Ben Starner (Keys) & Phillip Nakano  (sax, flute, and percussion) are masterful musicians steeped in the classics.  A delightful journey into a wonderful world of music.

Zach Hamer founding member of Skagit Counties Indie Folk Rock band, “Kuinka,” has been writing material for an upcoming new solo album. His solo endeavors will be under the pseudonym Forest Stoke and the music style will gravitate towards the Country genre.

Come check what Zach has been up to!

Thanks to community support this is a free all ages show.

Show starts at 5:30pm

Ben Starner (Keys) & Phillip Nakano  (sax, flute, and percussion) are masterful musicians steeped in the classics.  A delightful journey into a wonderful world of music.

Guemes Island General Stores 7th annual costume Halloween Party.

Ghoulish Halloween Goodies, Funky sounds of Ebb Slack & Flood, costume prizes, and a great time for all ages!!! Don’t be afraid, the islanders (Fidalgo or Guemes) usually don’t bite. Can’t be so sure about the mainlanders. But remember everyone is welcome.

We will have a special Halloween dinner Menu.
Doors open at 5:30pm, Kids Costume Contest 6:15pm, Music starts @ 6:30 pm, Adult Costume Contest 7:45 pm

$15 Adults in costume and online presale, $20 Adults without costume day of. (kids under 12 free)

Buy tickets for Halloween Costume Party Featuring Ebb Slack & Flood

“Ben Starner is a Skagit County native born and raised. Ben has always loved music and has been playing the piano since 12, getting a jump-start from his sister when she taught him Scott Joplin’s classic rag “The Entertainer.” This led to his piano lessons with the first five years of playing saturated in the genres of ragtime and stride solidifying his musical foundation and continuing to be his favored styles. Today, Ben’s love of music and excellent ear affords him the ability to enjoy and perform multiple genres, not forsaking his first loves (jazz and ragtime) but in the true spirit of these styles, adds to the richness of his musical artistry. “

Chad Henry & the Setbacks is a Guemes Island / Anacortes based project, bringing influences spanning a wide range of genres to form their particular brand of rootsy soulful Americana. 

The lineup includes Luke Deryckx (drums), Dan Burnett (keys, violin), and Jim Reeder (bass) supporting Chad Henry’s songwriting, vocals and guitar. Their music can be described as Americana Rock with a healthy flavor of blues and southern gospel.

They are celebrating the release of their first EP which is titled "Against the Tide".  It goes live on all streaming platforms on October 18.

Another Island band by the name of Songbirds will be opening the night.

This is a free all ages show!

Tenderpile’s Smile Aisle is a jazz trio out of Bellingham consisting of eight string guitar, keyboard, and drums.  The concept of this project is to play music that is melodic and easy to listen to, while also being subtly complex and technical, in a configuration suited for the most intimate spaces.  Covering a range of material from Pat Metheny to Stevie Wonder, Tenderpile's Smile Aisle aims to showcase this selection of instrumental deep cuts as a key ingredient for a perfectly relaxed and social environment.

Electro-Acoustic Jazz Duo, Featuring Don Bird, Composer/Keyboards, Jake Yansen, Saxophones

Nathaniel Talbot began learning piano at age seven, started a punk rock band at thirteen, and quickly thereafter began steeping himself in guitar-driven sounds of Kelly Joe Phelps, Elliott Smith, Bill Frisell and other Pacific Northwest heroes. Over the next 15 years, Talbot honed an approach to songwriting and storytelling, driven by his complex, yet delicate, fingerstyle guitar work, which earned him a distinct place in the northwest folk scene.

With a full band, and a broader, more experimental sonic palette, the newest album “The Fabric and the Weave” never ventures too far from the grounding force of Talbot’s clear voice, affecting storytelling and distinctive guitar lines. Talbot currently performs both as an acoustic duo with bassist Keegan Harshman and as an electric trio with the addition of Mickey Grimm on drums.

And here's a couple vids highlighting the range of sounds:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ffo0SPCPzQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RooSlqq2-Lk

Adults $12 day of. Children 12 and younger are free.

With a dynamic three piece horn section, driving rhythm section, and powerhouse vocals, GrooveBot brings the soulful sounds of funk, r&b, and Motown to the Northwest. Based out of Bellingham, GrooveBot provides the beat that makes you want to get down! From the classic tunes of Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson to the modern hits of Vulfpeck and Daft Punk, GrooveBot keeps the energy high, the vibes going, and the soul flowing.

