his blend of roots, Americana and Delta Blues music to the outdoor music stage. On Sunday, Celtic harpist Peter Berry will share traditional tunes from Ireland in two sets — from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., then again from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m.
Dig Deep — a new business whose name references its predecessor in the spot, DIG Nursery, suggests ordering Syrian food from the food cart across the highway and bringing it over to enjoy with the music. Masks and social distancing are required.
Danny Newcomb in concert
Singer and songwriter Danny Newcomb, a performer with a serious Seattle rock pedigree, will perform with Erin Rubin at 7 p.m. Friday, May 7, at Vashon Center for the Arts.
He was the founding member of Goodness in the 1990s. Signed to Atlantic Records and Epic Records, Newcomb was also the founding member of the Rockfords with Mike McCready. He toured nationally and opened for Pearl Jam, Oasis, Cheap Trick, The Smithereens and Elliot Smith. He has released four solo records. Now, in his spare time, he raises sheep and lives on Vashon. His newest album is “Mackerel Sky.”
Tickets to his concert at VCA — presented in partnership by VCA and Debra Heesch — must be purchased 24 hours in advance at vashoncenterforthearts.org. The concert will also be live-streamed on VCA’s website and YouTube page.
Talk about the ultimate birder
In an upcoming lecture, “John James Audubon and the Vashon Audubon Mural” art historian Rebecca Albiani will discuss bird illustrations — then and now. The talk will take place at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 12, at Vashon Center for the Arts.
Born in Haiti and raised in France, Audubon’s single-minded passion for studying and depicting birds would ultimately result in his monumental publication, “Birds of America.” Toward the end of his life, Audubon became concerned about the decline in bird populations due to hunting.
Today, changes in our climate, resulting in loss of native habitat, is the greatest risk to birds. A mural of Vashon’s climate threatened birds is now being painted by island artist Britt Freda. The Vashon Audubon Mural, located in the Heron Meadow just east of VCA, is dedicated “with hope for a healthy bird-filled future to the children of Vashon and beyond”.
After the talk, a short Q&A with Albiani and Freda will focus on the power of art and nature to inspire activism.
Tickets to the event, $10, must be purchased 24 hours in advance at vashoncenterforthearts.org. Proceeds will benefit habitat restoration in the Heron Meadow. The talk will also be live-streamed on VCA’s website and Facebook page.
Auditions for shows coming up
Take a Stand Theatre will hold auditions for a new original murder mystery, “Penny Tahlequah and the Ms. Olsen Incident,” a play that takes place on a fictitious island near Seattle. The troupe is looking for performers of any race, age, ability and gender to play a wide range of island denizens. In-person performances are scheduled for the weekend of July 4, with only three or four in-person rehearsals in June. Auditions will be held on Zoom the weekend of May 14.
Performers should prepare two contrasting monologues or stories, at two minutes maximum, and schedule an audition by emailing TakeAStandTheatre@gmail.com. Additional information is also available by writing that address.
Drama Dock will hold auditions for its fall production of “BUDDY – The Buddy Holly Story,” from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 16, at Vashon United Methodist Church. Masks and social distancing are required.
The show tells the story of the three years during which Holly became the world’s top recording artist, and includes more than 20 of Holly’s hit songs. Drama Dock seeks a diverse group of performers to play other famous musicians of Holly’s era, radio DJs, studio musicians, and more.
Actors, singers, and musicians should prepare a short, up-tempo song, preferably from the 1950s or ’60s. Singers should bring sheet music; an accompanist will be provided. Email questions, a resume or a letter of interest to Lisa Peretti, with BUDDY in the subject line, at pen.forge@gmail.com.
