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 3rd – Publish The Quest, (World)

August 10th – The Ian Moore Band, (Rock)

August 17th – Locarno (Groove Heavy Mexican Folk)

August 24th – Bowie/Rex & His Boogie Army, (Rock Tribute)

August 31st – Djeliyah Band, (West African)

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 Monica Schley, Alex Davis, Ian Olney, Maire Kennan, Anna Hicks & Zoey Rice. 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, Iyad’s Syrian Grill will be at the park this year for your dining pleasure! The Vashon Island Baking Company will be at the Aug 10th, 24th and 31st shows with their shaved ice machine!

The Concerts in the Park series is presented by the Vashon Park District curated by Vashon Events. A big thank you to 4Culture, ArtsFund and Arts Washington for their community support.

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August 3rd: Publish The Quest

Jacob Bain & Publish The Quest, incorporates a plethora of Afro-beat elements and folk/rock/alternative leanings. This world beat political diatribe brings in everyone from Fela Kuti to Matt Chamberlain, Nneka, Oliver Mtukudzi and Vieux Farka Toure on their albums for a super mosh of salsa, hip hop, reggae, Afropop and everything else but Guy Lombardo. High octane stuff that has appropriately sprung from the old hippie enclave of Vashon Island outside Seattle. You’re going to discover a lot of innovation and surprisingly subtle applications of elder styles connubiality married to cutting edge futurisms. As always, come prepared to dance! https://www.publishthequest.com/

Opening for Publish The Quest will be Vashon local Monica Schley. Monica Schley, is a harpist, poet, songwriter, and mother of two. Classically trained, she has worked with musicians Jherek Bischoff, Secret Chiefs 3, Eyvand Kang, Jim Knapp, Ahamefule Oluo, Hey Marsailles, Seattle Rock Orchestra, Kanye West and others. Her writing has appeared in First Class Lit, Burnside Review, Cream City Review, Harp Therapy Journal, and King County Metro's Poetry on Buses. In 2010, she published a chapbook, “Black Eden: Nocturnes” (Pudding House Press) and has self-released two albums: Harp Carols and Braids of Kabuya (under her band, The Daphnes). Her forthcoming book of harp arrangements on the work of 12th century female composer, Hildegard von Bingen, comes out from Mel Bay Publishing in 2024. https://monicaschley.com/
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August 10th: The Ian Moore Band

Ian Moore is a touring and recording artist with 14 releases to date. He has spent much of the last 30 years traveling the world through his music and those travels have fundamentally changed and formed him. The son of a Buddhist scholar father and a Social Worker mother, the stage has given him a unique perspective on the human condition. The lifelong pursuit of music, with it’s inevitable twists and turns, has similarly allowed, and sometimes forced, him to look deeply into the duality of art and life, trying to find balance and harmony between the two. Ian is the President and co-founder of SMASH, (Seattle Musicians Access to Sustainable Healthcare) and a Grammy Governor. When not touring and recording, he seeks out nature and quiet. He is an avid outdoorsman and beekeeper, a lover of ethnic foods and cooking, and a relentless pursuer of knowledge and spirit.

In a time when musicians have to think more like branding agencies, Ian’s music is uniquely original with his own unique gumbo of styles and sounds. At the same time, he has a deep respect for the past, and you can hear echoes of the lineage of the great Texas songwriters and guitarists who mentored him and helped shape his sound. Like them, he sees the music as a living, breathing, ever-changing form that shouldn’t be controlled, but left powerful and wild. He has lived on the creative edge, often confusing labels and companies, but continuously pushing himself sonically and lyrically into new terrains, and in doing so, has kept his creative spirit young and vibrant. https://www.ianmoore.com/

Opening for The Ian Moore Band will be Vashon local Alex Davis. Raised on Vashon Island, Alex Davis has been writing songs since age 13. His original songs and eclectic covers are a blend of classic country, 70's folk, and indie rock.  Alex Davis grew up on Vashon Island and grew out in the vibrant music scenes of Olympia, New Orleans, and Nashville. Scenes come and go but good songs stick around. Folk around and find out. No genres, no borders. You might recognize him as one of the stellar Caffe Vino Olio employees – Alex makes a fantastic egg & cheese bagel! alexrandalldavis.bandcamp.com
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August 17th: Locarno

Locarno is the Latin project of JUNO Award winning musician, Tom Landa. Like him, the music is equal parts Mexican and Canadian. Tom was born and raised in Mexico City, and moved to Canada in his teens. In the mid nineties he formed the Folk Roots band, The Paperboys, who have been touring world-wide for over 20 years. Tom has always dabbled in Latin music, and in 2005 decided to immerse himself more into the genre, and started working on material for an album. In 2006 he was awarded a Canada Council Grant to study traditional Mexican Music in Veracruz, Mexico. Tom spent his days learning the jarana (an 8 string guitar), and learning songs from the Son Jarocho repertoire. Upon his return to Canada, Tom started working on what would be Locarno’s debut CD.

