Americana at the Bike
Songwriters Dave McGraw and Wendy Fer will play an all-ages, free show at 8:30 p.m. Friday, at the Red Bicycle Bistro.
The pair has traveled the United States with their songs that evoke the grandeur and history of the American West, as well as the everyday folks who live there. Their first album, “Seeds of Pine,” shows off their folk and Americana stylings.
Top off Ciderfest with a hootenanny at the O Space
In celebration of CiderFest, Open Space for Arts & Community is putting on a barn dance on Saturday, featuring local country crooner Jennifer Sutherland.
The down-home fun will start at 5 p.m., when doors open for the dance. At 5:30 p.m., dancers can brush up on such steps as the cuddle, inside and outside turns and the two-step, led by instructor Sandi Salagi. Sutherland and her band, The Barnyard Boys, will take the stage at 6 p.m.
Before moving to the Island with her family eight years ago, Sutherland sang with the alt-country band Evangeline. The group recorded several CDs and regularly played the Tractor Tavern, The Sunset Tavern and The Crocodile.
For her show on Saturday, she’s recruited an accomplished band to play along, led by Garth Reeves, a Seattle singer/songwriter, who has selected a set list of favorites from the songbooks of Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzell, Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson. Reeves will be joined in the band by Jason Staczek on Hammond B3 organ, guitarist Jeff Fielder, bassist Robin Cady and drummer Eric Eagle.
Tickets, on sale in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com and Vashon Bookshop, are $12 single, $40 for a group of four or $15 on the day of the show. The group rate is available only at the online site.
Carter Castle presents new works, old friends
Island singer/songwrier Carter Castle will take the stage in a Vashon Allied Arts New Works production at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Blue Heron.
The show, featuring a stageful of some of Castle’s favorite Vashon musicians, coincides with the release of his latest CD, “Walking to Phoenicia.” On the album, Castle brings his bluesy roots style to 10 new original songs and also covers obscure songs from such artists as Paul Seibold, John Prine and Bob Dylan.
Castle talks about his songwriting process as a gateway. “You have to wait for a state of grace,” he said. “I like to spend a lot of time alone, getting in touch with the rhythm — the sounds of words just bubble up from the subconscious.
Castle gives props to his regular players — Chris Anderson on lead guitar and vocals and Bob Kueker on vocals and bass — and said he felt lucky to be supported by them. He’s also welcoming other musicians to the stage on Saturday, including Paul Colwell on mandolin, Steve Amsden on guitar and vocals, Nancy Morgan on flute, Gordon Millar on vocals, Mindy Manley Little, on guitar, banjo and vocals, and Graham Hazzard and Gary Giggins on drums.
Tickets to the show, $12 and $15, are on sale at Heron’s Nest, Vashon Bookshop and www.vashonalliedarts.org.
Native son airs documentary
Hunter Holcombe, a young filmmaker who grew up on the Island, will return home to attend a screening of his new short film at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, at Vashon Theatre.
The 26-minute documentary tells the story of a soldier from Washington, who was seriously wounded in Iraq. The film follows the effects of his injuries and his subsequent struggle with post-traumatic stress syndrome.
It is also a story of healing, as it details the wounded warrior’s participation in an innovative program in Sun Valley, Idaho, that teaches veterans to ski and snowboard in a group setting with therapists and other recovering veterans.
Holcombe received his undergraduate degrees from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and recently finished his Master’s degree from UC Berkeley. He is currently a producer for Current TV in San Francisco.
Proceeds from the showing will go to help pay for the costs of making the film.
