The courtyard of the Lightcatcher Building must be one of the most beautiful and distinctive music venues in Bellingham. The cafe space adjacent to the courtyard in the home of the Whatcom Museum is now home to Bar Cicotti, a cafe serving Italian-inspired drinks, appetizers, sandwiches and pasta. From 6–8 p.m. every Wednesday night while the weather is nice, they host jazz performances — which make for an unforgettable night out.
The performers are generally duos and trios, and feature some of the area’s finest local players. I stopped by last week to take in the trio of Thomas Harris on saxophone, Mark Hunter on upright bass and Christian Casolary on drums. They turned in a fantastic set with all three of them constantly finding ways to keep each other on their toes.
While you could expect the sounds of saxophone and drums to cut through anywhere, the perfect acoustics of the location also made it possible to hear all the nuances of Hunter’s inventive bass lines and countermelodies.
Upcoming performers include the duo of guitarist Jamie Findlay and percussionist Steven Tate Wednesday, July 13, and guitarist Alex Golombek and bassist Eirik Haugbro the following week. No cover charge is required, but you’re probably going to want to sample the delicious offerings of Bar Cicotti while you listen.
The series is organized by Jan Peters, who is also due some congratulations for recently receiving the Mayor’s Arts Award for his work as a booker and promoter. In addition to his contributions to the jazz scene, he created and ran Irish and Folk Mondays for many years, and is also super-involved with the blues scene.
The more I learn about the Bellingham music business, the more I feel like what we really need right now are more promoters, bookers and organizers who can do what Peters does by creating ongoing events and building audiences and community around them.
Speaking of jazz and community, congratulations are also due to the team who put on the weekly Lindy at the Leo swing dance. They are celebrating their first anniversary this week, having hosted dances every Tuesday and live bands once a month. The Hot Tomatoes and the T.O.P. Jazz band will be on hand for the party Tuesday, July 19.
Finally, the schedule doesn’t seem to be available as of my deadline, but Saturday, July 16 is also the Sunnyland Stomp. From 3–8 p.m., visitors can wander around Sunnyland and the odds are pretty good they’re going to find some fun music somewhere, as the neighborhood comes alive with performances in yards and other improvised locations.
Live Music Listings
Wednesday, July 13
Bar Cicotti: 6 p.m., Jamie Findlay & Steven Tate (jazz)+
Big Stick BBQ: 5 p.m., Michael Dayvid (acoustic covers)
Boundary: 6 p.m., Gallowglass (Celtic folk)
Downtown Sounds: 6 p.m., The Cumbieros (cumbia), Bilongo (Latin jazz)
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Open Mic
Juxt: 8:30 p.m., Invitational Open Mic
Mount Baker Theatre: 7 p.m., Chris Pureka
Rockfish: 6 p.m., Mike Faast Quartet (jazz)
Seafarers’ Memorial Park (Anacortes): 6 p.m., Swing Connection
Thirsty Badger: 8 p.m., Kurtis Adair (acoustic covers)
Thursday, July 14
Barkley Market: noon, The Walrus (classic rock)
Blue Room: 6 p.m., Open Mic
Boundary: 5 p.m., Robert Sarazin Blake (folk); 8 p.m., Sweethearts of the Rodeo (country), Super Sonic Business Jets (folk)
Elizabeth Park: 6 p.m., J.P. Falcon (blues/folk/rock)
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Cat Positive (indie acoustic)
Hotel Bellwether: 6 p.m., Cascadia Groove (funk/jazz)
Kulshan Trackside: 7 p.m., Foxy Apollo, State Parks (pop/rock)
Mount Vernon Riverwalk: 6 p.m., Hot Damn Scandal (vintage jazz/blues/ragtime)
Shakedown: 8 p.m., Anvil, White Wizzard, Midnite Hellion (metal)
Thirsty Badger: 7 p.m., Open Mic
