PORT ANGELES — Olympic Cellars Winery plans two benefit concerts this weekend.
Tonight’s concert is a special benefit at which the Stardust Big Band will perform for an evening of swing dancing at the winery at 255410 U.S. Highway 101 between Port Angeles and Sequim.
Proceeds from Dance Hall Days will benefit the Sequim High Band Boosters.
Saturday’s concert — a part of the winery’s summer concert series — will be by Shaggy Sweet. The Peninsula Trails Coalition will be the beneficiary.
All concerts begin at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m., rain or shine. It is suggested that attendees bring lawn chairs.
The cover charge tonight is $10.
Tickets are available at the winery or on-line at Brown Paper Tickets. Tickets are required for children 13 and older. They can be ordered here: www.brownpaper tickets.com/event/3459384.
Tickets for Saturday’s concert — and all those in the summer series — are $13 in advance or $15 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at the winery or on-line at Brown Paper Tickets. Season passes are $75. They may be purchased at the winery or online at www.olympic cellars.com.
The space under the patio in front of the band is reserved for dancing. Each concert is staffed by volunteers from the nonprofit of the week.
Tonight’s special benefit is a thank-you to the band booster program and director Vern Fosket at Sequim High School, said Lisa Martin, co-owner of Olympic Cellars with her husband Tom.
“My daughter Astrid just graduated from Sequim High School and played in the marching band for all four years,” Martin said. “Although she had many amazing teachers and experiences at Sequim High, none can compare in her heart with being part of the band. She calls it her ‘Band of People.’ ”
The benefit is to raise money for new uniforms, which will cost $15,000, Martin said.
“The band’s current uniforms have been in use for over 15 years and are so threadbare that they have begun to decompose passed the point of repair, despite the Boosters’ skill with thread and needle,” Martin said.
Along with the Stardust Big Band will be professional swing dancer Guy Caridi, who will demonstrate swing dance moves. Guest musicians will include Fosket on trombone and Astrid Martin on tenor sax.
The 18-piece Stardust Big Band has a full complement of saxophones, trumpets, trombones, as well as a swinging rhythm section and a female vocalist. The band plays classics from Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Louis Armstrong, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and Woody Herman.
All ages are welcome to this family-friendly event. There will be no be food vendor, but picnics are welcome.
Non-alcoholic beverages only can be brought in to the concerts. No marijuana, smoking or vaping is allowed. Neither are dogs.
Here is the rest of the summer concert series schedule:
• Aug. 4 — Nick Drummond Band supporting Peninsula Friend of Animals.
• Aug. 11 — West Coast Women’s Blues Revue supporting the Sequim Food Bank.
• Aug. 18 — Longstride supporting Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics (VIMO).
• Aug. 24 — Creme Tangerine supporting the Port Angeles Noon Rotary.
• Aug. 25 — Creme Tangerine supporting the Welfare for Animals Guild.
