WELL, HERE IT is: another week of hot August nights filled with live music inside and outdoors in many venues in all genres.
There’s nothing better than taking a night off from the TV or the computer and going out for dinner or a drink and dancing with your honey.
So call the baby sitter or your favorite gal (or guy) for a date.
Even if you have to go alone, go out and enjoy the music. You never know who you’ll meet.
Port Angeles
■ Today at the Junction Roadhouse, 242701 U.S. Highway 101, Chesnut Junction with multi-instrumentalist Ches Ferguson plays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
On Friday, country blues guitarist Keith Scott returns for another night of danceable music from 8 p.m. to midnight.
Phone All Points Charters & Tours at 360-775-9128 or 360-460-7131 for a free ride out and back Friday night.
On Wednesday, Joy in Mudville (Jason Mogi, Paul Stehr-Green and Colin Leahy) performs its unique mix of old-time/jam band/rock/Celtic/funk-influenced original and cover tunes at 7:30 p.m.
■ Today at Castaways Restaurant and Night Club, 1213 Marine Drive, High Country with Rusty and Duke plays old-time country classics from 5 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
■ On Friday at Wine on the Waterfront, 115 E. Railroad Ave., Dean Ratzman performs swing, big band, jazz, blues, rock, funk and soul hits on piano, trumpet, trombone and vocals from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
■ On Friday at Barhop Brewing, 124 W. Railroad Ave., the Soulshakers play from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
■ The 2nd Friday Art Rock at Bar N9ne, 229 W. First St., features MCFD (Mydlife, Crysys, Fluffy and D-Ray) playing rock from the cutting edge from 8 p.m. on. Sarah Tucker is the featured artist. $3 cover.
On Saturday, Joy in Mudville performs at 9 p.m. $3 cover.
■ On Friday at the Fairmount Restaurant, 1127 W. U.S. Highway 101, Dave and Rosalie Secord’s Luck of the Draw Band welcomes guest Yodeling Merle from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Sunday, join the country jam from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
■ On Saturday at the CrabHouse Restaurant, 221 N. Lincoln St., enjoy a first hot August Saturday night beachfront barbecue on the patio, with live music from James Gregory from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
■ Every Tuesday at the Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 E. Seventh St., the Port Angeles Senior Swingers present Wally’s Boys playing ballroom dance favorites from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. $5 cover; first-timers free.
■ On Friday and Saturday at Dupuis Restaurant, 256861 U.S. Highway 101, Bob and Dave play blues from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sequim and Blyn
■ On Friday at The Oasis Bar and Grill, 301 E. Washington St., get your Dixieland fix with the Dukes of Dabob from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
On Saturday, legendary blues artist Keith Scott performs from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, enjoy the boomer rock ’n’ roll of Final Approach from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
■ Today at Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W. Washington St., Cort Armstrong and Friends perform from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
On Friday, Craig Buhler, Bob Wolf and Taylor Ackley perform jazz from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Ruby Jean plays blues and soft rock from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
■ On Wednesday, it’s “All The Buzz” at the Sequim Senior Activity Center, 921 E. Hammond St., with Victor Reventlow hosting the open mic from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
■ On Friday at Stymie’s Bar & Grill at Cedars at Dungeness, 1965 Woodcock Road, Kevin Lee Magner and Scott Bradley from Locos Only play on guitars from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
■ On Friday in Club Seven lounge at 7 Cedars Casino, Blyn, Tripleshot plays classic rock and newer music from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
On Saturday, the Hipsters perform new dance rock from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
On Sunday, country up with Denny Secord Jr. and Haywire from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On Friday in the Rainforest Lounge, Rachael Jorgenson plays and sings folk, contemporary and new country music from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
On Saturday, Al Harris joins Sarah Shea for some jazz from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Port Hadlock
■ On Friday at Ajax Cafe, 271 Water St., Trevor Hanson plays classical guitar from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Port Ludlow
■ On Wednesday at the Resort at Port Ludlow’s Fireside Restaurant, 1 Heron Road, Trevor Hanson performs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Port Townsend
■ On Friday at Port Townsend Brewing, 330 10th St., enjoy live blues jams from the Delta Rays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Sunday, John Nelson (no, not me; this John Nelson has talent) plays a mix of folk, blues and country on acoustic guitar from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
On Wednesday, Chuck Easton and George Radebaugh play jazz from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
■ On Friday at Sirens Pub, 823 Water St., Run On Sentence, featuring songwriter Dustin Hamman and a rotating cast of musicians, performs at 9 p.m. $5 cover.