Since then the band has honed in on their sound and incorporated more of their influences such as music from Columbia, African Sukous, Mexican Marimba Music, Venezuelan Joropo and Brazilian Forro Music. Perhaps where the band shines the most is in the live shows which features Tom Landa on jaranas and guitars, Kalissa Landa on violin, Robin Layne on marimba, congas and timbales, Pedro Mota on guitar and vocals, Aaron McKinney on bass, Liam MacDonald on drums, congas and pandero, Jocelyn Waugh on trumpet and Nick La Riviere on trombone. https://locarnoband.com/home

Opening for the Locarno will be Vashon local Ian Olney, aka Sunbeam. Sunbeam is an experimental artist from Dallas, Texas, combining Rnb, Jazz, and Electronic music into sci-fi sounds to create sonic landscapes. The selection played at concerts in the park is from a multi-project series called Conversations in Space, exploring the relationship between sound and communication through technology. Sunbeam music was created to break the restrictions of commercial music previously explored in 10 years of creation. We hope you will enjoy being taken into a new space to explore the sounds it has to offer. https://ianolney.bandcamp.com/
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August 24th: Bowie/Rex & 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 & 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 Maire Kennan. Maire Kennan is a singer and songwriter from Vashon. She is eighteen years old, and wrote her debut album, Man In My Pocket, at 16, which is currently out on all streaming platforms. Songs from that album were featured on KEXP radio, and Art Zone filmed a TV profile about the making of it, following her process in the studio and the story behind her songs. She has opened for local bands around Vashon including Saint Ophelia, and played at local venues including the Black Cat Cabaret. Recently, she has even played her own high school graduation, a true honor. She will be moving to the United Kingdom, and then to Europe this fall to start her adult life. She loves to write and play music, and enjoys the feelings and scenes it creates. Much love to her family who has always believed in (and humbled) her. https://www.mairekennan.com/
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August 31st: Djeliyah Band
This concert is being moved to Vashon Center of the Arts at 19600 Vashon Hwy SW.
The Djeliyah Band is a harmonic fusion between the traditional Djeli music and the modern Guinea music within West Africa, which provides a highlife sound for your dancing pleasure! Orchestrated by; multi-talented Djeli, Aboubacar “Boka” Kouyaté of Kankan, Guinea, West Africa. The name Djeliyah means; the work of the Djely people in the community. Djely’s or Griots have always been next to the Kings in the Mande Empire as Cultural Educators, the traditional historians, artist and musicians of Culture. Boka connects this rich traditional music to Global music; a harmonic fusion between the traditional Griot music, the afro beat and the modern Guinea music which provides a highlife sound for your listening and dancing pleasure. The band has played at the Nectar Lounge, Rumba Notes Lounge, Festival Sundiata, Columbia City Theatre, The Triple Door, and during The Movie showcase for “ROOTS”. Djeli’s have always been next to the king and honored within the West African region as the Traditional Griot. The band began February 2015 in Seattle, Washington. Hitting the ground with an exciting bouquet of songs, music and dance that includes an inter-active component for everyone’s enjoyment. https://www.facebook.com/kouyatearts/

Opening for Djeliyah Band are Vashon locals Anna Hicks & Zoey Rice. Anna and Zoey grew up homeschooled together on Vashon Island. As children they built a friendship forged on mutual appreciation of swing dance, American Girl Dolls, fairie home construction, and The Sound of Music reenactments. As adults, they casually played music individually until fate conspired to bring them together for their first gig at Dig Deep gardens this spring. They have been honored to open for RiverBend and Loren Sinner since then and are so excited to be opening for Djeliyah Band. Their harmonic covers gravitate towards folk, blues, singer/songwriter tunes…and anything else that feels good!
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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.