This summer is flooded with so many musical choices, fans would have to hock some favorite electronic toys for enough tickets to stave off disappointment.
Close to home, a Nashville-based gospel group pays tribute Thursday in Everett to the Blackwood Brothers, who came out of the Depression to create a worldwide fan base and add innovative ideas to the genre.
They were the first to customize a bus for travel (Elvis Presley quickly followed with his version), founded the National Quartet Convention, created RCA Victor albums that are valuable collectors’ pieces, won Grammy and Dove awards, sold more than 50 million records, and traveled with J.D. Sumner, who for years held the Guinness world record for the lowest human voice on record.
The Blackwood Legacy gospel group’s tribute concert features ex-Blackwood Brothers Quartet lead singer and Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee Rick Price. In the lineup is Washington native, pianist and vocalist Luke Yates and former Florida Boys singer Don E. Thomas with his signature high-as-the-sky tenor.
Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet: The Grammy-winning band from Louisiana gives everything every performance, even after 32 years. Maybe the most musically adventurous Cajun band, it’s held on to its “Cajun-ness” while “Cajun-izing” other musical traditions. Smithsonian Folkways released Doucet’s “From Now On” this year.
Chuck Prophet: The Renaissance rocker and songwriter has a three-concert stand in the area with music from his latest release, “Soap and Water.” Rock, R&B and Americana are given the Prophet treatment in his first new album in three years.
Creation Fest: Mike Farris will be on the main stage of the annual festival. Recently a nominee for Americana Music Association’s new/emerging artist of the year category to be decided in September, Farris’ music has rocked on Triple A radio and the Gospel Music Channel. His “Salvation in Lights” album of original and traditional hymns earned critical praise while his live shows fuse rock, soul and gospel. Other mainstage performers include Newsboys, Toby Mac, Switchfoot, Ayiesha Woods, Pillar and The Washington Project.
KUBE 93 Summer Jam: Let it all loose at the long-running Summer Jam that has drawn up to 20,000 fans and featured some of the biggest names in hip-hop and R&B. The 2008 version features Southern rapper Lil’ Wayne, T-Pain, Bow Wow, The Game, and Ray J.
Out and about: Alt-roots rockers The Blasters and opener MRK bring red-hot rock (tonight, Tractor Tavern) … Paul Green School of Rock All-Stars represents the best of Green’s rock-music school with one mission: total rock destruction (tonight, Chop Suey) … The Summer of Love features Sander Kleinenberg, Hyperfunk and several DJs (tonight, Showbox SoDo) … James Taylor’s Monday and Tuesday shows at Chateau Ste. Michelle are sold out … Grammy-winning band The Chieftains has made Irish traditional music popular in dozens of countries (Sunday, Marymoor).
Judas Priest, one of the first heavy-metal bands to incorporate the twin-guitar sound, continues its heavy-metal influence on a new generation, thanks to its music on the soundtracks of many popular video games, including “Prey” and “Guitar Hero” (Tuesday, WaMu) … Ringo Starr is in the 10th reincarnation of his All-Star Band that this year features Colin Hay, Billy Squier and Edgar Winter (Saturday, Chateau Ste. Michelle) … Andrew Bird and Josh Ritter go outdoors (Wednesday, Woodland Park Zoo) …
Toby Keith’s Biggest and Baddest Tour comes to Auburn (Saturday, White River Amphitheatre) … Latin rockers and Grammy-winners Los Lonely Boys and Los Lobos share a stage (Saturday, Marymoor) … Guitarist and singer-songwriter Keller Williams and the highly skilled Yonder String Band have joined for a summer tour (Tuesday, Marymoor) … Chris Isaak has released nine albums and 12 singles, picked up two Grammy nominations, acted in films and starred in his own TV series (Thursday, Chateau Ste. Michelle) … California Guitar Trio will impress every fan in the audience (Sunday, Triple Door) … Emmylou Harris is the star at ZooTunes (Thursday, Woodland Park Zoo).
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