On Saturday, the California rockabilly/country band Miss Lonely Hearts plays a free show starting at 9 p.m.
■ On Friday at Uptown Pub, 1016 Lawrence St.. cellist Brandon performs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Rob Rigoni & Budapest West take the stage from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
■ Today and Friday, Steve Grandinetti plays and sings at the Northwest Maritime Center cafe, 431 Water St., from noon until 2 p.m.
■ Today, Steve also plays guitar at the Owl Sprit Cafe, 218 Polk St., from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
■ Every Monday, Trevor Hanson plays guitar at Alchemy, 842 Washington St., from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Area concerts
■ Today, Port Townsend’s Concert on the Dock features Ranger and The Re-Arrangers from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
■ On Tuesday, the Stardust Big Band, hailed as the “Pearl of the Peninsula,” swings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., part of Sequim’s Music in the Park series at the James Center Band Shell north of Carrie Blake Park.
■ On Wednesday in Port Angeles, the Concert on the Pier features Wally’s Boys playing pop and swing hits on the waterfront from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
All of the venues are all-ages, so pack a picnic and bring chairs, blankets, sunglasses and whatever to ensure yourself a comfortable time.
Public markets
■ On Saturday at the Port Angeles Farmers Market at The Gateway center, Front and Lincoln Streets, Dale Hildebrand performs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
High notes
■ On Saturday, Olympic Cellars, 255410 U.S. Highway 101 east of Port Angeles, hosts a Welfare for Animals Guild benefit concert featuring the lively country rock of Chance McKinney (formerly of Nathan Chance).
Phone 360-452-0160 for ticket information.
■ On Saturday at The Loom, upstairs at Studio Bob, 118½ E. Front St., Port Angeles, Thom Davis (guitar) and Mr. C (mouth harp) team up to lay down some mean roots, blues, folk and country blues from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
■ On Friday, bring your dancing shoes and a lawn chair to Peninsula College on the east side of Keegan Hall, facing the grass area at the center of the campus at 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., for an outdoor concert featuring Bump Kitchen, the band known as the “Titans of Tacoma.”
Grounds open at 5 p.m., and the soulful blues, energy-infused funk and classic rhythm and blues grooves start at 6 p.m.
Tickets are $10. Food, soft drinks, Camaraderie Cellars wine and Barhop brews will be available for purchase.
Sponsored by the Peninsula College Foundation, proceeds benefit Peninsula College students, staff, faculty and programs.
■ On Saturday, Hawaii Amor performs the music of Hawaii on ukulele from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Elliott’s Antique Emporium, 135 E. First St., Port Angeles.
■ On Saturday, Port Townsend’s Quimper Grange, 1219 Corona St., holds a contra dance from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The Contradictions play the tunes, and Jay Finkelstein calls the moves. $6 cover; $3 for youngsters and teens.
■ On Sunday in Sequim, McComb Gardens, 751 McComb Road, will be where the bluegrass grows. Danny Barnes and Matt Sircely team up for a first-class performance at 1 p.m. The free Music@McComb live concerts continue Sunday afternoons throughout this month.
________
John Nelson is a self-styled music lover and compulsive night owl who believes in “KLMA — Keep Live Music Alive” on the North Olympic Peninsula. His column, Live Music, appears every Thursday.
Are you performing in or promoting a live music gig? Contact John by phoning 360-565-1139 or emailing news@peninsuladailynews.com, with John Nelson in the subject line. And note: Nelson’s deadline is Monday at 5 p.m. preceding Thursday’s column.
Also, check out “Nightlife,” a listing of entertainment at nightspots across the Peninsula, in Friday’s Peninsula Spotlight magazine.
