House Engine returns to the Bike
House Engine, a well-known Island dance band, will roll into the Red Bike at 9 p.m. Friday, May 28. The band plays a mix of rock, R&B, Motown, funk and original tunes.
The show is free and for all ages until 11 p.m. After that, ages 21 and older can attend.
A ska and reggae show on Saturday
Fans of reggae and ska music are in for a treat when Red Bicycle Bistro hosts a triple bill of ska bands beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday, May 29. The Georgetown Orbits, a Seattle band formed in 2004, will bring a blend of reggae, dancehall, funk, soul, jazz, ska and rock to the stage. Another ska band, The Notables, will also play that night, and Billy Geoghegan will fill out the bill. Geoghegan has been honing his own vision of reggae in clubs in southern California, Seattle, Salt Lake City and Austin. He has performed and recorded with musicians, including David Lindley, Clinton Fearon and Victor Rice.
The show has a $7 cover charge and is open to all ages until 11 p.m. It is for ages 21 and older after that.
Café Luna serves up a full cup of music
41 Miles, a duo that hails from the Gig Harbor-Poulsbo area, will play original folk rock at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 28, at Café Luna. It’s the second time the group has played at the café.The show is free.
The next night, James Coates will play his music at 7:30 p.m. at the café. Coates is a singer and songwriter who lives in Sumner.
VHS and McMurray bands will play
Islanders will have the chance to hear everything from the music of Aaron Copland’s “Rodeo” to beloved tunes from the movies at a pops concert performed by the combined bands of McMurray Middle School and Vashon High School.
The concert, slated for 7 p.m. Thursday, June 3, in the high school gym, is a fundraiser for the band programs. Admission to the show is by donation.
The combined bands will perform “I Believe I Can Fly” at the concert. The concert will also feature “Flight of the Bumblebee” on solo marimba and Copland’s “Hoe Down” from “Rodeo.”
The high school band will get the crowd involved as it plays “Name That Tune” with many movie tunes from well-known films, and seventh and eighth grade students will perform a medley of Rolling Stones songs.
The concert is being put on by BOPS (Band of Parents Supporters), a new booster club seeking to build greater financial support for the bands. BOPS’ goals include supplementing the operational costs of the bands and establishing a scholarship fund for students who otherwise couldn’t participate in band.
“These kids are fun and extremely talented,” said Bea Byrne, one of BOPS’ founding parents. “You just have to hear them perform once to know how important it is that we support them in every way we can.”
Greg Ruby Quartet comes to Vashon
A concert of new music by Greg Ruby, a Seattle guitarist and composer, will take place at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 5, at the Blue Heron.
The concert, performed by a quartet formed by Ruby, will be filled with new music inspired by jazz guitar legend, Django Reinhardt.
Ruby received a grant from Seattle’s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs and King County’s 4Culture to compose, record and and perform these compositions.
Tickets are $12 and $14 and are for sale at Blue Heron, Books by the Way, Heron’s Nest, brownpapertickets.com or by calling 463-5131.
