By MOLLY WALSH Vignettes of holiday celebrations, royal battles and sugar plum dreams will be illuminated on the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center stage with Studio West Dance Theater’s 11th annual production of The Nutcracker. Over 230 dancers will bring Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker score to life from December 14-22. The cast and crew at Studio West are …
By Molly Walsh On September 21, all five past and present Washington State Poets Laureate will gather for a day of poetry-centered conversation and celebration at Laureate Fest. Organized by the Olympia Poetry Network, Laureate Fest is the first event of its kind in the state and the first time all five Washington State Poets …
By Molly Walsh Hailing from Olympia, Ethan Tucker’s acoustic-guitar-driven songs range from midtempo party anthem “Crazy Tonight” to the melancholy strums of ballad “Josephine.” Expanding beyond his Pacific Northwest origins, Tucker has toured the country with such acts as Jimmy Cliff, Buddy Guy and The Wailers. With a slightly raspy, soulful voice and sweet, acoustic …
By Molly Walsh Inspired by Los Lobos, Santana and WAR, Flor De Luna is classic Latin rock with hints of blues, jazz and Afro Cuban influences over a wide range of classic-rock hits. Band members range from their 20s to their 60s. Thus, the band’s classic playlist dons a modern edge. A Flor De Luna …
By Molly Walsh The mission of Tacoma Concert Band is to deliver professional, symphonic sound to audiences in Puget Sound and beyond. It’s well-traveled, with stops in Budapest, the French Riviera, Prague and Vienna. It played the 39th-annual South of Ireland Band Competition last summer and took best band, best brass section and best performance …
By Molly Walsh Traveling throughout the United States, tribute group Randy Linder Band’s set spans Creedence Clearwater Revival’s iconic 1960s-to-1970s playlist. Beginning in 2000, the tribute band has performed multiple shows in Las Vegas and a Creedence Clearwater Revival festival in Mexico. With vintage mop-top haircuts and flannel shirts to accompany John Fogerty’s distinctive, rasping …
By Molly Walsh With a tagline of “full throttle rockabilly,” the Roostertails reimagine classic-rock hits with a 1950s, country-rock twang. Upright bass adds just the right amount of old-school-Americana flair to Presley-style, low-octave vocals. Heavily influenced by Johnny Cash, the Roostertails can help any concert-goer find a rhythm. WHAT The Roostertails WHERE Sylvester Park, 615 …
By Molly Walsh Between hidden gems and retro hits, Platinum Soul transports listeners to a 1970s funk and rhythm-and-blues dream. It plays throughout the Pacific Northwest, blending Earth, Wind & Fire; Hall and Oates and Rick James into its set. Band leader LaRoi Carter Jr. grew up in Lacey and has always wanted to return …
By Molly Walsh “I remember one time,” Walchak-Sloan says, “me and my friend were maybe eight years old, and her babysitter took us to Lakefair. At the fair, it was a big thing to go on the Ferris wheel and look down and see all of Lakefair. It was really big and there’s a lot …
By Molly Walsh After encouragement from her leadership teacher and friends who were involved in past Lakefair Courts, Kim decided to take a chance and apply for a position. In addition to travel to other parades, including one in Canada, Kim enjoys the service opportunities provided by being a member of the Royal Court. A …