Reading
Children’s author reads
Books by the Way is kicking off Children’s Book Council National Children’s Book Week at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 9, with a reading by children’s book author and illustrator John Skewes.
Skewes is the author of the popular “Larry Gets Lost” series.
Skewes grew up on the Island and went on to pursue a career in animation with Disney.
Recently, he has returned to the Pacific Northwest. His newest picture book is called “Seattle ABCs.” He will read from the book and share some of the process of writing and illustrating it.
Skewes will also offer drawing tips and give away free sketches.
He will do custom sketches, inserting places and his trademark puppy, Larry, for children and adults who bring in photographs.
Music
Famous fiddler at Heron
Jamie Laval, one of the premier Celtic violinists on today’s international music scene, will swing through Vashon on his Northwest tour at 8 p.m. Friday, May 15.
Laval’s show will take place at the Blue Heron Art Center.
Known for his performances of music from Scotland, Ireland, Brittany and Quebec, Laval was heralded as “one of North America’s finest practitioners of traditional Scottish music” by the San Jose Mercury News.
Laval will be joined by the self-taught, Atlanta-based multi-instrumentalist Zac Leger.
Leger, 20, plays Northumbrian small pipes, accordion, guitar, bouzouki, flutes, whistles and more.
Tickets for the show are $12 students, $14 VAA members and seniors and $16 general admission.
They can be purchased at Heron’s Nest, Books by the Way and brownpapertickets.com.
Call 463-5131 to reserve by phone.
Harpsichord, guitar and violin in ‘New Works’
Vashon Allied Arts’ New Works series will open at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 16, with a double bill featuring guitarist Ken Jacobsen and friends and the violin/harpsichord duo Clave de Sol.
Jacobsen will perform “Lachrymae,” featuring music of North Africa, Irish folk music and English renaissance songs inspired by loss.
Clave de Sol features violinist Danielle McCutcheon and harpsichordist/melodica player Dawn Corl.
The duo said they would take audience members on a musical journey, including “malaguenas, tangos, habaneras, zapateados, sarabandes, gigas, minuets, romanzas and sicilianos.”
“We plan to tie all these pieces together and end with a fiery Spanish piece,” said McCutcheon, who recently moved to Vashon Island.
Tickets cost $12 and $14.
They can be purchased in advance at Blue Heron Art Center, Heron’s Nest and Books by the Way.
Call 463-5131 to reserve by phone.
Poetry
Listen up — Vashon Poetry Fest is coming
With open mics, workshops, readings and performance events, the first-ever Vashon Poetry Fest will offer a wealth of opportunities for poetry lovers Thursday through Sunday, May 21 to 25.
Organizers of the event promise food, drink, music and fun will accompany the poetry, with one event often just steps from the next.
The fest boasts an impressive roster of headliners, including Washington State Poet Laureate Sam Green, award-winning Irish poet Tony Curtis and mythologist Michael Meade.
An eclectic series of workshops offers something for every poet.
Registration in each workshop is limited to 15 students. Reserve a spot now by phone or in person at Stranger Than Fiction.
For a complete list and description of the workshops, visit www.vashonpoetryfest.com.
The fest’s Web site also details free performances and opportunities to share poetry, including a rollicking night of Irish poetry and music at The Red Bicycle starting at 7 p.m. Saturday May 23.
Tickets are also now on sale for a fest event, “Knocking at the Gate: Ecstatic Persian Music,” scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, May 22, at Bethel Church.
The evening is being billed as an “exotic evening of devotional music of the Middle East woven with ecstatic poetry and ancient ‘wisdom’ tales.”
Michael Meade will be joined by notable guests including the Qadim Ensemble, which performs devotional music that celebrates the spiritual heritage found in traditional Arabic, Jewish, Turkish, Sufi, Greek and Moroccan music.
Tickets, $12, can be purchased in advance at www.mosaicvoices.org or by calling (800) 233-6984.
The fest is the branchild of a committee of five Vashon poets and poetry devotees: Ron Irvine, Ann Spiers, Lonny Kaneko, Faith Sohl and Devon Atkins.
Visual art
Spring art tour continues
Vashon Island Art Studio Tour continues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 9 and 10.
More than 25 stops are included on the tour.
For a map, visit www.vashonislandartstudiotour.com or pick up copies of the tour brochure and map at Island businesses.