Adults $15, Children 12 and under are Free!

Buy tickets for Groovebot

Object Heavy is Humboldt County’s hard hitting soul sensation. The band is led by the nuanced and powerful voice of Richard Love and composed of seasoned veterans of the West Coast Soul and Funk scene. Fresh off the release of their new record, 'Love & Gravity' (Produced by Kelly Finnigan of Monophonics), they have garnered stellar reviews from an international audience and were promoted as a featured artist on Apple Music's Soul and RnB carousel. They were also featured on several of Apple Music's top playlists within their genre field. Object Heavy has spent the last few years establishing themselves as a stand out live experience in touring the greater western United States and sharing the stage with diverse talent such as Orgone, The Motet, Rebirth Brass Band, Polyrhythmics, Turkuaz, Lyrics Born, and Chali 2na. Object Heavy’s magnetic blend of classic Cadillac soul, effortlessly contagious dance grooves, vocal harmonies and blazing musicianship is a must see live experience.

Ebb, Slack, and Flood will be opening the event. They are a local Anacortes band playing funk, soul and reggae with a heavy blues accent. Their unique sound is a collaborative fusion, each member bringing different skills and styles to the table. The result is infectious blend of funk, reggae and R&B is easy to listen to and hard not to dance to.

Online advance adult tickets $20, day of $25, kids 12 and younger are free.

Buy tickets for Object Heavy w/ Ebb, Slack & Flood

'Originally formed to pay tribute to guitar hero and folk legend Jerry Garcia, the Andy Coe Band has evolved into the liveliest psychedelic jam band to come out of the Pacific Northwest in years. Guitarist Andy Coe, with Gary Palmer on keys, Chris Jones on bass, and Scott Goodwin on drums, deliver stellar improvisational tunes in mystical proportions.'

Jacob Navarro is a local hero bringing beautiful tales of life in the PNW. One of our favorite local musicians is returning to open the night out. So don’t be late catch the 5 or 5:30 ferry. He will be starting at 6pm.

Adult tickets are $20 advance, $25 day of show. Advance tickets are available through the link below.

Buy tickets for Andy Coe Band w/ Special Guest Jacob Navarro

“Petunia & The Vipers are one of these creative generators and innovators, and their music and moxy can be found defining the cutting edge of what is considered creative in country and roots today, while still keeping alive what made country music great in the past.”

“…Hybrid musical style…edge of punk appreciation…this is an amazing album…a whole range of different styles”   -Bob Harris, BBC

“REAL UNDERGROUND MUSIC. Foot-tapping country & western laced with rock and jazz.”-The New York Post

“That’s not a band. It’s another world.” -Jonathan Byrd, artist

“Petunia and the Vipers glide effortlessly between every Country niche with the greatest of ease…”

$15 Adults /Kids 12 and under are free.
Music starts @6:30p.m.

Buy tickets for Petunia & the Vipers

Come celebrate summer int the PNW with Yogoman!

YOGOMAN's Jamaica - New Orleans Dance Riddims compel audiences to get up and dance with shout outs, sing a longs, and call and response lyrics.  Lead singing drummer Jordan Rain leads his world class dance band through a variety of syncopated styles- Ska, Reggae, RnB, Funk, Soul, Hip Hop, Latin, Rock and New Orleans Traditional Jazz/Brass Band music.  Rain has written, arranged and produced 5 albums with YOGOMAN (also known as Yogoman Burning Band) and 2 solo albums.  As a family man, Rain tours with his wife Jacqueline "Bongo Jac" Rain who sings and plays percussion in the band, while occasionally featuring their musically talented children and has brought a lineage of star musicians to the stage over the years. YOGOMAN rehearsals and shows have educated both band and audience members alike to the subtlety of vintage Jamaican and Soul music that Rain has been a vinyl DJ of since 1999. Jamaican Music legends that have shared the stage with YOGOMAN are Toots & The Maytals, the Skatalites, Third World, Winston "Flames" Jarrett (of Alton Ellis & the Flames), Clinton Fearon (of the Gladiators) and Pato Banton, while co-billing with star groups such as Iron & Wine, Lost Bayou Ramblers, ORGONE, Dengue Fever, Cave Singers, Camper Van Beethoven, RJD2 and collaborating live on stage with Pato Banton, Winstrong, SambAmore, Lucky Brown, the Polyrhythmics, Junior Reid (Black Uhuru), Blue Scholars and Earles Of Newtown.

