By TOM SIMPSON Country singer and songwriter Kaitie Wade spent the last five years in Nashville, performing and recording to international acclaim. Her single “Don’t Wanna Miss” received airplay on U.S. and international radio last year. Wade recently opened for country star Russell Dickerson during his Washington-state tour. Her entertaining style includes a classic-country feel …
By ADAM McKINNEY Comprising a murderers’ row of blues veterans, the five-piece ensemble Joe Blue and the Roof Shakers brings a wild energy to performances. It’s busted out stone-cold classics since 2006, imbuing favorites like “La Grange,” “Mardi Gras in New Orleans” and “Pride and Joy” with a raucous, lived-in strut. Harmonica, horns, dirty guitars, …
By TOM SIMPSON Lacey in Tune goes into August with SWAY, a Northwest cover band that features contemporary hits by artists like, Bruno Mars, Usher, Rihanna, David Guetta, Lady GaGa, Justin Timberlake, The Weeknd, Jason Derulo, LMFAO and Ariana Grande. The band also throws in classic hits by Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Prince for …
By ADAM McKINNEY Anyone who ever trashed disco has been proven wrong by decades of cultural reappraisal. What is true – and what many always knew to be true – is disco is a joyous and far-from-pretentious musical genre designed to be enjoyed by everybody. Seattle’s Sonic Funk Orchestra, in its desire to recreate the …
By TOM SIMPSON Instead of music or acting, this evening focuses on creatures of all sizes and types – including the most creepy-crawly of all, snakes and spiders. “Creature Teachers” is a dynamic duo, composed of animal lovers Shanti Kriens and Amanda LeBlanc. Kriens and LeBlanc take creatures of all sizes directly into classrooms and …
By JONAH BARRETT for OLY ARTS Get dressed up and get fancy for the third-annual Center Stage Awards and Gala at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts this July. “This year’s gala will have a Midsummer Night’s Dream feel,” said executive director Jill Barnes. “Think fairies, fireflies and outdoor gardens.” The gala is …
OLY ARTS brings to the South Sound Wordsmiths, a new local literary interview series. Wordsmiths features local literary groups in the Pacific Northwest and their impact on their local communities. In Chapter One, Wordsmiths interviewed Jackie Casella and Joshua Swainston of Tacoma’s Creative Colloquy – a nonprofit where writers come together and read their work …
By TOM SIMPSON At the end of July, Lacey in Tune is proud to bring Beatles cover band British Export to local audiences. British Export has recreated the tunes, the style and the amazing passion of a live Beatles show with their tribute concerts, performing for thousands of fans at prestigious events around the world. …
By TOM SIMPSON Unicorns Believe is a one-woman musical with huge ambition – the show is oriented at children, but it covers the myths, lore and facts of the legendary unicorn, interwoven with a heartfelt tale about chasing your “twinkle” and overcoming the “cloud of gloom.” Jenifer Joy (aka Jenuwin Joy) is an experienced and …
By ADAM McKINNEY Blessed with a clear, strong and achingly vulnerable singing voice, Mikaiah Sawyer is one of the brightest spots in the Olympia music scene. Drawing inspiration from blues and folk, smoothed with a penchant for crowd-pleasing pop-rock, Sawyer possesses the ability to get listeners to rise to their feet or shed a tear …