SEQUIM — Here are four guys who sing with their whole hearts — and make you laugh, promises Doug Wisness, spokesman for The Coats, the a cappella ensemble coming to Sequim for one show Thursday night.
The Coats, so named because they started out singing on street corners in Seattle (read: in the rain), will give a holiday concert in the Sequim High School auditorium, 601 N. Sequim Ave., with the school’s own Vocal Ensemble, led by choir director John Lorentzen, opening.
All ages welcome
Doors will open at 6 p.m. and all ages are welcome at the show, a benefit for Sequim High’s choir program.
Admission is $15 general and $10 for seniors and students with ASB cards. Only cash or checks will be accepted.
This is a rare opportunity to see a singing group that performs to sold-out crowds these days in places like Seattle’s Benaroya Hall, noted Patsene Dashiell, communications director for the Sequim School District.
The Coats — baritone Wisness, first tenor Keith Michael Anderson, second tenor Jamie Dieveney and bass Kerry Dahlen — are also planning a workshop with the Sequim High choir during the day Thursday.
All of this came together because Wisness, a buddy of Sequim High Principal Shawn Langston since the two were in junior high school in Puyallup, ran into his old friend about a month ago.
Why don’t we put a workshop and show together, Wisness asked, and why don’t we make it an annual event?
Langston said yes to both.
The Coats relish their trips to communities such as Sequim, Wisness said. They just did their first holiday show of the season in Arlington, and “it was a blast.”
In Sequim, the group will offer a variety of holiday numbers and original tunes, plus songs from their latest album, “Highway 1.”
The CD, The Coats’ 12th, has covers including “Dancing in the Street,” “Free Fallin’ ” and “Walk Like an Egyptian.”
“There might be a guest appearance by the Grinch” on Thursday, Wisness quipped, referring to Dr. Seuss’ animated hero.
“You’ll have to come see.”
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