"...It's ALWAYS a good idea to spin a Yogoman track. Positive lyrics, infectious melodies, stellar musicianship...just great, great songs. They've gone from being unknown to KHUM listeners to being possibly the most requested band during my shift."
-Larry Trask/DJ, KHUM.com/104.7 FM

"If you're not having a good time to YOGOMAN's music, you have to ask yourself, do I know how to have a good time?" - Sam Beam of Iron and Wine

OK, what is Three For Silver?

Three For Silver is a tatterdemalion ensemble of rotating musicians led by Lucas Warford, “the acid baby of Tom Waits and Les Claypool,” as NW legend Baby Gramps called him.

It's an aggressively original band that is impervious to easy description.

PR people often use phrases like Mythic Americana, Doomfolk, or Apocalypso.

Some of those are pretty good, but they still just feel like the desperate necessities of someone forced to fill out a  form labelled "genre".

​

Three For Silver features one-of-a-kind instruments you've never seen playing styles mixed in ways you've never heard. The band has hit the road since 2013, and their monomaniacal devotion has already led them all over the USA and the world, from Accordion Festivals in Vienna to Modern Music Expos in Russia, and even partnering with the US State Department for ongoing cultural exchange tours to countries thirsty for truly original American music.

​

Buy tickets for Yogoman Burning Band with special guest Three for Silver

Online adult tickets are $20. Kids 12 and younger are free of charge.

“The Daves” (Dave ParIsh and Dave Zoeller) play music borrowed from the Scottish and Irish traditions with a fair number of original compositions snd songs to add to the mix.  They met many years ago when they were both with a larger musical group.

The Daves continue to delight audiences large and small with their eclectic repertoire performed on guitars, flute, keyboard, and concertina.  They often laugh at themselves and each other at the conclusion of a tune, and hope the audience is having at least as much fun.

Come check them out.

Free all ages.

Scott is an emerging force on the festival circuit, with his wild approach to the guitar and nimble funky band he is immediately recognizable and undeniably original. The mastery of his guitar playing combined with the fun recklessness of his songwriting show that the rules of songwriting and playing the guitar no longer exist for him. He doesn’t use a strap, often plays the guitar like someone would play piano and performs with the uninhibited joy and intensity of someone who recognizes that every time we make music is an honor and a gift.

Ben Starner will be opening the night at 6pm with  A delightful journey into a wonderful world of music.

$20 in advance, $25 at the door. Kids 12 and under are free of charge.

Buy tickets for Scott Pemberton O Theory

San Juan Island, WA-based indie folk-rock duo Mandy Fer and Dave McGraw are back at it with a new sound, and a new name: Sway Wild! Their exceptional vocal harmonies, coupled with Fer’s pioneering electric guitar work, have become a vehicle to carry them around the world, sharing stages with the likes of Iron & Wine, Lake Street Dive, Gregory Alan Isakov, and Watchhouse. Sway Wild’s infectious sound explores the corners of rock, pop, funk, prog, worldbeat, and folk, but at its nucleus it is undeniably a music full of joy. It can squeeze the heart in your chest, it can draw tears from your eyes, and it can force you to get up and move your body; over and over, it somehow manages to do all three at once. Mandy Fer also tours as the lead guitarist for Grammy nominated Allison Russell and recently performed with Brandi Carlile and Jason Isbell.

Adult Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 day of show, Kids 12 and younger are free of charge.

Buy tickets for Sway Wild

website: www.swaywild.com

facebook: www.facebook.com/DaveMcGrawandMandyFer

Instagram: www.instagram.com/swaywild

twitter: www.twitter.com/swaywild
spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4gBQnCbOX2Okv38QKDmb5o?si=hRwJO_5sSh6NmzrOWZ-_5A

UP UP UP Inc. is a self-contained touring circus show with the mobility to provide socially distant outdoor circus shows this summer! We are a WA State & Federal 501C3 nonprofit whose goal it is to do shows for outdoor gatherings & events, tribal community centers, small farms, refugee support groups, children’s grief camps,nursing homes, women's shelters, etc. to bring some joy and levity into the air! We have a portable stage truck, a baby grand piano for live music, and have mounted a 30’ hand cranked crane on the truck to serve as our aerial rigging point and point of interest for other shenanigans! 

