AS WE HEAD into Memorial Day weekend with all its parties, barbecues and family gatherings, let us not forget the reason for the holiday: those men and women who have died while serving our country.
They have defended and protected our right to free speech, allowing us to sing our songs, play our music and gather at various venues to celebrate our rights and freedoms.
This weekend, it’s OK to hum to yourself “from the halls of Montezuma,” “anchors aweigh, my boys,” “off we go into the wild blue yonder” and “those caissons keep rolling along.”
The words of the “The Star-Spangled Banner” also mean a little more this week.
Port Angeles
■ Today at Castaways Restaurant and Night Club, 1213 Marine Drive, it’s Jerry’s Country Jam with Jerry Robison and guest musicians Terry Roszatycki and Jim Hensen from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Saturday, Poulsbo-based cover band One Shot Molly plays from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
■ Today at the Junction Roadhouse, 242701 U.S. Highway 101, multi-instrumentalist Ches Ferguson is joined by bassist Paul Eyestone and percussionist Zubrie Kamau from 7 p.m.
On Friday, John “Scooch” Cugno returns with world-champion harmonica player Jim McLaughlin. The music starts at 8 p.m.
For a free ride out and back, phone All Points Charters & Tours at 360-775-9128 or 360-460-7131.
On Sunday, Rachael, Mick and Barry play classic rock, Motown and country from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
On Monday, Country Gold plays at 7 p.m.
Joy in Mudville returns Wednesday from 8 p.m. onward.
■ On Friday at Barhop Brewing, 124 W. Railroad Ave., Locos Only serves up music at 9 p.m.
■ On Friday at the Front Street Alibi, 1605 E. Front St., the Jimmy Hoffman Band starts at 9 p.m.
■ Today at Bella Italia, 118 E. First St., Sarah Shea and Chez Jazz entertain from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
■ Three downtown Port Angeles establishments — Bar N9ne, Bella Italia and Next Door Gastropub — will play host to Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts musical acts Friday, Saturday and Sunday around 10:30 p.m.
Check out “High notes” at the end of the column.
■ On Friday at the Fairmount Restaurant, 1127 W. U.S. Highway 101, Dave and Rosalie Secord and the Luck of the Draw Band welcome musical guest Mike Baer and storyteller, fishing guide and Peninsula Daily News columnist Pat Neal from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Sunday, join the country jam from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
■ Every Tuesday at the Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 E. Seventh St., the Port Angeles Senior Swingers present Wally and the 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 the blues from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sequim and Blyn
■ On Friday at The Oasis Bar and Grill, 301 E. Washington St., Gil Yslas performs from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
On Saturday, the Olympic Express Big Band will take you through decades of pop and jazz standards and perhaps a rousing patriotic song or two from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, the Old Sidekicks perform classic country at 5:30 p.m.
■ On Friday at Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W. Washington St., keyboardist Linda Dowdell and saxophonist Craig Buhler jazz it up from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
■ It’s “All the Buzz” Wednesday at the Sequim Senior Activity Center, 921 E. Hammond St., with Victor 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, R and B (Rachael and Barry) perform mostly acoustic music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Today in Club Seven lounge at 7 Cedars Casino, 270756 U.S. Highway 101, the Jimmy Hoffman Band plays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
On Friday and Saturday, Al Harris tickles the ivories in the Rainforest Bar from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with Sarah Shea also dropping by Friday.
On Friday in Club Seven, the Turner Brothers Band plays requests from 8 p.m. to midnight.
On Saturday, Unified Culture performs reggae from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
On Sunday, Author Unknown plays classic Top 40 tunes from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Port Ludlow
■ On Friday at the Resort at Port Ludlow, 1 Heron Road, Trevor Hanson performs on classical guitar in the Fireside Restaurant from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Port Townsend
■ Today at The Upstage, 923 Washington St., the Port Authority Shakedown Band plays a fundraiser for Barby Moegling, who represents Port Townsend next weekend at the fifth annual Kustom Kulture Festival at the Clearwater Casino. Donations are appreciated.
On Friday, the Soul Katz play funk, soul, rock, blues and Motown at 7:30 p.m. $8 cover.
On Saturday, the Chuck Easton Sextet opens for internationally renowned bass virtuoso Hova Burian at 7 p.m. $10 in advance; $12 at door.
On Wednesday, Gil Yslas and Michael Barr team up as String14 at 7 p.m. Donations suggested. Phone 360-385-2216 for more information and reservations.
■ On Friday at Sirens Pub, 823 Water St., George Rezendes and his Toolshed Trio plays country blues, ragtime and roots at 10 p.m. $5 cover.
On Saturday, the Blackberry Bushes Stringband brings its strain of Northwest acoustic Americana at 10 p.m. $7 cover.
■ On Friday at Port Townsend Brewing, 330 10th St., Scott Pemberton performs classic rock, jazz, psychedelia and everything in between from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Sunday, Joy in Mudville brings originals and covers from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
On Wednesday, the Skip Morris Trio, with George Radebraugh on piano and Ted Enderle on bass, plays jazz from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
■ On Friday at the Uptown Pub, 1016 Lawrence St., Pies on the Run play from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., followed by Dream City Roots from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
■ Today, Steve Grandinetti plays guitar at the Owl Sprit Cafe, 218 Polk St., from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
■ Today and Friday, Steve also plays and sings at the Northwest Maritime Center Cafe, 431 Water St., from noon to 2 p.m.
■ Today, classical guitarist Trevor Hanson plays at Ichikawa Japanese Cuisine, 1208 Water St., from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
■ Every Monday, Trevor also plays at Alchemy, 842 Washington St., from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
High notes
■ The four-day Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts gets under way with musical events at four locations during the day and three after-hours.
For information, consult the bonus section in Sunday’s Peninsula Daily News or www.jffa.org.
■ The Hood Canal ShrimpFest celebrates its 20th anniversary Friday and Saturday with arts and crafts, kids’ activities, a beer garden and plenty of music, including The Old Sidekicks, Eric Miller, Greg Parke and an Elvis tribute.
The festival will be held at Yelvick’s General Store Field, 251 Hjelvicks Road near the intersection of U.S. Highway 101.
Admission is $4, or $6 for a two-day pass; children 12 or younger get in free.
For a full listing of events, visit http://tinyurl.com/brinnonwa.
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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.
