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Each and every one of us has had all sorts of personal experiences with music.....we find ourselves calmed by it, excited by it, comforted by it, mystified by it and often haunted by it. Music can lift us out of depression or move us to tears. Some of us need music to start the day and as company when we drive, especially those of us who commute off-island to the city. Sometimes we just need it to calm our thoughts when we are done for the day, to usher us into the world of dreams at night.

In fact, the right song can work for us in more than one way--it can distract us from pain, it can boost our mood or revive old memories and it can even prompt the body to match its rhythms...yeah, that's right...make us want to dance, baby... It has tempo, rhythm, melody, harmony....so it stimulates the brain in many ways all at once.

Music can provoke your thoughts, set a mood, or put you on edge. It can be a release or an old friend that brings comfort......or quite simply it can be used to drive the neighbors crazy.

Vashon's music scene is rich with some of the most incredible artists you will ever come across in your lifetime. Join me in recognizing our music community and getting to know them by getting out and supporting some of the live shows on the island. So many choices of venues, some of which are:

Café Luna: They have live music just about every weekend and usually without a cover charge. It’s a nice intimate atmosphere and a perfect place to curl up on a couch and listen to some music. They bring in local performers, as well as off-island artists. Check out their lineup at http://www.cafelunavashon.com.

The Hardware Store: They have a fantastic Open Mic Night every third Tuesday of the month. This Open Mic is diverse, inclusive, and full of all kinds of local talent. I would say it’s definitely a good time and worth checking out. For more info, check out http://www.thsrestaurant.com .

The Red Bicycle Bistro: Formally Bishop’s Pub & Grill and now under new owners that have spared no expense to bring the island some first class entertainment, you can look forward to some really great live shows in the very near future. Keep tabs on what’s happening by checking out their website: http://www.bishopspubandgrill.com.

Blue Heron Art Center: Among the millions of other things that this Art Center has to offer, they put on some pretty cool music shows from time to time. For upcoming events, visit their website at http://vashonalliedarts.org.

Back Bay Inn: They have live music every weekend, on the deck in the summer. Stormy and Victoria inspire the activities for an exciting very hopping spot featuring Island musicians. An intimate setting with music inside every weekend over the winter in the dinning room. http://www.backbayinn.net

Minglemint Roastery: Weekly live music mostly presented Saturdays from 11am to 2pm, but randomly held at other times. This Vashon grown/inspired tradition started with Peter Larsen, when Seattle's Best Coffee started it's first roastery there. http://www.minglement.com/

Vashon Park District: Several sites are sponsored by the Susan McCabe program & music supported at Ober Park Concerts in the Park, The Village Green, and Strawberry Festival. http://www.vashonparkdistrict.org

Vashon Strawberry Festival: Troy Kindred has taken the reigns from Bill Brown/Jim Ferrari, as Music Coordinator for the 2008 Vashon Strawberry Festival. There are two main stages, one at Ober Park, and one at Pandora's Box. Troy is working on having another at the Village Green. http://vashonchamber.com/strawberry_fest.htm

Watch for numerous inspired concerts/offerings at these sites, supported by members of the Havurate EE Shalom, Vashon Co-Housing, the Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church, and the Bethel Evangelical Free Church.

These are only some of the places on the island that you can experience great live music. There are others, tucked away here and there….you just have to find them. Could be a midnight jam in your neighbor’s garage, could be a rockin’ barn bash with half the island present…..why, even Sporty’s has been know to rock it once in awhile.

For more information on the Vashon music scene, visit http://www.vashonmusic.com and remember......

Celebrate life, music matters.

1st Annual Vashon Music Festival July 2008

What I look for in musicians is generosity. There is so much to learn from each other and about each other's culture. Great creativity begins with tolerance.

(Yo-Yo Ma Cellist)