Concerts in the Park
It’s that time of year again — when islanders of all ages can gather to picnic, listen to free concerts and dance barefoot on the grass at Vashon Park District’s annual Concerts in the Parks series at Ober Park.
The series, presented in partnership with Vashon Events, will take place on Thursday nights, from 7 to 9 p.m. throughout August. Attendees are invited to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the music.
The concerts will kick off on Aug. 3, with Jacob Bain and Public the Quest, an iconic island band that incorporates Afro-beat elements with folk, rock and alternative leanings. Monica Schley, a harpist, poet, and songwriter will open for the band.
On Aug. 10, another highly acclaimed and well-traveled island musician, Ian Moore, will bring his band to the stage. Moore, who tours widely and has released 14 albums, plays rock music with wide and ecumenical influences gleaned from a lineage of great Texas songwriters and guitarists. Local songwriter Alex Davis will open Moore’s show.
Jam in the Atrium
The Jam in the Atrium concert series, presented by island bassist Bruce Phares, will return at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, with special guest Ben O’Connor.
O’Connor, a Vashon resident, is an accomplished pianist who has performed at Interlochen, the Royal Room and the Port Townsend Jazz Festival. He has been accepted into the prestigious Thornton School of Music at USC, where he will continue his musical studies this fall.
During the free concert, Ben and Bruce will play a variety of jazz favorites. Stop by to hear some great music, and wish Ben well in his next musical endeavor.
Open Air Aerial Festival
Open Air, the annual aerial festival presented by Open Space for Arts & Community, will return from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 12, to the grounds of Open Space. Bring family, friends, a blanket, and a picnic basket to share while you ooh and ahh to the program of choreographed acrobatic spectacle.
Get tickets and find out more at openspacevashon.com.
String and Shadow
String and Shadow, a troupe of performance artists from Olympia that presents giant puppet shows, will perform at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, at Open Space for Arts & Community. Expect magical realism, science fiction, and folk tales, and other feats of storytelling at the performance. Accessibility is important to the ensemble of artists, therefore, their shows are open to all, with admission by donation.
Maury Island Incident
Researchers Charlette LeFevre and Philip Lipson, from the Northwest Museum of Legend and Lore, will present on the Maury Island UFO Incident at the Burien UFO Festival, at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, at the Highline Heritage Museum in Burien.
The Maury Island Incident — as many islanders know — took place in the summer of 1947 in the waters off of Maury Island. To prepare for the talk by LeFevre and Lipson, visit online.
