Scott Cossu

Scott Cossu at Lacey in Tune

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS Nationally known pianist Scott Cossu, who recently received a lifetime-achievement award from One World Music Radio, was one of the original Windham Hill artists. He keeps a sense of humor about his place in the new-age canon, describing his music as “new-and-improved age” and “heavy mental.” His latest recording, …

Read more

The Slocan Ramblers

The Slocan Ramblers Preach the Gospel of Bluegrass

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS It’s no surprise bluegrass brought The Slocan Ramblers together. The Canadian quartet plays bluegrass and plays it well. The band won the 2015 Edmonton Folk Fest emerging-artist award, and its album Coffee Creek was nominated for traditional album of the year at the 2016 Canadian Folk Music Awards. No, …

Read more

LaVon Hardison

Jazz Cabaret Comes to St. John’s

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS St. John’s Episcopal Church, long known for its classical-music series, is now a place for jazz. The church’s second jazz-cabaret dinner, set for Friday, features singer LaVon Hardison and flutist Nancy Curtis plus what the church is calling “a veritable jazz festival” of well-respected players from Olympia and beyond. …

Read more

Hands On Children's Museum Summer Splash

Summer Splash at Hands On Children’s Museum

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS This summer at the Hands On Children’s Museum, kids can fight fires, meet superheroes, climb a rock wall and explore the wonders of outer space. All this and more are part of the museum’s second-annual “Summer Splash,” a summer-long series of special events and activities that last year drew …

Read more

Christie Murphy-Oldright and Bruce Haasl in First Date

First Date at Harlequin Productions

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS This summer, Harlequin Productions is hoping audiences will fall in love with First Date. The musical, which premiered at Seattle’s A Contemporary Theatre in 2012 before heading to Broadway, opens June 22. The daters referred to in the title are Casey (Christie Murphy-Oldright) and Aaron (Bruce Haasl), and the …

Read more

The Olympia Farmers Market

A Taste of The Olympia Farmers Market

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS Looking for something to do this weekend — or any other weekend, for that matter? There’s a veritable festival happening year round at The Olympia Farmers Market, said Mary DiMatteo, the market’s community-outreach manager. “We have live music, food, ice cream, seven distinct restaurants and over 100 vendors from …

Read more

Mary Cullen and Laura Andersen of Wrinkles of Washington

Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance With Wrinkles of Washington

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS For the well-seasoned performers of Wrinkles of Washington, the show must go on. To quote the title of WOW’s new show, happening Saturday at the Olympia High School Performing Arts Center, they’ve Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance. About 25 performers ages 55 and older will be part of the show, …

Read more

Steamboat Stringband Jamboree

Who’s Who at the Steamboat Stringband Jamboree

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS The Steamboat Stringband Jamboree, happening Friday and Saturday at Prosperity Grange, features a who’s who of Pacific Northwest string bands, said co-organizer Tye Menser. Menser and the rest of the Oly Mountain Boys, along with the Pine Hearts, launched the jamboree in 2015 when a planned all-ages show got …

Read more

Capital Indie Book Con

Capital Indie Book Con 2

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS Inspired by the sci-fi and fantasy conventions where she promotes and sells her work, Olympia author Lee French started her own convention focused solely on books. “I go to a lot of science fiction and fantasy conventions because that’s what I write,” French said in a phone interview Monday. …

Read more

Capital Indie Book Con

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS Inspired by the sci-fi and fantasy conventions where she promotes and sells her work, Olympia author Lee French started her own convention — focused solely on books. “I go to a lot of science fiction and fantasy conventions because that’s what I write,” French said in a phone interview …

Read more

Skip to content