by Lara Dunning
Anacortes is known for its thriving music scene, including home-grown bands The Lonely Forest, Spoonshine and River Talk. All year, local venues like the Rockfish Grill, 13moons, H2O, The Brown Lantern and Anderson’s General Store rock with musicians. In summer, Seafarers’ Memorial Park, the Farmer’s Market at the Depot and The Heart of Anacortes amp up the ambiance with inviting outdoor stages. Sometimes there’s a cover, but usually it’s free with beverages and savory bites available. At Seafarers’ Memorial Park all one needs to do is bring a chair or a blanket and some goodies to snack on. Whatever musical vibe you’re into, Anacortes has it.
July
7/2 Savage Jazz Trio, mainstream jazz, Rockfish Grill, 6-9 p.m.
7/4 Skip Hamilton and Erin Hyre, R&B, pop and Americana, Anderson’s General Store on Guemes Island
7/4 Mia Vermillion, blues songstress, Anderson’s General Store on Guemes Island, 2-5 p.m.
7/4 The Swingnuts, upbeat and classical jazz, 13moons, 6-9 p.m.
7/4 Rock the Dock Community Concert, The Steve Kelly Band, All Star Band, Bobby Holland and The Breadline, Cascade Range, food, beer garden, children’s activities, Seafarers’ Memorial Park, 5-10 p.m.
7/5 Chris Eger, rock ‘n’ roll, The Heart of Anacortes, 6-8:30 p.m., admission $8, children under 12 free
7/5 El Colonel, rock and blues, Anderson’s General Store on Guemes Island, 5-9 p.m.
7/5 Margaret Wilder Band, boogie-woogie piano playing and vocals, H2O, 7:30 p.m.
7/5 B’rer Rabbit, roots, The Brown Lantern, 9:30 p.m., 21+
7/9 Stilly River Band, rock, bluegrass and folk, Rockfish Grill, 6-9 p.m.
7/10 Trish Hatley, jazz, Rockfish Grill, 6 p .m.
7/11 El Colonel and Mary De Le Fuente, rock and rockabilly, Rockfish Grill, 8 p.m.
7/12 Adrian Xavier, world reggae, The Heart of Anacortes, 6-8:30 p.m., admission $8, children under 12 free
7/12 Hamilton/Cox, roots, jazz, reggae, rock and blues, Anderson’s General Store on Guemes Island, 6-9 p.m.
7/12 Ebb, Slack & Flood, R&B jam band, The Brown Lantern, 9:30 p.m., 21+
7/13 Trish Hatley with Hans & Phil, jazz, The Heart of Anacortes sponsored by the
Anacortes Public Library Sunday Jazz Hour, 2-3 p.m.
7/15 Acoustic Music Recitals, Anacortes Public Library, 6:30-7 p.m.
7/18 Mia Vermillion, blues songstress, Rockfish Grill, 8-11 p.m.
7/18 Scott Cassu, classical, jazz and ethnic music, Seafarers’ Memorial Park Cap Sante Summer Concert Series, 7-9 p.m.
7/18 Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble, Zydeco and soul, H2O, 7:30 p.m.
7/18 Lane Fernado, rockabilly, 13moons, 6-9 p.m.
7/18, 7/19 & 7/20 Anacortes Unknown Music Series Vol. 4, musical performances, short independent films, book fair, food, 5 p.m. each evening at the Croatian Club (on the corner of 7th and N Ave), and 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Causland Park, full passes sold out, partial passes $45
7/19 Acoustic Music Recitals, Anacortes Public Library, 2-2:30 p.m.
7/19 Brian Lee & The Orbiters, traditional and modern blues, The Heart of Anacortes, 6-8:30 p.m., admission $8
7/19 TBA, Anderson’s General Store on Guemes Island, 6-9 p.m.
7/19 Snake Oil, guitar and blues, H2O, 7:30 p.m.
7/19 Sky Colony, folk, The Brown Lantern, 9:30 p.m., 21+
7/20 John Gold, energetic folk, The Brown Lantern, 4 p.m., 21+
7/23 Fidalgo Swing, Django Reinhardt inspired jazz, Rockfish Grill, 6-9 p.m.
7/25 Skip Hamilton and Erin Hyre, R&B, pop and Americana, Rockfish Grill, 8-11 p.m.
7/25 Strangetones, rockabilly, blues, vintage R&B and surf, Seafarers’ Memorial Park Cap Sante Summer Concert Series, 7-9 p.m.
7/26 Anacortes Brewery 20 Year Celebration, The Stilly River Band, Savage Jazz Trio, Little Joe Argo, Fidalgo Swing and Hamilton/Cox, food, Anacortes Brewery artisan beers, The Heart of Anacortes, 12-8:00 p.m.
