The pop-swing revolution is coming to Olympia — and it’s led by two of the most electrifying performers around. Marco Palos and American Idol runner-up Blake Lewis front Phat Cat Swinger, a fearless 10-piece band that blends rock, swing, and jazz with a thoroughly modern edge. Their performances are the stuff of legend: reimagining iconic …
What happens when a French classical virtuoso, an Italian YouTube rock phenomenon, a Hawaiian Slack Key master, and an Australian blues powerhouse share one stage? You get International Guitar Night — a celebration of the guitar’s breathtaking range featuring Roxane Elfasci, Luca Stricagnoli, Jim Kimo West, and Minnie Marks.
You know how the race ended — but the story was just beginning. Lightwire Theater’s The Adventures of Tortoise and Hare: The Next Gen picks up a decade after the finish line, where Old Man Tortoise and Big Daddy Hare are now fathers navigating a world of smartphones and video games. When Tortoise Junior and …
The Washington Center holds four series, the Silent Film Series, Black Box Jazz, an Adventure series, and Comedy Underground. Stepping into the majority of silent film experiences, audiences can expect house organist Dennis James plays scores alongside a historical silent film. Black Box Jazz showcases jazz performers who compose their own music in a truly intimate setting. The Adventure Series offers an immersive, in-person experience “Whether deep-sea diving or trekking across the Grand Canyon, and the Comedy Underground is more of a club-like feel than attending a theatre. “You can sit with your friends and enjoy your drink while you laugh together.”
by Tom Simpson for OLY ARTS Olympia’s own Lavon Hardison was voted the 2017 Northwest Vocalist of the Year on Monday night by Earshot Jazz, a nationally known jazz non-profit organization in Seattle, Washington. “Thanks to Earshot Jazz and all of you who voted! I’m humbled by this honor,” said Hardison on her Facebook page. …
by Adam McKinney for OLY ARTS “I don’t really remember a time when I didn’t play guitar.” — Vince Brown Olympians may well recognize Vince Brown as a guitarist who has thoroughly knitted himself into the fabric of the Pacific Northwest’s jazz scene. As a founding member of western-swing outfit Red Brown and the Tune …
by Nora Kovacs for OLY ARTS After releasing its debut album Threes this past February, Oklahoma-based, Americana-and-jazz band Harumph brings its vintage-sounding tunes to Olympia’s Music in the Park. Formed by Olympia native Kate Dinsmore, who leads the group with her effortlessly robust vocals, and composer-pianist David Leach, Harumph is a contemporary twist on old-fashioned …
by Nora Kovacs for OLY ARTS Sit back and relax with the soulful sound of a modern jazz legend as part of the Lacey in Tune summer-concert series. Award-winning horn player Dmitri Matheny will conclude the series with his smooth charm and masterful form on the flugelhorn. Born in Nashville, Tennessee and raised between Georgia …
by Adam McKinney for OLY ARTS With cultures mixing and matching with increasing amorousness, it’s only natural for music to spread like dandelion flowers from one side of the world to another. It’s because of this cross-pollination that we arrive at groups like the John Welsh Band. A multicultural outfit, the John Welsh Band incorporates …
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, …