JOHN NELSON’S LIVE MUSIC COLUMN: Leap to your dance feet for toe-tapping melodies

THE LOCAL MUSIC scene is preparing to make the jump into the summer season, with some venues coming back on board, festivals being planned and community outdoor concerts once again coming to the fore.

This means in the coming months, your choices of music and venues will be greatly expanded.

So fine-tune your ears and get those legs in shape so the beat can get out of your feet onto the floor.

It’s going to be a great season.

It was the end of an era at the Junction, whether Consumption Junction, Junction Tavern or Junction Roadhouse, when it closed last Saturday.

The venue will reopen soon as The Dam Bar in tribute to the Elwha River dams.

The final tally of the money raised over the past two weeks at the Junction Roadhouse for the Oso Fire Department came to $5,028.

Thanks to all who helped make it possible.

Port Angeles

■ Today at Castaways Restaurant and Night Club, 1213 Marine Drive, Jerry Robison’s country jam features Rusty and Duke from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

On Saturday, the Trespassers — Jim Lind, Gerald Pierce and Rudy Maxion — play country and classic rock from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

■ On Friday at the Fairmount Restaurant, 1127 W. U.S. Highway 101, Dave and Rosalie Secord and Luck of the Draw are joined by guest Holomua presenting Hawaiian music with dancers from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

On Sunday, join the country jam from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

■ On Friday at Barhop Brewing, 124 W. Railroad Ave., local rockers Twisted Roots play acoustic blues and Western swing from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

On Saturday, Three Too Many performs modern alternative music from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

■ On Friday at Bar N9ne, 229 W. First St., Howlin’ Zephyr performs original funky rock ’n’ roll and groovy covers at 9 p.m. $3 cover.

■ On Friday at R Bar, 132 E. Front St., Seattle’s Splatinum duo returns for another great dance party from 9 p.m.

■ On Sunday at Next Door Gastropub, 113 W. First St., keep your chin up with the acoustic alternative rock trio Below the Smile at 5 p.m.

■ On 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.

Sequim

■ Today at Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W. Washington St., Cort Armstrong and Jim Faddis entertain from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

On Friday, Mary Tulin performs Celtic folk music from the 1960s and ’70s as well as originals from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

On Saturday, Ranger and the “Re-Arrangers” from Bainbridge Island play Gypsy jazz from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

On Wednesday, Bill Volmut performs original tunes and covers from the 1960s and ’70s from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

■ On Friday at The Oasis Bar and Grill, 301 E. Washington St., Gil Yslas performs classic blues from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

On Saturday, get your dancing shoes on for the Stardust Big Band and all the memories they evoke from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, the Night Beats play oldies, rock ’n’ roll and country from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

■ On Saturday at the Sequim VFW, 169 E. Washington St., Round Trip plays a variety of music for dancing from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

■ On Wednesday at Nourish, 1345 S. Sequim Ave., Victor Reventlow hosts the open mic from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with sign-ups at 6 p.m.

Blyn

■ Today in Club Seven lounge at 7 Cedars Casino, 270756 U.S. Highway 101, dance and swing to the Stardust Big Band from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

On Saturday, Whiskey River, a “concert”-quality band, plays Lynyrd Skynyrd and classic rock from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

On Friday, Jason Mogi brings his brand of folk music to the Rainforest Bar from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

On Saturday, Jim Hoffman plays country, blues and classics in the Rainforest from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Port Hadlock

■ On Saturday at the Ajax Cafe, 21 N. Water St., Trevor Hanson plays classical guitar from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Port Ludlow

■ Today in the Fireside Room at the Resort at Port Ludlow, 1 Heron Road, Trevor Hanson plays classical guitar from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Port Townsend

■ On Friday at Sirens, 823 Water St., come and hear Dearly Departed, a Seattle-based trio with amped but lyrical folk songs, at 9 p.m. $5 cover.

On Saturday, return to hear the Spectors bring their lo-fi alternative rock message at 9 p.m. $5 cover.

■ On Friday at the Uptown Pub, 1016 Lawrence St. the Jelly Fishers play jazz, Latin jazz and contemporary from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Later, enjoy Dream City and their blues, reggae and rhythm and blues from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

■ On Saturday at the Cellar Door, 940 Water St., Band Lab performs a benefit concert for Jennimae Hillyard and Ashley Kehl and their two children, whose home was destroyed by fire. There’s a $5 suggested donation for the 8 p.m. concert.

■ On Saturday at the Public House, 1038 Water St., Hova Bass, who performed around the world with Yanni’s band and others, plays his eight-string bass with local musicians Sam Amazyan (guitar) and Brandon Smith (cello) for a performance from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Bass is a master of many genres, including jazz, classical, flamenco and pop. This is an all-ages concert. $20 cover.

■ On Sunday at Port Townsend Brewing, 330 10th St., Los Angeles singer/songwriter Cyndi Harvell performs songs from her new CD, “Heartache and Revolution,” at 3 p.m. No cover; all ages welcome.

■ Every Monday, Trevor Hanson plays guitar at Alchemy, 842 Washington St., from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

High notes

■ On Friday, the Peninsula Friends of Music Performance presents a second concert at the Dungeness Schoolhouse, 2781 Towne Road, Sequim, at 7 p.m.

The concert features Chuck Easton (guitar), Craig Buhler (saxophones), Taylor Ackley (bass), Terry Smith (drums) and Brian Atkinson (vibraphone) from Los Angeles.

■ On Saturday, Whozyamama, a Northwest band with roots in the Deep South, will play traditional Cajun waltzes, two-step creole and zydeco music on the newly remodeled wooden dance floor of the Quimper Grange, 1219 Corona St., Port Townsend.

Pre-dance instruction starts at 7 p.m., with music and dancing from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Admission is $12; all ages welcome.

For more information, phone 360-385-1667.

■ On Saturday, the Port Townsend Community Orchestra performs its final concert of the season in the Chimacum High School auditorium, 91 West Valley Road, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. No cover, but donations accepted.

■ From Sunday to May 3, the 2014 Northwest Big Band workshop gathers in Port Townsend.

Visit www.nwbb.info for more information.

■ On Wednesday, Northwest Big Band workshop participants perform in a jam session at the Highway 20 Road House, 2152 W. Sims Way, Port Townsend, at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, email Craig Buhler, director, at craig@craigbuhler.com or Sandy Rodgers, coordinator, at srodgers@olympus.net.

■ On Wednesday, a Western band, Serendipity, and Park View Villas, 1430 Park View Lane, Port Angeles, invite one and all to a 2 p.m. performance with refreshments afterward.

To attend or for more information, phone 360-452-7222.

________

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.

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