From bluegrass to barbershop, Historic Everett Theatre turns its center stage into a concert hall this weekend, beginning what many hope will be a new era for the landmark theater — an era of monthly music events.
Those events kick off tonight with an all-ages, hoot-and-holler Hometown Hootenanny, filling the theater with the sounds of country, folk and bluegrass Americana.
The show will feature professionals and newcomers, vocalists and novelty acts in a high-energy format that promises to keep all attention spans engaged.
The backbone of the show is the popular group The Dreyer Brothers.
The Dreyer Brothers create a smooth blend of country gospel, cowboy and Western swing. Their three-part harmony vocal style is flawless and their accompanying instrumental talent impressive.
The group, formerly known as Mended Heart, can go from the hard-driving song “Patience” to the Western swing number “Above and Beyond” to the rockin’ gospel tune of “Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now” and not skip a beat.
The musicians are tenor Stacey Dreyer on keyboard, bass and drums; baritone Randy Dreyer on bass guitar and baritone ukulele; Doug Dreyer on rhythm guitar and bass; Marty Dahlgren on fiddle and Buck Hammock on lead guitar.
The Dreyer Brothers, who frequently include nonwestern songs such as tunes from the Mills Brothers, earned a 2004 nominee for the Academy of Western Artists Best Western Group of the Year and Best Western Swing Album of the Year, and again nominated in the top 10 of the 2005 Rising Star of the Year Award.
Sharing the bill with the Dreyer Brothers is Northern Departure.
The accomplished group is made up of Derek Gray, Austin McGregor, Nick Dumas and Chris Luquette.
According to their MySpace page, Northern Departure musicians play with their soul, and play the tunes and songs that really speak to them.
Other guests include 12-string guitarist Lee Hammond and harmonica player Jim McLaughlin.
The musical weekend continues on Saturday when the Snohomish County women’s barbershop group known as Voices Northwest takes the stage.
During their concert “Movin’ Right Along,” these regional award-winners will present “a musical vacation” of songs.
The singers of Voices Northwest, who range in age from 13 to 75, sing barbershop style. They’ve been known to perform songs by Huey Lewis and The News and Gloria Estefan, and “The Phantom of the Opera” score.
The Saturday performance includes special guests Moxie Ladies, the 2009 International Championship Quartet winners, MOJO, the 2008 International Sixth Place Quartet winners and Live Wire, the 2008 North Pacific Region 13 Champions.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
“Hometown Hootenanny”
7:30 tonight at Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett. Tickets are $15, $12 and $5. Call 800-838-3006 or go to www.brownpapertickets.com or at the door.
“Movin’ Right Along”
With the women’s barbershop group Voices Northwest, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett. Tickets are $25 and $15. Go to www.voicesnorthwest.org.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
