Archive for June, 2009
Vashon Island Events: Sounds on the Sound Concert Series – Red !, Torchdown, Regional Faction, Manalive, Trolls Cottage ~ Vashon Island Real Estate
The Vashon Park District and the Vashon Music Festival are producing the second in a series of afternoon concerts at Lisa Buela Park on Saturday, June 13, kicking off at 3:00 PM. This weekend Red 1, Torchdown, Regional Faction, Manalive and Trolls Cottage rock the Park in an extravaganza of Vashon’s finest bands. The event is free.
Vashon Island Events: Red Bicycle Presents Portage Fill Band, Ken Jacobsen ~ Vashon Island Real Estate
Portage Fill Big Band – Friday, June 12, 8-11 PM ~ all ages
Comprised of about 20 Islanders ranging from professional musicians to amateurs, the community musical group is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. Charter member Lou Engels still plays in the band. Engels remembers how Monty Sewell, who once played with Louie Armstrong, helped found the band back in 1973. Engels said that Sewell owned a music store where Blooms & Things is now located.
“The band has pretty much been the same over all the years,” Engels said, “except we have a bigger group of musicians to choose from now. All the seats are occupied.”
When Engels was asked if he gets any special treatment for being the sole charter member still playing in the band, he said, “Yeah, they mention me every once in while, when the old gray beards get up to play.”
Portage Fill rehearses twice a month in the Williams Heating garage, thanks to the generosity of Dennis Williams, one of the horn players. “We’re the Island’s longest running garage band,” said band member David Hackett.
The Portage Fill-Harmonic Big Band will be performing a benefit show for Vashon High School student Jack Johannessen. The Portage Fill, a 19-piece swing band under the direction of Tony Willing, has been a part of the Vashon musical scene for over 35 years, and has recently begun mentoring Vashon High music students who are interested in jazz, inviting them to sit in with the group at Strawberry Festival and other performances. One of those students, Jack Johnannessen, has auditioned and been accepted to the prestigious “Sound of America” program this summer, where he will join over 150 other young musicians on a 6 country European concert tour, and the Portage Fill has committed to helping Jack raise funds to make this trip.
The cover charge is only $5, with additional donations accepted, and all monies collected will be earmarked for Jack’s travel expenses. Jack will be sitting in with the band and dancing will be encouraged, so mark your calendar and come out for an evening featuring the unforgettable sounds of the Big Band era as played by Vashon’s own Portage Fill Big Band.
Karaoke Night Saturday, June 13 at 09:30 PM ~ 21+
Singing karaoke for the first time in public may be one of the scariest moments of your life, but many people have discovered that it becomes easier over time. The fear and anxiety of singing in public is often replaced by the feeling of acceptance and appreciation by an attentive audience….you’ll never know unless you try! 21+ Free cover!
Ken Jacobsen, Sunday, June 14, 7:30 – 9:30 PM ~ All ages. FREE COVER!
An evening of acoustic and electric guitar with Ken Jacobsen, students and special guests- music by Santana, Frank Zappa, J.S. Bach, Thelonious Monk and Iron Maiden.
Vashon Island Events: Cafe Luna Presents “Occupation 101″,
Cafe Luna Presents:
Thursday, June 11, 7:00 PM – Film “Occupation 101″
The Lunavision film series, curated by Peter Ray, presents “Occupation 101” in the bi-monthly series The 2006 film, subtitled “Voice of the Silenced Majority “ and made by Libyan-born American brothers Abdallah and Sufyan Meish, deals with Israeli-Palestinian relations, and it has polarized many viewers. Some take it as an indictment of Israeli and American policies against a victimized population, and a condemnation of the world press for ignoring the effects of those policies. Others consider the film propaganda designed to evoke sympathy for Palestinians and contempt for Israel. Peter Ray says that there will be a discussion to follow the 90-minute screening. The film does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Cafe Luna or of GoVashon.com.
Friday, June 12, 7:30 PM – Matthew Moeller
“Cap’n Matt,” as he’s known, writes and sings songs about his home, Puget Sound. Born and raised in the area and having learned his trade aboard tallships, schooners, steamers and ferryboats, he spins the yarns of an old salt come home from the sea, and he does it with a sound that Victory Review critic Tom Peterson calls “originals that evoke life on the ocean without turning cloying or to parody.” Moeller sings about “the expected characters, old salts whose ships may never come in, gentle drunks, wise sailors and blind fiddlers, but with a wink in his voice.”
Saturday, June 13, 7:30 PM – Cort Armstrong
Cort Armstrong will perform with his National guitar for an early evening of Chicken Pickin’ music. The show will feature Armstrong singing and playing from his repertoire of original music as well as traditional old-time country music and blues from the Appalachian Mountain region of North Carolina.
