Wasabi Samba

Next up in Open Space for Arts & Community’s “Folklife Fridays” series is a night of music with Wasabi Samba.

The band, formed in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood, plays a sonic stew of Latin music, jazz, bossa nova, rhythm and blues and more. Find out more and get tickets to the show — set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at Open Space’s stage at 18870 103rd Ave SW — at openspacevashon.com.

Artifact Identification

The sx̌wəbabš or Swift Water People inhabited Vashon-Maury Island for millennia, living in numerous settlements around Quartermaster Harbor and throughout the south end of Vashon and Maury Islands.

While the sx̌wəbabš people were dispossessed of their land in the 1850s during the Treaty of Medicine Creek and Puget Sound Treaty Wars, many of their personal items remained on island.

Islanders may have across one or more of these objects on a beach walk. Those who have found something and wondered about its provenance are invited to Artifact Identification Day at Vashon Heritage Museum from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, September 20. Archaeologists from the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and the Burke Museum will be on hand to answer questions and discuss the way items could have been used.

In Washington State, artifacts are the property of the owners, so islanders’ items will not be taken away. Additionally, no appraisals will be given. Rather, this is an opportunity to discuss the past and learn more about how previous people of Vashon Island lived and thrived.

At the museum, visitors can also view “An Island Revered: Honor and Friendship, the sx̌wəbabšand Sherman Family Collection,” showcasing stone tools, paddles, bows and baskets — some gifted and some found. Saturday, Sept. 20 is also Family Day, opening at 10 a.m. with extended hours and free activities for kids and families. For more information, visit vashonheritagemuseum.org.

Songwriter Sessions

Enjoy the wry humor, virtuoso playing and soulful country blues of Mark Graham and Orville Johnson in a pop-up “songwriter session” from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, in the atrium of Vashon Center for the Arts.

The pair, who call themselves the Kings of Mongrel Folk, bring masterful playing on guitar, dobro, harmonica and clarinet to original cult classics like “I Can See Your Aura and It’s Ugly” and “Zen Gospel Singing,” covered by the Austin Lounge Lizards, Bryan Bowers, and the Limelighters. Together they’ve played Newport Folk, SXSW, London’s Festival Hall, Bumbershoot, and Northwest Folklife.

Alex Borstein

Three-time Emmy winner Alex Borstein will perform her latest solo show, “Alex Borstein is Thirsty,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, at Vashon Center for the Arts, with all proceeds benefiting the DOVE Project.

Borstein is known for her work on “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,”“Family Guy,” “Getting On,” “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” and her latest Critics Choice-nominated special, “Corsets & Clown Suits,” on Amazon Prime.

Borstein’s one-woman show finds her sandwiched between two soul-sucking kids and two eccentric, aging parents in this hilarious account about growing up, growing old and staying thirsty.

The show is now sold out, but find out more at vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Art Talk

“Ignited by Vashon,” now on view at Vashon Center for the Arts, is a showcase of artwork by 31 Vashon Artist Residency alumni, featuring more than 40 works across diverse media.

At 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, join participating “Ignited by Vashon” artists Lauren Boilini, Samantha Kasprowicz, Cathy McClure, and Juliet Shen for a free conversation about their art, their process, and the role residencies play in sustaining creative work.

The panel will highlight each artist’s practice and inspirations, exploring why they chose to do a residency, what drew them to Vashon in particular, and how the island’s landscapes, textures, and community have shaped their work.

For more information, visit vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Call for singers

Voice of Vashon is calling all singers for its 2025 ‘The Voice’ competition. There will be prizes, performance opportunities and multiple chances to win in adult and youth categories.

Enter by filling out the form at forms.gle/Tgx2uqqHcovNXybW9 with your details and 30-second video by Tuesday, September 30. The live show is on October 17.”

Broadway Nation

Join acclaimed director, producer, and historian David Armstrong for a lively launch of his debut book, “Broadway Nation — How Immigrant, Jewish, Queer, and Black Artists Invented the Broadway Musical,” at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at Vashon Center for the Arts.

Armstrong will be interviewed by composer and dramaturg Albert Evans, and there will also be a special performance by award-winning Seattle musical theater artist Sarah Rudinoff. Attendees will get the inside story behind the creation of the book, enjoy an audience Q&A and test their Broadway knowledge in a musical theater trivia contest, with the chance to win a copy of the book.

Broadway Nation offers a sweeping history of America’s signature art form, spotlighting the powerful, yet often overlooked, contributions of immigrant, Jewish, queer, and Black artists who shaped its evolution. Inspired by Armstrong’s popular large lecture course at the University of Washington School of Drama and his hit Broadway Nation podcast, the book celebrates the artistry and craftsmanship of legendary figures from George M. Cohan to Stephen Sondheim to Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Released by Methuen Drama/Bloomsbury on July 24, the book is on sale at the publisher’s website, Amazon and booksellers nationwide.

Lowland Games

The Vashon Lowland Games, a family-friendly Scottish festival celebrating Celtic culture, Highland athletics, music, dancing, food and community connection, will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, on a rolling, nine-acre private property located at 18876 Vashon Hwy SW.

The event is a fundraiser to help bring a full-scale Highland Games to Vashon in 2026, with organizers also planning to donate some proceeds to Vashon-Maury Land Trust and Claddagh Fund, the charitable foundation of the band Dropkick Murphys.

The day will notably include a chance to learn the caber toss with islander Jeff Thornton, a world champion Highland Games athlete and current world record holder in the weight-for-distance throw. Thornton is also one of the event’s organizers, along with Christine Patterson, Amanda Kelly and Dan Housholder.

Find out more at vashonhighlandgames.com and purchase tickets at tinyurl.com/y6bm2pe2.

Claudia Schmidt

Vashon singer and songwriter Kat Eggleston will present an artist she calls one of her favorite musicians in the world, Claudia Schmidt, in concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, at the Vashon Havurah, at 15401 Westside Hwy SW.

Schmidt has recorded 22 albums in her storied career as a traveling troubadour, songwriter, recording artist and muse to other musicians. Her Vashon show has a $25 donation at the door. RSVP to kat@kateggleston.com.