Concerts in the Park on Vashon Island, Washington
The Vashon Park District is proud to present Concerts in the Park once again this year in partnership with Vashon Events. Concerts will be held every Thursday night in August from 7:00pm - 9:00pm. This year, we’ll be adding one date in July for a total of five wonderful concerts!
Concerts in the Park is a family friendly series of events that bring the community together to enjoy free outdoor music concerts. Taking place at Ober Park, which is located between the Vashon Public Library and the Vashon Park District, the park features grassy berms that make perfect amphitheater seating. You are invited to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the music.
And guess what? These concerts are all FREE! That’s right, you heard me correctly…there is no cost to attend these wonderful summertime shows!
However, your blanket or chair may not get much use because each concert features a different music genre that will keep you dancing. Each concert presents something new to experience! The lineup includes:
July 30th: TBA
August 6th: John Roberts Y Pan Blanco
August 13th: Bowie/Rex & His Boogie Army
August 20th: TBA
August 27th: TBA
Opening for each band this year is a fresh Vashon Events program, “New Voices,” an opportunity to hear the latest musical addition to the Vashon music scene. Performing solo each Thursday to warm up the audience, this year’s New Voices is a wonderful way to showcase these musicians. Openers will perform at 7pm and the headlining band will begin at 7:30pm and play a 90 minute set.
Sound equipment and lighting will be provided by Laird Gonter of Bandstand Music, and Martin Feveyear of Feveyear Master Mix will be dialing in the sound. Enjoy live music performing against one of Vashon's most beautiful outdoor backdrops and bring the family. There's plenty of grass and natural berms to spread out those picnic blankets and enjoy some wonderful music on a warm summer night. Families can come relax comfortably and enjoy the entertainment at these summer events. Please remember that there are no dogs allowed at Ober Park. Alcohol and smoking are also not permitted.
The Concerts in the Park series is presented by the Vashon Park District and curated by Vashon Events. ————————————————————————————————
Thursday, July 30th:
Thursday, August 6th: John Roberts Y Pan Blanco
John Roberts began playing the piano at the age of 5 while living on an isolated ranch in Southeastern Montana. There was no TV, but there was a piano. From age 11-18, in Malta, MT, he was in band (trombone) and choir in the Malta, MT schools. After graduating in 1996 from Montana State University-Billings with a BA in Music Performance, John moved to Los Angeles to earn his Master of Fine Arts in Western Orchestral Performance from California Institute of the Arts.
Feeling equally comfortable in orchestral and commercial music realms, he has performed in all 50 of the United States and around the world, including; Mexico, South America, Israel, Cuba, India, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, Australia and Africa. Notable venues include the Lincoln Center in New York, Pantages Theatre, Kodak Theatre, Roskilde, House of Blues, Blue Note, Apollo and Apollo London. Tours include his own band, John Roberts y Pan Blanco (Afro-Latin Soul), Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca (Congolese/Cuban), Bobby Womack (Soul), Los Pinguos (Argentina), The Temptations, Chaka Khan, The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, and more. Other performances and recordings include multiple Grammy and Emmy Award Shows, Chris Botti, LA Philharmonic, Feist, Sting, Dr. Dre, Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, Fallout Boy, Burt Bacharach, Bill Holman, The Ojays, Jill Scott, Christina Aguilera, The Today Show, NPR, PBS, Disney, and more.
Roberts is a Professor of Low Brass at MSU Billings, teaching Music Theory, Aural Perception, Jazz Ensemble, Commercial Ensemble, World Music courses and more. He is active in the Montana and Los Angeles performing and studio scenes as a bandleader, studio musician and composer/arranger. John is currently recording and composing for his next album, part of which was recorded in Santiago de Cuba and Los Angeles. This record will be a collaboration between Cuban, Congolese, Los Angeles and Montana artists. John Roberts y Pan Blanco
Opening for John Roberts Y Pan Blanco will be
Thursday, August 13th: Bowie/Rez & His Boogie Army
Born from the ashes of the popular Bowie-Idol project, Vashon based Record Producer & Mixing Engineer, Martin Feveyear, has formed a brand new 8-piece rock & roll group "Bowie/Rex & His Boogie Army".
Performing a mix of music from David Bowie, Marc Bolan & T-Rex, Roxy Music, The Cars, The Kinks, Talking Heads, Joy Division and more, “Bowie/Rex & His Boogie Army” features some of the region’s finest musicians.
With Dave Dederer (Presidents of the USA, Duff McKagan’s Loaded) and Tim Dijulio (Lazy Suzan, Flight to Mars) on guitars, Michael Musburger (The Posies, The Fastbacks) on drums, Billy Stover (Dusty 45’s, Victoria Contreras) on keyboards and Jeremy Lightfoot (Danny Newcomb, Elvez) on bass, the band is rounded out by front-man Martin Feveyear (Producer of Brandi Carlisle, Presidents of the USA, Duff McKagan of Guns n Roses, and Islanders St Ophelia, Kat Eggleston & Gregg Curry) and backing singers “The Suffragette Sisters (Rhiannon Walther, Sarah Howard & Melissa Feveyear).
Martin reflects: “Marc Bolan, David Bowie, and the Glam music of the early 70’s was the music of my childhood. My mother playing and singing along to the 45 of Sorrow, is one of my fondest preschool memories. At the age of 5, I had a poster on my wall of the magical and mysterious Ziggy Stardust. The Music of that time, Bowie’s music especially, has had a huge impact on me, he’s been there during every decade of my life. Losing him in 2016 was very hard to swallow. I suppose being in this band, is a blatant way of reconnecting with that music and his loss?”
Martin fronted a band in the UK for almost 10 years from the age of 15 but transitioned from performing into the producing, writing, recording and mixing side of the industry. After moving to Seattle in the early 90s, Martin has performed publicly a few times here and there, and thanks to the encouragement of new friends on the Island, more so since moving to Vashon.
Martin is honored to be joined by this caliber of musicians to play their favorite songs. He still can't believe they are all on board. Not only are they incredible players but also the sweetest people.
Bowie/Rex’s debut show on Vashon at Snapdragon in May was a great success, it was so joyous, and they can't wait to play for the Island again on August 24th as part of the Concerts in the Park Series 2023!
Opening for Bowie/Rex & His Boogie Army will be
Thursday, August 20th: TBD
Thursday, August 27th: TBD
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Vashon Events is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to building community and supporting artists-musicians on Vashon Island, WA. Our mission is to create, provide, and expand positive life experiences through music and art for all. We provide an information hub for Vashon Island including a business directory, information about events and classes happening on the island, and programs that support arts and local music. We believe that keeping Vashon Island vibrant means supporting our local businesses and artists. A big warm thank you to the Vashon Park District for allowing us to work with them and curate the music for this wonderful community event every August.
Bowie/Rex & His Boogie Army
Bowie/Rex & His Boogie Army
John Roberts Y Pan Blanco
John Roberts Y Pan Blanco