Although the nights are still chilly, we’re almost there for outdoor music starting up in full force! I’ve got some good news this week about some outdoor venues getting ready to reopen, plus the loaded lineup for Downtown Sounds was recently announced.
News
The big news of the week is that the Downtown Bellingham Partnership has announced the headliners for Downtown Sounds. The popular event will kick off July 6 with ’80s New Wave covers by Nite Wave, then pick up on the rhythms of the Colombian genre of cumbia on July 13 with The Cumbieros.
Outer Orbit plays soul and funk on July 20, the LowDown Brass Band does hip-hop inflected brass band music on July 27, and local guitar hero Miles Harris wraps it up on August 3 with his new band The Deep Cuts.
Also, Kulshan’s Trackside location has reopened. So far live music is only on Thursdays, but that will expand as the summer gets closer.
Picks of the week
Stygian Bough is a collaboration between the doom metal duo Bell Witch and the freak-folk singer-songwriter Erik Moggridge, aka Aerial Ruin. Its combined sound mixes long, quiet, acoustic stretches with sections of crushing heaviness into extended suites. They are at the Shakedown on Wednesday, April 20.
As part of a weeklong fundraiser for the Max Higbee Center, Aslan will have live music through Saturday, April 23. It’s great to see them having more shows, and I look forward to more.
Jenner Fox is a San Francisco-based singer-songwriter. When he comes to town to play the Honey Moon on Thursday, April 21, his band will be made up of some well-known locals, namely Aaron Guest and Jeremy Elliott of Polecat.
Hell’s Belles bring their high-energy AC/DC tribute to the Shakedown for two separate shows on Friday, April 22. At the Wild Buffalo on Friday, hear Dirtwire, built around an intriguing combination of acoustic folk instruments (banjos, slide guitar, etc.) and electronic beats and loops.
On Saturday, the Blue Room hosts the touring horn extravaganza of Apollo Suns and their tightly arranged jazz/rock instrumentals.
Live music calendar
Wednesday, April 20
Aslan: 8 p.m., Diego Romero Band (blues/rock/funk)
Boundary: 6 p.m., Aaron Guest on piano
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Open Mic
Rockfish: 6 p.m., Norris and Nicely (blues)
Shakedown: 8 p.m., Bell Witch & Aerial Ruin, Vouna, Izthmi (metal)
Thirsty Badger: 7 p.m., Open Mic
Thursday, April 21
Aslan: 8 p.m., Sweater Weather (folk)
Blue Room: 6 p.m., Open Mic
FireHouse: 7 p.m., Legacy Jazz Series featuring Matthew Chen, Duncan Lang
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Jenner Fox Band
Kulshan Trackside: 6 p.m., Alger Rhythms (“dad rock” covers)
Shakedown: 8 p.m., Asema, Veriteras, Inpathos (metal)
That’s What I Like: 6 p.m., JP Falcon and Friends (folk/rock)
Twin Sisters: 6 p.m., Josiah Bogle (rock/pop covers)
Wild Buffalo: 8 p.m., City of the Sun, Cycles
Friday, April 22
Aslan: 8 p.m., Munch Ink. (bluesy rock)
Beach at Birch Bay: 6 p.m., Little Big Band (classic/Southern rock)
Big Rock Woolley Market: 7 p.m., DEAL (Grateful Dead tribute)
Blue Room: 7 p.m., Local Hip Hop Showcase
Fireside: 7 p.m., Chuck and Carr (classic rock and pop)
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Scott Cook
Lighthouse: 7:30 p.m., TBA (jazz/lounge)
Shakedown: 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., Hell’s Belles (AC/DC tribute)
Skylark’s: 7 p.m., Virginia Rail Duo (bluegrass)
That’s What I Like: 7 p.m., Paige Woods (singer-songwriter)
Vault: 7 p.m., Michael Dayvid (acoustic covers)
Wild Buffalo: 9 p.m., Dirtwire, Zoie Mizuna, Frubbles
Saturday, April 23
Beach at Birch Bay: 4 p.m., Chris Eger Band
Blue Room: 8 p.m., Apollo Suns, Fossil Fire, Lonely Together
Birdsview: 6 p.m., Jim Marcotte
Boundary: 1 p.m., Starboard Moon (folk/blues)
Brown Lantern: 9 p.m., Ebb, Slack & Flood
Conway Muse: 8 p.m., Whiskey Fever (rock)
Fireside: 3:30 p.m., Singers’ Saturday
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Chris Acker
Jansen Art Center: 7:30 p.m., Eric Likkel Trio (jazz)
Lighthouse: 7:30 p.m., Blake Angelos (jazz)
Mount Baker Theatre: 7:30 p.m., Kristin Chenoweth
Rockfish: 7:30 p.m., Randy Weeks and the Silent Treatment (country/rock)
Shakedown: 9 p.m., Sanoma, North Country Highway, Jay Irwin and the GP Sunsets (roots rock)
Skylark’s: 7 p.m., Josiah Bogle (rock/pop covers)
Thirsty Badger: 8 p.m., Mike Bonds (country)
Wild Buffalo: 9 p.m., Thunderpussy, Hillstomp, J. Graves (rock)
Sunday, April 24
Culture Cafe: 7 p.m., Open Mic
Firehouse: 4 p.m., Christopher Woitach/John Moak Quintet (jazz)
Kulshan Sunnyland: 5 p.m., Marie, The Band (folk)
Monday, April 25
Firehouse: 3:30 p.m., Bob Paltrow
Kulshan Sunnyland: 5 p.m., Heron and Crow (folk/bluegrass)
Tuesday, April 26
Aslan: 8 p.m., Jazz Night
Beach at Birch Bay: 6:30 p.m., Open Mic
Boundary: 6 p.m., Paul Klein on piano
Wild Buffalo: 8 p.m., Ryan Montbleau, guests (roots rock)
Before heading out to listen to live music, check with individual venues to make sure the event is still taking place as scheduled.
Jesse Stanton’s music column, The Beat Goes On, runs Wednesdays. Email: jsbhammusic@gmail.com or Twitter: @JSBhamMusic