7/26 Gertrude’s Hearse, country, rock and bluegrass, H2O, 9 p.m., 21 +
7/26 TBA, Anderson’s General Store on Guemes Island, 6-9 p.m.
7/30 Hamilton/Cox, roots, jazz, reggae, rock and blues,Rockfish Grill, 6-9 p.m.
7/31 Too Slim and the Taildraggers, rock and blues, H2O, 7:30 p.m.
7/31 A’Town Big Band, big band, Seafarers’ Memorial Park Wednesday Big Band Concert Series, 7 p.m.
August
8/1 – 8/3 Anacortes Arts Festival – read about it on our blog.
8/1 Spoonshine, blue-grass, folk, rock, Anacortes Arts Festival Main Stage, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
8/1 A’Town Big Band, big band, Anacortes Arts Festival Main Stage, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
8/1 Shidaa, world beat, Anacortes Arts Festival Main Stage, 3:30-5 p.m.
8/1 Jack Mattlingly and Whiskey Fever, Americana, folk and rock ‘n’ roll, Anacortes Arts Festival Main Stage, 5:30-7 p.m.
8/1 Local Anacortes Song Writers, Anacortes Arts Festival 8th Street Stage, 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
8/1 Scott Haynes, rock, Americana and country, Anacortes Arts Festival Waterfront Stage, 12-2:30 p.m.
8/1 TBA, Anacortes Arts Festival Waterfront Stage, 3-5 p.m.
8/1 Creme Tangerine, 5-piece Beatles cover band, Seafarers’ Memorial Park Cap Sante Summer Concert Series, 7-9 p.m.
8/2 R Factor 5, R&B and pop, H2O, 9:00 p.m., 21 +
8/2 TBA, Anderson’s General Store on Guemes Island, 6-9 p.m.
8/2 Toney Rocks, blues guitar, The Brown Lantern, 9:30 p.m., 21+
8/7 TBA, Seafarers’ Memorial Park Wednesday Big Band Concert Series, 7 p.m.
8/8 Jessica Lynne, country, Seafarers’ Memorial Park Cap Sante Summer Concert Series, 7-9 p.m.
8/9 Margaret Wilder Band, The Heart of Anacortes, 6-8:30 p.m., admission $8, children under 12 free
8/9 TBA, Anderson’s General Store on Guemes Island, 6-9 p.m.
8/9 Brian Ernst, multi-instrumentalist, The Brown Lantern, 9:30 p.m., 21+
8/10 Up Town Low Down Band, Dixieland band, The Heart of Anacortes sponsored by the Anacortes Public Library Sunday Jazz Hour, 2-3 p.m.
8/14 Jazz Underground, contemporary big band jazz, Seafarers’ Memorial Park Wednesday Big Band Concert Series, 7 p.m.
8/15 Global Heat, mix of hip hop, funk, world beat and jazz, Seafarers’ Memorial Park Cap Sante Summer Concert Series, 7-9 p.m.
8/16 Acoustic Music Recitals, Anacortes Public Library, 2-2:30 p.m.
8/16 Boneyard Preachers, traditional blues, H2O, 7:30 p.m.
8/16 TBA, Anderson’s General Store on Guemes Island, 6-9 p.m.
8/16 Specters, indie, The Brown Lantern, 9:30 p.m., 21+
8/19 Acoustic Music Recitals, Anacortes Public Library, 6:30-7 p.m.
8/21 Savage Jazz Trio, mainstream jazz, Seafarers’ Memorial Park Wednesday Big Band Concert Series, 7 p.m.
8/22 Aaron Crawford, country singer and songwriter, Seafarers’ Memorial Park Cap Sante Summer Concert Series, 7-9 p.m.
8/23 Stacy Jones Band, rock and blues, The Heart of Anacortes, 6-8:30 p.m., admission $8, children under 12 free
8/23 TBA, Anderson’s General Store on Guemes Island, 6-9 p.m.
8/23 Garret and the Sheriffs, Americana, The Brown Lantern, 9:30 p.m., 21+
8/28 A’Town Big Band, big band music, Seafarers’ Memorial Park Cap Sante Summer Concert Series, 7 p.m.
8/29 Tubaluba, New Orleans inspired brass band, Seafarers’ Memorial Park Cap Sante Summer Concert Series, 7-9 p.m.
8/30 TBA, Anderson’s General Store on Guemes Island, 6-9 p.m.
September
9/14 Tubaluba, New Orleans inspired brass band, The Heart of Anacortes sponsored by the Anacortes Public Library Sunday Jazz Hour, 2-3 p.m.