What will the show be like?

We are a collection of performers from Bellingham, Seattle and afar. We are aerialists, musicians, acrobats, clowns and illusionists. This 1 hour show will be whimsical, beautiful, hilarious and accessible for those of all ages. It’ll leave your jaw dropped with amazement and belly aching from laughter.

How do you all fit in one truck?

We don’t!

A few of us will be in the truck and the rest of the ensemble on bicycles, to reduce emissions and increase the fun!

Bring a blanket or lawn chair & stake out a cozy spot for you and your crew! Please remember that it is never permitted to bring food, drinks or water bottles with you to the General Store. But don’t worry we always have plenty of food, water and beverage items to choose from.

More info: http://www.upupupinc.com

Promo Video: https://youtu.be/9cMOID24W1k

Online advance tickets are $20 Adults $10 Kids between the ages of 5 and 15. Kids under the age of 5 are free.

Buy tickets for UP UP UP Cranetruck Circus

Sometimes we get so unnecessarily swept up in who’s rising and falling in music these days that the sheer joy of music is overlooked. Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms are a world apart from all of that nonsense and let you immerse yourself in the melody and story of classic sounding country music until all other cares of life fade away. Charismatic performers, they bring their unique set of talents to the stage with an eye towards good times and an ear towards the deepest songs and tunes. 

After years of touring together, Reeb and Caleb work intuitively. The pair bring the spirit of legendary country duos into their contemporary takes on country music. The blend of true harmonies, the sharply-written country songs, and the un-showy authenticity strike a rich vein that makes them seem like they are born and raised in Music City.  But the Pacific Northwest is their home. For years, Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms have been at the heart of the Pacific Northwest music scene. For some time now they've been leading the underground country scene, quietly pursuing a country music vision without much care for what’s expected or in vogue at the time. There’s a lot to admire in this singular perseverance and honesty.

Caleb and Reeb both originally hail from Washington State: Caleb from the coastal San Juan Islands, and Reeb from the high desert plateau of Douglas County. The two have come together in music and are hailed as some of the most compelling musicians making country roots music in America today. When these two sing together, their honest incantations leave us spell-bound and smiling. Pillars of the Northwest music scene, they carry the torch of their music around the world, and can be found touring as a duo, as well as with the Foghorn Stringband, and the Caleb Klauder Reeb Willms Country Band. 

Adults $20 in advance $25 day of show.

Buy tickets for Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms

Children 12 and younger are free of charge.

Clinton Fearon and the Boogie Brown Band return to Guemes Island once again.  Bringing with them the sound of the islands.  

Clinton Fearon is a composer, songwriter, singer and player of instruments since his early teens, and a professional since the age of 19.He was born in Jamaica and become the bassist, vocalist and lyricist for the mythic Gladiators, as well as a session musician for Coxsonne Dodd in Studio One and Lee 'Scratch' Perry's at Black Ark, two of the main producers on the island at this time. He also composed some everlasting bass lines for well-known artists like Yabby You, Jimmy Riley, Max Romeo, Junior Byles and many others.

After leaving Jamaica 1987, Clinton Fearon start a new career from Seattle. With other musicians of the Gladiators, he decided to stay in the US and to found The Defenders. The band built a nice following in the Northwest. After five years the band split and Clinton Fearon formed the Boogie Brown Band with local musicians in 1993.

Each song of Clinton Fearon is a strong message coming from the heart of a man who dedicates his life to help a better world to come. With chiselled music and poetic lyrics, he opens reggae to a wider audience who simply loves his beautiful songs.

$30 Online Adult /Kids 12 and under are free.
Event starts @ 6:30 p.m.

Buy tickets for Clinton Fearon & The Boogie Brown Band

There are limited tickets for this event, tickets will be available to purchase online.

No outside food , drinks or water bottles allowed. But don’t worry we have water, drinks and a special event menu to order from.

“Ben Starner is a Skagit County native born and raised. Ben has always loved music and has been playing the piano since 12, getting a jump-start from his sister when she taught him Scott Joplin’s classic rag “The Entertainer.” This led to his piano lessons with the first five years of playing saturated in the genres of ragtime and stride solidifying his musical foundation and continuing to be his favored styles. Today, Ben’s love of music and excellent ear affords him the ability to enjoy and perform multiple genres, not forsaking his first loves (jazz and ragtime) but in the true spirit of these styles, adds to the richness of his musical artistry. “

Ben Starner (Keys) & Phillip Nakano  (sax, flute, and percussion) are masterful musicians steeped in the classics.  A delightful journey into a wonderful world of music.

