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Indie rockers and fun with folk

Music news you can use

By Jesse Stanton CDN Contributor

After last week’s extravaganza of touring artists, this is a week where some locals are getting the chance to shine. I’m excited to tell you about the new album by Andy Bunn in advance of his record release show.

A few changes to the calendar as well: I’ve rearranged the information in each listing to show the venue first, and I’m tracking some more Skagit County venues such as the Rockfish Grill and Brown Lantern Ale House in Anacortes, Conway Muse and Big Rock Woolley Market in Sedro-Woolley.

Picks of the Week

Thursday, March 10 will be the first open mic at the Blue Room, so I hope all you performers will get out there and start that off right!

Traesti Darling is doing a residency every Friday at the Honey Moon this month, so fans of highly unusual folk/pop should be sure to check that out. The Blue Room also has some intriguing solo acoustic acts on Friday, March 11, including two of Bellingham’s most successful acts on Spotify: Harbor Day and Sidney Amos. On Saturday they go even bigger with Analog Brass headlining a cool multi-genre bill.

At the Shakedown on Saturday, March 12 you have Portland indie rockers MAITA, along with local punk-ish favorites Cat Valley.

Miles Harris is doing a tribute to Jimi Hendrix and John Mayer at the Wild Buffalo on Saturday, so if you want to see some serious blues-based guitar shredding, that’s the show for you.

Stringband Jamboree favorites Meg Yates and the Kindred are getting ready to make a move to Eastern Washington. They’ll be back for more performances in the future, but for now they are doing a farewell show at the Honey Moon on Sunday. 

Andy Bunn.
Bluegrass, relaxed country and old-time songs can be heard at s concert celebrating “Hickory,” Andy Bunn’s new album. He’ll be joined by producer and multi-instrumentalist Eli West. (Photo by Forrest Gibson)

Featured Artist 

Andy Bunn has previously been known for his work with the High Mountain String Band. His fantastic new solo album, Hickory, blends some straight-ahead bluegrass with more relaxed country and old-time styles to create a gorgeous, rootsy backdrop for his character-driven songs.

The album has even picked up some nationwide publicity, being named as one of the top country albums on Bandcamp for the month. It was produced by multi-instrumentalist Eli West, who will be joining Bunn for the album release show, Saturday, March 12 at the Firehouse PAC in Fairhaven.  


Fair Play

Early this week, it was announced rock star and four-time Grammy Award-winner Pat Benatar would be performing Saturday, Aug. 20 at the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden as part of the Pacific Grandstand Entertainment Series. Benatar will be joined onstage by her husband, Neil Giraldo, noted musician, producer, arranger and songwriter. Pre-sales begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 9, and tickets will be available to the public at 9 a.m. Friday, March 11. Act fast! 

Area musician Michael Dayvid holds an acoustic guitar near the waters on the rocks.
Singer-songwriter Michael Dayvid performs Thursday, March 10 at Greene’s Corner. (Photo courtesy of Sierra Farquhar)

Live music listings for March 9–15

Wednesday, March 9
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Open Mic
Rockfish Grill: 6 p.m., Dr. Sweets and Ireland Woods (folk)
Sylvia Center: 7 p.m., George Colligan Trio (jazz)
WWU PAC: 7:30 p.m., WWU Symphonic Band

Thursday, March 10
Blue Room: 6 p.m., Open Mic
Firehouse PAC: 7 p.m., The Arrangement (folk/ pop/ oldies)
Greene’s Corner: 6 p.m., Michael Dayvid (singer-songwriter)
Menace: 7 p.m., Katie and Kevin (folk)
Thirsty Badger: 7 p.m., Open Mic
Twin Sisters: 6 p.m., Cardova (R&B/ soul covers)

Friday, March 11
Big Rock Woolley Market: 6:30 p.m., J.P. Falcon Band (blues/ rock/ country)
Blue Room: 8 p.m., Harbor Day, Sidney Amos, Miles Harris
Fireside: 7 p.m., Adrian, Phil and Jon
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Traesti Darling
Lighthouse Bar and Grill: 7:30 p.m., Blake Angelos (jazz)
Mount Baker Theatre: 7:30 p.m., Black Violin
Shakedown: 9 p.m., Asterhouse, Old Town Scouts, Roland Olayvar (rock)
Skylark’s: 7 p.m., Jeffrey Slough (acoustic covers)
The Vault: 7 p.m., Tea Seas Trio (funk/ jazz/ surf)
Wild Buffalo: 9 p.m., Memba, Fabian Mazur (electronic)

Saturday, March 12
Big Rock Woolley Market: 6 p.m., For What It’s Worth (country/rock)
Blue Room: 8 p.m., Analog Brass (brass band), Laamb (punk), Glitchlette (electronic)
Boundary Bay: noon, Moving Hats, Bob’s Your Uncle, The Devilies, pipers, fiddlers, dancers (Irish folk, St. Patrick’s Parade Afterparty)
Bourbon Bar and Grill: 9 p.m., Blindfate (hard rock covers)
Brown Lantern: 9 p.m., Cozmic Sauce (funk)
Conway Muse: 9 p.m., Comfort Food
Firehouse PAC: 7 p.m., Andy Bunn, Eli West, and Friends (bluegrass/ folk)
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Tad Kroening
Lighthouse Bar and Grill: 7:30 p.m., Adrian Clarke (jazz)
Mount Baker Theatre: 7:30 p.m., The Wailin’ Jennys (folk)
Paws for a Beer: 6 p.m., Matney Cook, Jubal Jake, Bob Paltrow (singer-songwriters)
Rockfish Grill: 7:30 p.m., Jim Basnight Band (rock)
Shakedown: 9 p.m., MAITA, Cat Valley, guests (indie/ punk)
Skylark’s: 7 p.m., Jesse Lang (rock and blues covers)
Uisce: 1:30 p.m., Maguire’s Kick (Irish folk)
Wild Buffalo: 9:30 p.m., Miles Harris Band (blues/ rock)

Sunday, March 13
Culture Cafe: 7 p.m., Open Mic
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Meg Yates and the Kindred
Kulshan: 5 p.m., The Harris Twins
Mount Baker Theatre: 3 p.m., Pioneering Women in Jazz
Wild Buffalo: 9 p.m., Geographer, Chong the Nomad (electronic/ hip-hop)

Monday, March 14
Firehouse PAC: 3:30 p.m., Diane Leigh (jazz/ pop)
Kulshan: 6 p.m., North Country Highway (country/ rock)

Tuesday, March 15
Aslan: 7 p.m., Jazz Night featuring Julian MacDonough and friends

Jesse Stanton’s music column, The Beat Goes On, runs every Wednesday. Email: jsbhammusic@gmail.com or Twitter: @JSBhamMusic

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