Blues roots rock musician plays at Red Bike

JD Hobson will bring his blues roots Americana and rock sound to the Red Bike at 8:30 p.m. Friday.

A two-time winner of the South Sound Blues Association’s Back to Beale Street competition, Hobson creates a powerful mix of upbeat soulful roots music — both solo and with a four-piece band. His music never fails to pack the dance floor, while also stirring the soul.

In 2013, Hobson’s album “Where the Sun Don’t Shine” hit number eight on the Freeform American Roots Chart and number three on KEXP-FM’s Blues chart.

Hobson studied under music greats like John Jackson, David Honeyboy Edwards and John Cephas at Centrum in Port Townsend, giving Hobson his exceptional feel for most roots music.

This is an all-ages, free event until 11 p.m., then 21 and older after that.

American folk and African music comes to Blue Heron

Ben Hunter and Joe Seamons, who formed a blues duo in 2012, recently won the International Blues Competition, beating out 94 other acts. They will play their signature sound inspired by early 20th century American folk and African music at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Blue Heron.

Hunter, born in Lesotho, Africa, and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, is a classically trained violinist who studied music around the world. Seamons is devoted to Northwest American folk music. He’s received a Woody Guthrie Fellowship and studied banjo with Hobe Kytr.

The musical duo’s new album, “The North Wind & The Sun,” taps into everything from Memphis jug band blues, to work songs recorded in southern prisons, to an early jazz composition of Duke Ellington. Their music runs the range of American roots and pre-blues a cappella field hollers to fiddle and banjo breakdowns and acoustic blues. Last year, they launched a documentary film project to explore modern day music along the Mississippi River.

Tickets may be purchased at vashonalliedarts.org and Blue Heron.

Bestselling author talks shop

Bainbridge-based Jonathan Evison is The New York Times bestselling author of four novels. He will be the guest lecturer for Vashon Allied Arts’ Arts & Humanities series at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Vashon High School theater.

Evison’s book,“The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving,” was made into a movie starring Paul Rudd — to be released this year — and has recently completed his fifth book. He has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Salon and National Public Radio. Evison will discuss his writing process, his books and how the reader is the best tool in any writer’s belt.

Tickets may be purchased at vashonalliedarts.org and Blue Heron.

Art Talk explores life and art of renowned Seattle artist

Art historian Rebecca Albiani will discuss the life and art of painter Jacob Lawrence at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 17, at the Vashon High School theater.

Lawrence, who at age 23 gained national recognition for his 60-panel migration series painted on cardboard, is a renowned 20th-century painter.

Born in 1917, Lawrence moved to Harlem at the age of 13, where he lived and learned to paint. In 1970, he moved to Seattle to become an art professor at the University of Washington.

During his long career, Lawrence explored the history and struggles of African-Americans, portraying significant periods in African-American history. His use of bright colors and a flattened style made for a powerful treatment of realistic subject matter.

Tickets may be purchased at vahsonalliedarts.org and Blue Heron.