Tenderpile’s Smile Aisle is a jazz trio out of Bellingham consisting of eight string guitar, keyboard, and drums.  The concept of this project is to play music that is melodic and easy to listen to, while also being subtly complex and technical, in a configuration suited for the most intimate spaces.  Covering a range of material from Pat Metheny to Stevie Wonder, Tenderpile's Smile Aisle aims to showcase this selection of instrumental deep cuts as a key ingredient for a perfectly relaxed and social environment.

About The Savage Blues Band...

 Get ready for some hard-driving, toe-tapping, classic blues when the Savage Blues Band makes its return to the Guemes Island General Store on Saturday June 8th.  They call it the blues, but their music inspires good times and dancing wherever they play. 

 The Savage Blues set-list is loaded with classic covers by artists such as Wilson Pickett, Muddy Waters,  Junior Wells, Ray Charles, Jimmy Reed, Charlie Musselwhite, Robert Cray, James Cotton, Elmore James and, of course, the three Kings:  Albert, B.B., and Freddie.  Bluesy cuts by the Doors, Rolling Stones, and ZZ Top are also on the list.

 The Savage Blues Band was founded by the late regional musical legend, John Savage, in 2005. It included a pair of MVHS high school pals and one of his adult guitar students.  They began performing as Johnny & The Moondogs, but changed the name several years after adding John’s talented son, Tom, to the lineup in 2013.

 With hundreds of gigs behind him, John ended his amazing professional career with a memorable, final performance at the Guemes Island General Store in November 2019.  Before passing on, he encouraged the band to keep playing and upholding the important legacy of American blues music.

 ...And, that’s what they’ve been doing ever since because:

 THEY’RE ON A MISSION FROM JOHN!

The band, which has some deep roots on Guemes Island, includes:

Tom Savage:  lead guitar, keyboards, blues harp & vocals
Jeff Stady:  rhythm guitar & backing vocals
Kim Westenhaver:  bass & backing vocals

Ken Morrison:  Drums

$10 Cover Charge. All ages welcome. Kids 12 and younger are free!

“Ben Starner is a Skagit County native born and raised. Ben has always loved music and has been playing the piano since 12, getting a jump-start from his sister when she taught him Scott Joplin’s classic rag “The Entertainer.” This led to his piano lessons with the first five years of playing saturated in the genres of ragtime and stride solidifying his musical foundation and continuing to be his favored styles. Today, Ben’s love of music and excellent ear affords him the ability to enjoy and perform multiple genres, not forsaking his first loves (jazz and ragtime) but in the true spirit of these styles, adds to the richness of his musical artistry. “

Join us for the return of some sweet, sweet music!

Taber Darland and Lisa Harmon have been performing individually throughout the Pacific Northwest for many years. In the spring of 2015, the two Bellingham based singer-songwriters discovered a kindred voice in each other and decided to launch the folk duo, The Sweet Goodbyes. This collaboration has revealed strength beyond the sum of its parts. With intricate melodies, weaving harmonies and lyrics that are both political and deeply personal, The Sweet Goodbyes offer their audiences a chance to witness something rare. Taber Darland and Lisa Harmon wear their hearts on their sleeves and together their voices blend flawlessly. You can't help but feel good when you watch this duo perform live. The Sweet Goodbyes are full of charm and talent - sure to prick the ears and put a shiver up the spine. They will be performing as a trio with their percussionist Dave Vaughns.

This is an all ages show! Tickets are $10 dollars for adults. Kids 12 and younger are free of charge.

We are very pleased to announce the much anticipated return of Skagit’s very own! Karl Blau will be returning from his new home in Philly. He will be returning to Guemes Island after another long winter. If you know Karl then you know it’s worth the trip. If you don’t know him, well then this is your opportunity, so don’t let yourself down. And remember “Its Worth the Swim.”

All the Fun for $10 Kids 12 and under are free of charge!

In it's current incarnation, Dog Tail Swing includes Paul Sherman on Bass, Keith Stone saxophone, David Holzemer on violin and Peter Jackson on Guitar. Hot Jazz, syncopation and improvisation. They are sure to make you dance your troubles away!