Café Luna will host a slew of free musical events this weekend, beginning with a concert by 5:01, “the best country rock on this Rock,” organizers said.
At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, the group will bring its original tunes to the café to titillate the ears of Islanders young and old. The band is comprised of four Islanders.
Mark Wells is 5:01’s vocalist and rhythm guitarist. He grew up in Australia and later became active in the Christchurch, New Zealand, folk music scene, both as a solo performer and as one quarter of an a cappella group singing a mix of traditional folk, barber shop and jazz. He moved to Seattle in 1991, then spent the next 11 years trying to find a way to Vashon, which he did in 2002 with his wife and son. The wealth of great musicians on the Island inspired Wells to once again get serious about music.
Luke McQuillin plays lead guitar and is a vocalist for the band. With 5:01, he strives to have fun at every gig and has a colorful melodic way of expressing himself. Aside from noodling around and playing awesome guitar solos, tasteful color notes and chords, he loves being home noodling around there, too.
He has played professionally off and on for more than 30 years and now mostly plays for therapy. His roots are in rock and roll, country rock, R & B and jazz.
Geordan Mitchell is 5:01’s drummer and percussionist. Better known as “G,” a third-generation Islander from Manzanita Beach, he has been beatin’ the skins and rattlin’ traps since he exited the womb back in the 1960s.
And finally, Doug Ringer, who plays bass guitar and sings, together with Mitchell holds down the beat and drive of 5:01’s bottom end. In addition to 5:01, Ringer plays with Turner Down, the Worry Brothers and almost every other band on the Island — or so it is rumored.
Next, the cozy venue on Bank Road will welcome Taylor Broughton at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16.
Broughton has been described as a songwriter whose music runs along the lines of Ryan Adams, John Mayer and Dustin Kensrue. In the last two years of his life, he has played more than 75 shows and performed before audiences varying from 500 people to five.
Now after two years of demo CD’s that never could capture what Broughton’s music is all about, he has recorded a live CD. “Live with Friends” captures Taylor in his true element — the stage. With the addition of Dillon Blackburn on djembe, he and the unusual instrumentation create a sound that is unique yet stays true to the folk realm.
Broughton’s music is passionate and “will take you back to the great memories of your past,” organizers promised.
The Vashon Celtic Players will bring their lighthearted music to the venue from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17. On the third Sunday of every month, this Vashon institution finds its home at Café Luna. Grab a beer and have a great time with these fun-loving folks; at least a dozen of the 70 musicians show up to play the merry melodies (mostly Irish, jigs reels, and polkas) from memory. Beginners are welcome; staying with the beat is the only requirement.
