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.

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.

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:

August 1st: Clinton Fearon (Roots Reggae)

August 8th: Incendio (Latin-based world-fusion band)

August 15th: Adrian & Meredith (Rogue-Folk/Americana)

August 22nd: The Jewel Tones (Motown)

August 29th: Trolls Cottage (World/Island Roots)

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 include Matthew Rieger, Shawn & Collette Jones, Maya & Cassie Battisti and Natasha Popova.. 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.

Don’t have time to make dinner? Don’t you worry, we are lining up a food vendor or two to be at the park this year for your dining pleasure!

The Concerts in the Park series is presented by the Vashon Park District and curated by Vashon Events. ————————————————————————————————
August 1st: Clinton Fearon

Clinton Fearon is a composer, songwriter, singer and player of instruments since his early teens. Born in Jamaica, Clinton became the bassist, vocalist and lyricist of the mythic Gladiators at the age of 19. He spent 18 years with the band and signed several songs for The Gladiators, hits and classics like Chatty Chatty Mouth, Richman Poorman, On The Other Side, Can You Imagine How I Feel, Let Jah Be Praised, One Love, Untrue Girl, and more.

Clinton Fearon was also a session musician for different studio in Jamaica, including with producers Coxsone Dodd at Studio One and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s at Black Ark, but also at Chanel One, Aquarius, Harry J, Randy’s, etc. In these studios, Clinton Fearon composed some everlasting bass lines for well-known artists like Yabby You, Jimmy Riley, Max Romeo, Junior Byles and many others.

After leaving Jamaica in 1987, Clinton Fearon started a new career in Seattle. Him and some of the musicians of The Gladiators took advantage of the extra time remaining on their visa, at the end of the US tour, to start a band in the Northwest: The Defenders. The band built a nice following in the area until they split after five years. And finally, Clinton Fearon formed his own band in the mid-90s with local musicians in Seattle: Clinton Fearon and Boogie Brown Band.

Clinton Fearon recorded 14 albums under his own name since and he’s touring the world with this impressive repertoire, accompanied by a band or in solo acoustic. He performed in major festivals in each continent, and regularly in the United States (Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, Reggae On The River, National Folk Festival, Festival International de Louisiane, Houston International Festival, Salmonstock, Ithaca Reggae Festival, etc.), Canada (Latin Caribbean Festival, Victoria Ska Reggae Festival, World Beat Festival, etc.), Europe (WOMAD, Rototom Sunsplash, Garance Reggae Festival, Printemps de Bourges, Stimmen festival, Celtic Connection etc.), Brazil (Virada Cultural, Republica Do Reggae, World Music Festival, Feira de Santana, etc.), Africa (Kenya and Ivory Coast), and more countries occasionally (Peru, Honduras, New Caledonia, Hong Kong, etc.).

Each song of Clinton Fearon is a strong message coming from the heart of a man who is dedicating his life to help a better world to come. With chiseled music and poetic lyrics, he opens reggae to a wider audience who simply loves his beautiful songs. https://www.clintonfearon.com

Opening for Clinton Fearon will be “At Least A Dollar Coin”
At Least A Dollar Coin is a Vashon island guitar duo that originated in the hallways of Vashon island High School. It consists of Wyatt Bates (18) and Jonah Cole (16). They have been playing together for over a year and focus on heavily improvisational music in an acoustic/blues style. They have played multiple times at the Vashon Island Farmer's Market, as well as busking and playing in various musical events at the high school.
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August 8th: Incendio

The acclaimed Los-Angeles-based group INCENDIO performs original “world guitar” compositions, featuring incredible guitar-playing across a variety of genres: latin, middle-eastern, and celtic grooves. Formed in 1999, the group has 11 CD’s and 2 DVD’s available internationally, variously hitting the Billboard, CMJ, NAV, and Amazon.com charts. Averaging over 150 shows a year since 2000 (until the COVID shutdown), INCENDIO’s live performance is an explosive improvisatory journey, garnering tremendous audience response in such diverse venues as the Strawberry Music Festival, the Sundance Film Festival, National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, California World Festival, the national Levitt Pavilions and many more across the U.S and abroad.

Their eleventh international release, SUMMONING THE MUSE, came out in June 2019. Their previous release, June 2013’s “The Shape of Dreams”, stayed at or near the top of the Amazon flamenco and world charts for the remainder of that year. They have reached over 110 million spins on streaming radio and have over 10,000 facebook likes. Their music can be heard on Pandora, Spotify, and other streaming outlets. https://incendioband.com/

Opening for Incendio will be Vashon local Matthew Rieger.
The Reverend Matthew Rieger carries the heart of the Pacific Northwest all over the country with The Lil Smokies, but always returns to Vashon Island. This peaceful and quiet reprieve has become a home like no other ever was, and a restorative reprieve from the bright lights and fast pace of the road. He'll be performing his humble offering to the welcoming and loving community this island provides. Influenced by Greenwich poetry, the golden years of Laurel Canyon rebellion, and the honesty of Appalachian string band music, he tells stories of love and loss, grief and growth. And if it's not to your liking, there's great news. It's only a 15 minute set. https://www.matthewriegermusic.com/
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August 15th: Adrian & Meredith

Rogue-folk music duo and band “Adrian and Meredith” have always marched to the beat of their own drum, unapologetic in the art they create. Since joining forces in 2015, they have put their own spin on Americana music, embodying the spirit of the human story through influences of punk, folk, polka, and swing. Their lively concerts inspire audiences to dance, clap, and stomp along.