Twin Sisters: 6 p.m., Nakos and Katie (bluegrass)
That’s What I Like: 6 p.m., Thomas Sandblom (acoustic covers)
Friday, July 15
Aslan: 8 p.m., Christian Casolary Quartet (jazz)
Beach at Birch Bay: 6 p.m., Chill Deville (classic rock)
Blue Room: 9:30 p.m., Aardvarticus Zeus, Ceras, Hockey Teeth (rock)
Boundary: 6 p.m., 45th Street Brass
Downtime Taps: 7 p.m., Michael Dayvid
Eagle Haven: 5 p.m., Matt Long (singer-songwriter)
Fireside: 7 p.m., Paige Woods and Stone Jones
Greene’s Corner: 7 p.m., Doug Allen (Americana)
Guemes Island General Store: 5:30 p.m., Hookmeyer (jazz/blues)
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Karen Kunkle, Bellow Wing
Lighthouse: 7:30 p.m., TBA (jazz/lounge)
Make.Shift: 8:30 p.m., Jack Jay, Roland Olayvar, SoyJoy, Magenta Wave (rock)
Seafarers’ Memorial Park (Anacortes): Laurel Canyon Legacy (folk/rock)
Semiahmoo: 6 p.m., Trio Sueño (flamenco/jazz)
Shakedown: 9 p.m., Meatbodies, Spoon Benders, True Stars (rock)
Skylark’s: 5 p.m., Bob Paltrow (classic rock and pop)
That’s What I Like: 7 p.m., Chad Peterson (classic jazz and pop)
Thirsty Badger: 8 p.m., Hot Wally Band
Vault: 7 p.m., J.P. Falcon Grady (folk/blues/rock)
Wild Buffalo: 9 p.m., Sweet N Juicy, CLAN, Checker Bloom (rock)
Saturday, July 16
Beach at Birch Bay: 3 p.m., Blind Fate (classic rock)
Blue Room: 9 p.m., Madam Monarch, THEM, Biblioteka (rock)
Big Rock Woolley Market: 7 p.m., Matt Long
Birdsview: 6 p.m., Bare Feet
Boundary: 7 p.m., Yogoman Burning Band (reggae/R&B/rocksteady)
Brown Lantern: 9 p.m., Karl Blau and Friends
Conway Muse: 8 p.m., Stardrums & Lady Keys (blues/R&B/soul)
Eagle Haven: 7 p.m., Petty Thief (Tom Petty tribute)
Fireside: 3:30 p.m., Singers’ Saturday
Greene’s Corner: 4 p.m., The Devilies; 6:30 p.m., Simon Evans
Guemes Island General Store: 6:30 p.m., Milo Matthews (jazz/blues)
Heart of Anacortes: 6 p.m., Naughty Blokes (rock/blues)
Honey Moon: 8 p.m., Mary Liz, Katie Weed, Nakos Marker
Kulshan Trackside: 7 p.m., Marshall Law Band, Lonely Together
Lighthouse: 7:30 p.m., TBA (jazz/lounge)
Make.Shift: 8:30 p.m., Melancholia, Maldisdeun, Ossuary Wraith (metal)
Rockfish: 7:30 p.m., Suze Sims Presents La Roca Boom (blues/funk)
Semiahmoo: 6 p.m., Ron Gerdhardt
Shakedown: 9 p.m., The Sheen, Censors, Worldwide Levitation (noisy rock)
Skylark’s: 5 p.m., J.P. Falcon Grady (folk/blues/rock)
Station 49: 5 p.m., Jack Benson Band (classic rock)
Thirsty Badger: 8 p.m., The Rewinders (’60s/’70s covers)
Twin Sisters: 6 p.m., Michael Dayvid (acoustic covers)
Wild Buffalo: 9 p.m., Heartless Bastards, Cat Valley (rock)
Zuanich Park: noon, Bellingham Budfest ft. Marshall Law Band, Sweet N Juicy, North Sound Soul, more
Sunday, July 17
Beach at Birch Bay: 1 p.m., Midlife Crisis (blues/rock)
Birdsview: 3 p.m., Jack Mattingly
Culture Cafe: 7 p.m., Open Mic
Gilkey Square (La Conner): 1 p.m., Fantasy Band
Kulshan Sunnyland: Rebekah Hood-Sava (cello with looping)
Kulshan Trackside: Queen’s Bluegrass
Old Edison: 5:30 p.m., Jenny & The Tomcats
Samson Estates: 2 p.m., Baby Cakes (pop/R&B)
Semiahmoo: 4 p.m., J.P. Falcon Grady
Shakedown: 8 p.m., TRAITRS, STAHV, guests (rock)
Skylark’s: 1 p.m., Cheryl Hodge and Jan Peters (jazz/blues)
Station 49: 3 p.m., Sam Halbert & Friends
Monday, July 18
Kulshan Sunnyland: 6 p.m., The Moving Hats (Irish/folk)
Tuesday, July 19
Aslan: 8 p.m., Jazz Night
Beach at Birch Bay: 6:30 p.m., Open Mic
Blue Room: 9 p.m., Knowmads, One Be Lo, All Star Opera (hip-hop)
Boundary: 3 p.m., Out of the Ashes; 6 p.m., Paul Klein on piano (in the taproom); 6 p.m., Dr. Jimmy and the Swingtime Serenaders (swing)
Farmstrong: 6:30 p.m., Pacific Twang (country)
Hotel Leo: 7 p.m., Lindy at the Leo featuring Hot Tomatoes, T.O.P. Jazz Band
Shakedown: 8 p.m., Stillvettas, Dakota Theim, Hockey Teeth (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.
