Musicians jam for the schools
Rumor Has It, a celebrated local dance band that plays everything from bluegrass to Motown to country and Celtic rock, will play a benefit for the Vashon Schools Foundation, starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Vashon Island Books, located in the former VFW Hall at 22100 Vashon Hwy. S.W.
The band is asking for donations of $10 to $50 for the foundation, which is attempting to raising $500,000 to support the school district and keep many of its programs intact.
Snacks and drinks, including beer and wine, will be available, and more entertainment will be provided by Vashon’s unofficial mayorettes, The Washington State Faeries.
To find out more about the event, contact Roger Taylor at 463-3763 or email drumdoc@aol.com.
Don’t miss students’ pops and percussion concerts
Band students from McMurray Middle School and Vashon High School will fill the floor of VHS’s gym at 7 p.m. Thursday, for the schools’ annual free Pops Concert. And on Tuesday, Vashon High School’s acclaimed Percussion Ensemble Concert will play a concert at 7 p.m. in the VHS theater. For the past two years, the percussion event has sold out, so buy tickets — only $5 — early at Vashon Bookshop and The Brown Agency.
Slack key master pays a visit
Makana, a singer, composer and internationally acclaimed player of Hawaiian slack key guitar, will play a concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 7, at Open Space for Arts & Community.
Esquire Magazine recently called Makana the greatest living player in the slack key genre. He was recognized as one of America’s top three guitarists by Guitar Player Magazine in 2008. He has five albums to his credit.
His music can be heard in the film “The Descendents,” and he’s toured with such famous folks as Jason Mraz, Santana, Elvis Costello, Sting and John Legend. According to his website, www.makana
music.com, he makes music that “integrates elements of folk, rock, ethnic, classical, bluegrass, jazz, traditional, ambient, electronic and Hawaiian slack key.”
Makana is also recognized for the Occupy/protest song “We Are The Many,” which he wrote and performed at the APEC summit in Honolulu in 2011 in front of Pres. Barack Obama and 20 other world leaders. Tickets to the show are $15 and $17 and are on sale now at Vashon Bookshop and www.brownpapertickets.com.