In 2023, Adrian and Meredith toured over 100 shows across the USA, Canada, and Europe. They supported acts such as Steve'n'Seagulls, Shawn James, Jimbo Mathus, and Th'Legendary Shackshakers. They also performed at festivals like Blissfest, Wheatland Festival, and 30A Songwriters Festival. Additionally, they played prestigious venues including Performing Art Centers and Levitt Shell Pavilions nationwide. Now, six years after their debut, Adrian and Meredith are taking their fearless, blistering, Balkan-tinged Americana sound to new heights - a raucous yet intimate variety show. The new record draws in listeners with the duo's warmth, intensity and candidness - imparting an easy sense of joy and kinship in turbulent times.

2024 promises more touring, music, and revelry as this duo continues marching to their own rhythm. They plan to release a series of new songs recorded at Dial Back Records in Oxford, MS with members of bands like Squirrel Nut Zippers, Punch Brothers, Mighty Poplar, and with Jimbo Mathus.

Their band has been described as “elements of klezmer, power pop, ska, New Orleans swing and a touch of blues rock just for good measure...with enthusiasm and oodles of charm...includes romantic joys and dramas, the vagaries of getting old and the theft of a keishka. Have fun with this one! (Paste Magazine)"

Come see what No Depression aptly calls “A barn-burner of Roots Rock Perfection!” https://adrianandmeredith.com/

Opening for the Adrian & Meredith will be Vashon locals Shawn & Colette Jones. Colette Jones is a singer, songwriter, and musician from Washington State, formerly based in Nashville, TN.

A lifelong daydreamer, she grew up enveloped in songs and stories. Her musical journey has taken her from playing power chords in a punk band to Travis Picking folk songs and singing old country ballads. She found her footing in Americana music, through which she could combine her interests in storytelling and performance. Since then she's had the pleasure of collaborating with many wonderful musicians on a variety of projects, as well as foraying into the world of musical theater.

During a transformative tenure in Nashville, Colette polished up her catalog of original songs, and with the help of some of Music City's finest, etched them into two full-length studio albums. Her debut, Deluge, intertwines classic country and Americana sounds, while infused with an ethereal and bluegrass drive. The tracks unfold as tales of love and loss, addiction, heartache, and an overarching theme of “searching for a way home,” as Colette sings in the opening lines of the first track, "Unfound." The album skillfully walks the line between blues-rock on tracks like "Secret Life," and a rebellious “outlaw country” spirit as showcased on tracks such as "Fever Dream" and "Train Song." The follow up, TBA, builds on these themes, with honky-tonk and cosmic country influences. The first track, “How’s That Workin’ For Ya Now” is available to stream on bandcamp.

Colette is a passionate conduit of roots music, Americana, classic country, and all that in between. She has studied ethnomusicology and folklife both academically and as a hobbyist, and through her research and love of this music, strives to bring authenticity and honesty to the stories she sings, honoring the diverse ancestors and history of country music as it is brought into a new era.

Stream Deluge wherever you listen to music. Follow along on social media for more dates and announcements to come. https://www.colettejonesmusic.com/
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August 22nd: The Jewel Tones

The Jewel Tones are a sparkling homage to the music of Motown, the definitive era of American artistry and soul. With lively choreography, dazzling costumes and a glamorous style reminiscent of the great 1960s girl bands, this trio engages audiences with warmth and nostalgia and welcomes them back to a time when Diana Ross was queen and brilliant women ruled the stage.

Their All-American, Motown playlist that includes hits by The Supremes, The Temptations, The Shirelles, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Martha & The Vandellas, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, The Ronettes and many more. This all-female, Motown-inspired vocal trio leaves audiences “dancin’ in the street!”
https://www.motownjeweltones.com/

Opening for The Jewel tones will be Starbird Road. Starbird Road is composed of a mother/daughter duo, Maya Battisti and Cassie Paetkau. Maya has performed on the island several times over the past ten years for various artist showcases and benefits, and the two began playing music together after Cassie picked up guitar in her freshman year of high school. With a shared love of harmony and two local performances under their belt, Starbird Road is excited to be back together again for this summer’s New Voices portion of Concerts in the Park.

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August 29th: Trolls Cottage

In an event that has been highly anticipated by the groups dedicated fans, Trolls Cottage will be closing out the Concerts in the Park series. Playing songs from the release of their newest album, old favorites and some even newer songs, they will undoubtedly bring you to your feet for some dancing. All band members grew up on Vashon Island.

Trolls Cottage is known for their catchy, soul-rooted dance music filled with lyrics that reference the Island, the Northwest, and perspectives on the global challenges facing our society. The event is expected to be a reunion for many fans of all ages, both from the Island and those who will travel great distances to hear the band perform and catch up with friends.

In anticipation of the concert, members of the band poetically wrote, “We come in love. Lisabuela summer...Quartermaster rain. We formed together as a group in the woods of Vashon. We play music for the welcoming strangers who become friends... and for the friends who grow into family. Our music is acoustic and electric, a sound full of sparseness...and a warm weave of lyric and rhythm.”

Pete Welch, Co-Director of Vashon Events noted, “If you’re not there for this one, you’re really going to miss out. The boys are back!" https://trollscottage.com/

Opening for Trolls Cottage is Vashon local Natasha Popova. Natasha Popova is a violinist who performs worldwide. She started to play violin at age of 5. Classically trained at the prestige Gnessin Russian Academy of Music, she won many regional and International violin competitions in Russia and Spain. Traveling around the world, she performed as a soloist with major Symphony orchestras of Russia and Germany, Switzerland, Austria. She collaborates with many internationally recognized artists, including Arkady Shilkloper, Charlie Armstrong, Sergei Penkin and others. She has appeared in several movies and Russian National TV series, and has also participated in different projects in many countries.
https://natashapopovaviolinist.com/

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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.