Three concerts will provide a variety of musical genres for Islanders’ listening pleasure this weekend.
Ride a musical wave at Red Bike
The Red Bike’s upcoming show on Jan. 30 is proof that rock ‘n’ roll is alive and well on Vashon.
Vashon surf band Shark Biscuit and rock band Murgatroyd will take the stage, filling the Island establishment with their unique brands of rock.
Shark Biscuit, comprised of Sue Neuman, Fiona Hope, Peyton Levin, Dick Moritz and Rob Mosley, will perform rock and surf music from the 1950s and 1960s, undeniably a golden era for rock ‘n’ roll. The five-person Vashon band is known for its “reverb-soaked guitar stylings, tribal drumming and rumbling bass lines with a powerful horn section and a rockin’ keyboard,” said Red Bike events organizer Pete Welch.
He said Shark Biscuit’s music is danceable and smile-evoking.
Murgatroyd, formed on the Island in 2008, is a stunning combination of four longtime Vashon musicians — Brett Bacchus, Ruben Arnot, Morgan Snyder and Doug Spencer. The fusion of the four results in a band that has swagger, personality and raw energy reminiscent of 1970s arena rock, Welch said.
Saturday’s concert promises to leave the audience “exhausted, yet satisfied,” he added. The free concert takes place at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at the Red Bike. It is open to patrons of all ages until 11 p.m., when the Bike becomes a venue for those 21 and older.
Ravin’ Wolf brings bluegrass to Luna
Ravin’ Wolf, the acoustic sagebrush blues power duo from Central Washington, will bring an infusion of the blues to Café Luna at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29.
Jamey and Heather Bilyeu, Survive Records recording artists, have dubbed their music “sagebrush blues” because it is “tucked away in the canyons, where Seattle meets the sage,” said band member Heather Bilyeu, who with Jamey Bilyeu makes up Ravin’ Wolf.
This one-of-a-kind acoustic blues pair slips in and out of the genre with ease to explore its edges and defy its boundaries, taking audiences on an enthusiastic journey on only two acoustic guitars, according to concert organizers.
Honing their live performance together since the mid-1990s, they have toured Alaska, released two full-length studio CDs and are currently putting the finishing touches on their first live album, “Acoustic Champagne,” to be released in 2010.
Ravin’ Wolf supports Farm Aid and The World Society for the Protection of Animals through album sales.
Friday’s concert at Café Luna is free, though tips are welcomed.
Folk takes root at Vashon café
Seattle folk singer Rose Laughlin, who performs traditional Celtic and American roots songs, will appear with some Island friends at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at Café Luna in a free concert. Tips are welcomed.
A blend of different influences are evident in Laughlin’s music, which is a unique and captivating take on traditional tunes.
She says her musical inspirations include Nancy Griffith, Judy Collins, Linda Rondstadt, Ricki Lee Jones, Stevie Nicks, Shawn Colvin, Karan Casey and Susan McKeown.
Laughlin performed with guitarist/composer/producer Mike Kirkpatrick while in Chicago for a time.
“Souvenir,” Laughlin’s debut CD, is a collection of both traditional and contemporary Irish and American folk music. The chanteuse captures the spirit of each song, from the warning tone of “The Month of January” to the reflective “Shades of Gloria.”
Laughlin’s soulful interpretation, along with producer Dennis Cahill’s striking musical arrangements, makes “Souvenir” an engaging compilation of songs, according to concert promoters.
