Music lover’s guide to the many sounds of Strawberry Festival

Dance the days and nights away as local favorites and acts from the mainland storm the stages.

By Beachcomber Staff • July 12, 2023 1:30 am
Among the many acts to play during this year’s Strawberry Festival are (left, top to bottom) Kat Eggleston, Wild Rumouors, The Portage Fill, (middle, top to bottom) Adrian Xavier, Publish the Quest, (right, top to bottom) John Browne and Chantel Jackson (Courtesy Photos).
Among the many acts to play during this year’s Strawberry Festival are (left, top to bottom) Kat Eggleston, Wild Rumouors, The Portage Fill, (middle, top to bottom) Adrian Xavier, Publish the Quest, (right, top to bottom) John Browne and Chantel Jackson (Courtesy Photos).

This year’s Strawberry Festival weekend boasts music galore, with chances to dance the days and nights away as local favorites and acts from the mainland storm stages.

Festival-goers will find several sites offering concerts throughout the festival. Two of these are officially affiliated with festival-presenter Vashon Island Chamber of Commerce — the Main Stage, at Vashon Village, next to the festival’s beverage garden, and the new Homegrown Stage, at the intersection of Bank Road and Vashon Highway.

Snapdragon Bakery & Café is also pulling out all the stops on its own stage, boasting 15 music acts spanning July 14-16.

Plan out your ramblings from show to show using this handy guide.

Festival Main Stage

Friday, July 14

Loose Change, a longtime local favorite, will open up the festival with R&B, swing, and other upbeat music, from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Adrian Xavier, known for both his solo work and his Seattle band, will offer reggae-inspired fusion from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Bucklin Hill, a band that plays an upbeat mix of country, rock, and bluegrass, will take the stage from 8:30 to 10 p.m.

DJ Ralph Reign will lay down a mix of funky, jazzy and hip-hop beats from 10 to 11 p.m.

Saturday, July 15

Loren Sinner and Friends will play high-energy country and blues from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

A festival favorite from the mainland, Wild Rumours, will perform the music of Fleetwood Mac from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

Do you like really superb musical surprises? Then head to the Main Stage to discover the secret star booked to perform from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

One More Mile, a local band fronted by Jason Lollar and “Lonesome” Mike Nichols, will play high-octane, electric blues from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The Main Stage headline act, from 8:30 to 10 p.m., will be Publish the Quest, fronted by Jacob Bain, playing Vashon’s favorite fusion of salsa, hip-hop, reggae, Afropop and other music with a socially-conscious, inclusive message.

DJ Ralph Reign will return to close out the night, from 10 to 11 p.m.

Sunday, July 16

Pat Reardon, a local singer and songwriter, will bring his melodic riffs and storytelling to the stage from 11 to 12:30 p.m.

Riverbend, a local group, will deliver bluegrass, traditional country and folk music in their show, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Rumor Has It, another favorite island band, will keep the groove going from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Homegrown Stage

The crown jewel of the Homegrown Stage will be a 50th-anniversary celebration and street dance with Vashon’s beloved big band, The Portage Fill, taking place from 6 to 7:45 p.m. Saturday, July 15.

Throughout the weekend, an all-local lineup of bands and solo performers will also play 45-minute-long sets on the stage.

On Saturday, those acts will include Alchemy, at 1 p.m.; Basement Tuesdays, at 2:15 p.m.; JD Hobson, at 3:30 p.m.; Lonesome and Pine, at 4:30 p.m.; and Kat Eggleston, at 5:30 p.m.

On Sunday, the Homegrown Stage will welcome Geordie’s Byre, at 11:15 a.m.; Derek Burn, at 12:30 p.m.; Memphis Radio King, at 1:45 p.m.; John Browne, at 2:45 p.m. and Jane Spakowsky & the Kitsap County Ramblers at 4 p.m.

Snapdragon Stage

Meanwhile, Snapdragon’s Friday, July 14 lineup, starting at 5 p.m., includes Michelle Lassaline Projector Drawings, The Vashinas, and Harmolade. The headline act of the night, from 9-10 p.m., is Troll’s Cottage, another iconic and beloved local band formed by Jacob Bain.

Snapdragon’s shows on Saturday, July 15, starting at 2 p.m., include The Fabulous Mrs. Bill Larsens; Alex Amen, Tim Couldn’t Make It, 6 Pack of Doom, and Patrons of Husbandry.

Shows on Sunday, July 16, offer more local heroes, starting at 1:30 p.m. with Michael Whitmore, followed by Martin Feveyear, Chantal Jackson, and Weird Music Hour.

Island music icon Ron Hook plays a show from 5:15 to 5:55 p.m., and a 6:30 p.m. show by Chris Anderson’s King’s Highway will close out the night.

Sugar Shack

Vashon’s Sugar Shack will offer a free concert on Saturday of King Youngblood and Cara Cavi, in its backyard concert space at 17636 100th Ave, Vashon. Check of Sugar Shack’s new backyard bar, Durong, while you’re there. Get more information about what’s happening by following Sugar Shack on Facebook and Instagram.