Yes, once again, Sami’s bow catches fire during an Onlies’ practice session. It’s such a common occurrence these days, nobody in the photo seems to care. Fortunately, the band has hired a firefighter to stand by for all practice sessions and concerts, and she was able to put the fire out in seconds. Alas, the costs of purchasing new bows for Sami has become a major drain on the Onlies finances.
Definitely check out all the other great acts over the weekend, from Friday through Monday. While our show takes place on Saturday, Sami plays some Cape Breton and old-timey tunes for dancers on Friday (4:30 p.m., International Dance Stage), Riley plays with his dad on Sunday (6 p.m., Trad Stage), and we all join Paul Anastasio & Fire of Tierra Caliente for some heated Mexican string music on Monday (12:30 p.m., Fisher Green Stage).
In a benefit for Northwest Folklife, join us, John Ackerman, and Sunshine Music Together instructors for a family-oriented sing-along and concert from 2 to 3:15 p.m. at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center, in Redmond. We’ll be playing our own tunes from 2:50 to 3:10 p.m. — ish!
Even if neither you nor your littlest has never been to a Music Together class, these songs are easily accessible for families with young children to enjoy! Heck, even old hipsters will have a great time. Come out, and help raise a little money for the best fest in the west!
Music Together is an innovative music and movement program for children ages newborn to age five years and their parents or caregivers, that is based on the belief that all children are inherently musical. Originally offered to the public in 1987, it pioneered the concept of a research-based, developmentally appropriate early childhood music curriculum that strongly emphasizes and facilitates adult involvement.
Tickets are $10, $5 for children (Are you under 6 months? You get in free!)
Imagine an under-21 band competition (unimaginable!), where your favorite teenage folk trio is pitted against an incredibly great rapper/musician – Kingston’s Nabii KO$MO, an absolutely crazed garage-rock band out of Bellevue – Thee Samedi, and an amazingly ethereal electronica artist, Manatee Commune (a.k.a. Bellingham’s Grant Eadie, who happens to play violin, guitar, and keys). Well, that actually will come to pass at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15 at the EMP at Seattle Center, as part of EMP’s annual Sound Off! competition. We’re freaking out with trepidation and excitement, and we would so be honored if you would join us, root for us, and root for our competition as well — they truly rock. It’s such an honor to be among semi-finalists in this well-respected annual event. We recommend attending every one of the three semi-final events, which run each Saturday starting Feb. 8, and then coming out for the final showdown, March 1.
An annual event since 2001, EMP’s Sound Off! supports the all-ages scene by giving artists an opportunity to showcase original music, launch their music careers, and connect with the larger artistic community. All participants are 21 or under and residents of Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, or Idaho.
The coolest rule is that all music has to be 100 percent original, so while you’ll hear some familiar stuff, we’ll be debuting some new tunes and songs. Get the details (including tix). Be there!
Tomorrow, along with a slew o’ stellar Seattle musos, we will brandish our fiddles, geetars, and such and play more than a few notes at the Winter Fireside Party, a hells-a-fire fundraiser for Northwest Folklife starting at 2 p.m. at Seattle Center. We’ll play a concert AND a square dance (yes, we’re giving our fingers a day of rest today), and count ourselves fortunate to play in a showcase alongside the likes of Phil and Vivian Williams, Paul Anastasio, and others. Concerts follow with Orville Williams, Ravenna Woods, The Sojourners, The Shivas, dang, even that most teenagerly of Northwest folk stars, Baby Gramps. Our elbows will be looking out for some good rubbing.
The square dance starts at 2 p.m., with Gabe Strand calling. Then at 4 p.m., we’ll be part of the Northwest Fiddlers’ Showcase.
Warning: The sticker shock is $25, but if you consider it’s for a great, great cause, you’ll probably just want to buy two tickets for yourself, or bring a friend. Do, and say high to us, dance a do-si-do, and if you’ve got an instrument, bring it to: There’ll be jams galore.
All the deets are here.
The Onlies want the world to hear five acoustic-string geniuses, and to that end have invited them all to perform a house concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8 in Madrona, at the fabulicious home of Gretl Galgon.
Tashina Clarridge and Simon Chrisman of the Bee Eaters have brought together an all-star band to play and sing two sets of high-octane bluegrass, taking a break from their regular gigs to revel in the sounds and grooves of traditional bluegrass, a music in which all players have deep roots.
The musicians are:
Though these five have shared the stage and toured together over the years in various combinations, the roots of their connection grow from late-night jams they’ve had at festivals, parties, and music gatherings… and that’s the energy they’ll be bringing to the stage on this one-off run down the West Coast: The playful exuberance and freedom of making music just because it feels good.
The Onlies will play a new tune or three to begin the evening, and then turn the stage over to Tashina, Simon, and friends. Please come, and invite your friends: It’ll be a faboo way to usher in the new year!
Entrance is $15, students $10. Come at 7 for snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, and wine in the loveliest of venues! Show starts at 7:30 p.m. promptly!
Gretl lives at 816 35th Ave. in Seattle. Map is here: bit.ly/Gretls
A huge shout out to KBCS and all the air time they’ve given us over the last year, and woohoo are we on cloud nine having “Setting Out to Sea” named as one of the year’s 10 best CDs.
That designation came from Eric Hardee, host of one of our favorite KBCS shows, “Folksounds,” which airs Tuesday nights with co-host Jeanne Geiger.
You can check out the whole list of each DJ’s top CDs on the KBCS Web site — we highly recommend it.
Definitely give the interview a listen — it includes tunes by several of the bands — synth pop from Laser Fox of Seattle and ethereal electronic coolness from Manatee Commune of Bellingham, and hip hop from Tommy Cassidy of West Richland. Great stuff, and stiff competition. We’re excited!
When we think of music, the word “competition” isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Rather, it’s being in the groove, in harmony, tight and in the pocket. But alas, we’re going to throw that all aside now that we’ve been invited to join the Experience Music Project’s 2014 “Sound Off!” battle of under-age Pacific Northwest bands.
The four-Saturdays event (Feb. 8, 15, 22, and March 1) pits 12 up-and-coming soloists and ensembles against one another, though we’re guessing it’ll be a lot more fun than fight. Our big date is Feb. 15 — hopefully you can come and cheer us on. We know several of the performers, and listened to all the others today, and we know that we’ll be in great musical company, performing alongside folkies, indie rockers, hip-hop artists, soul singers, hard rockers, and so forth.
House concert! House concert! Our favorite place to play. And at a way cool house in Madrona, too (thank you, Gretl!).We’re super excited to introduce Colin Cotter and Ethan Lewis of A Thousand Years At Sea to you. We’ll be playing an evening of music with them, each on our own and perhaps we’ll even mix it up a bit. Ethan and Colin are fiddlers, guitarists, singers, and songwriters who deliver high-energy performances of heartfelt songs, rocking tunes, and virtuosic mad skills (with an emphasis on ‘mad’ — do come just for that!). Their ever-evolving exploration of contemporary American songwriting and the living-tradition of Celtic music has created a new sound that stays true to the band’s roots in folk music, integrating Celtic, rock, Americana, and instrumental improvisation into, as the Sacramento News Review wrote, “something sweet and subtle.” And yes, they’re coming all the way up from California: We’re lucky enough to hang and play music with them at a fiddle camp down there every year. Please come!
Doors open at 7 for pre-concert treats (snacks and beverages), and music starts at 7:30 p.m. Suggested donation is $10 to $15, though if you’re hurting for cash, just come as you are!
RSVP to info@theOnlies.com, so we’ll know how much snack-a-liciousness to prepare!
See you there!
