Legendary art and music
Longtime islanders need no introduction to legendary local artist Ron Hook or Subconscious Population, his psychedelic groove, funk and reggae band that has rocked local music fans for decades.
But more recent arrivals should be informed that Hook is once again having a moment on Vashon, with an exhibit of his paintings and carvings now on display at Snapdragon Bakery & Café, thoughout April.
Subconsious Population will also play a show at Snapdragon at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 12 — an event that is sure to draw a multigenerational horde of islanders who have never stopped living the high times of whatever year they happened to come of age.
The timeless band includes Steve Brix on bass, Richard Lipke on guitar , Indigo Hook on drums, and of course Ron, on guitar and vocals.
Expect songs like Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Where Here,” and Jimi Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower,” along with funkified original tunes by Hook. And dancing. Lots of dancing.
Grand Piano
This week, virtuoso Dutch/Spanish pianist Albert Cano Smit will take the stage, not once but twice, in the Kay White Hall of Vashon Center for the Arts.
At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, Cano Smit, Vashon soprano Holly Johnson, and local pianist and composer Chris Overstreet, will join local musicologist Michael Tracy in a “Talks on the Rock” lecture and concert that celebrates the Spanish composers Albeniz, Granados, de Falle, and Mompou.
The next night, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 12, Cano Smit will present a solo recital, “Musical Evening from Spain,” which will also include some Bach preludes and fugues.
The evening’s tour of musical Spain starts with “Las Goyescas,” written by Enrique Granados based on paintings by Francisco Goya.
The second half includes works by three other significant Spanish composers: Mompou, Albeniz, and de Falla.
The compositions of Frederic Mompou reflect his close bond with Eric Satie and Maurice Ravel in Paris. The works from the “Iberian Suite,” by Isaac Albeniz, contain some of the most challenging piano passages in the entire literature. The evening ends with Manuel de Falla’s signature piece, “Danza de Fuego.”
Get tickets to both the talk and the recital at vashoncenterforthearts.org. Admission to the talk is free with the purchase of a recital ticket.
Uptown comes to Vashon
Uptown, an acclaimed singing group from New York City that combines smooth stylings of rhythm and blues classics with contemporary pop and soul music, will bring their high-energy vocals and choreography to Vashon with a show at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 14, at Vashon Center for the Arts.
VCA’s website promises the show will provide “the perfect mix of Bruno Mars-caliber stage presence with the vocals of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gay, Earth Wind & Fire, and more.”
Find out more and purchase tickets at vashoncenterforthearts.org.
CHRCH
Vashon’s favorite variety show, CHRCH, filled with sketch comedy, music and special guests, will serve up two performances at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, at Open Space for Arts & Community. The theme for the show is “Keep Vashon Weird.”
Get advance tickets at openspacevashon.org, and find out more about the Vashon-centric variety show at chrchatopenspace.com.
Invitational Choral Fest
From April 23-27, six of the Northwest’s finest and most diverse choral ensembles will grace the stage of Vashon Center for the Arts’ Katherine L. White Hall — named for the philantropist and lover of choral music whose support became the cornerstone behind the construction of Vashon Center for the Arts building.
The inaugural Katherine L. White Invitational Choral Fest, also named for and honoring White, is a non-competitive event that aims to showcase, support and celebrate the musical excellence and distictive sound and mission of each invited ensemble.
Groups participating in the inaugural Kay White Choral Fest will include: Emerald Ensemble, performing at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23; Seattle Trans and Nonbinary Choral Ensemble, performing at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 24; Ancora Choir, performing at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25; the African American Cultural Ensemble, performing at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26; The Sound of the Northwest, performing at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 27; and Vashon Island Chorale, performing at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27 and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 28.
Performances are free for those 18 and younger, with a ticket reservation. Buy festival passes ($126) and tickets to individual performances ($35) at vashoncenterforthearts.org.
