Nov 08 Saturday
Fusing Bruno Mars caliber stage presence with top-tier vocals and wall-to-wall choreography, the men of UPTOWN combine the smooth stylings of R&B with the fresh hits of today in a unique and modern show that gets every crowd on their feet! Born in New York City (the epicenter of contemporary pop and soul music), the group exudes unparalleled energy with their blend of contemporary radio hits and classic Motown music. Every single member of UPTOWN is a world-class soloist, with frequent comparisons to the artistry of icons like Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye; when they come together as one collective, the resulting remix creates “the most electrifying show you’ll see this decade!” (Agua Caliente, Palm Springs CA).
Welcomed by KNKX. Frank Vignola is one of the most extraordinary guitarists performing before the public today. His stunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, John Lewis, Tommy Emmanuel, Lionel Hampton, the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, and guitar legend Les Paul, who named Vignola to his “Five Most Admired Guitarists List:” for the Wall Street Journal.
His dynamic genre-spanning music has brought him to 21 countries on three continents – and still growing – performing in some of the world’s most illustrious venues, including the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, New York’s Lincoln Center, The Blue Note, and the world’s oldest indoor concert hall, Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Italy.
Pasquale Grasso - It was the kind of endorsement most rising guitarists can only dream of, and then some. In his interview for Vintage Guitar magazine’s February 2016 cover story, Pat Metheny was asked to name some younger musicians who’d impressed him. “The best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life is floating around now, Pasquale Grasso,” said the jazz-guitar icon and NEA Jazz Master. “This guy is doing something so amazingly musical and so difficult. “Mostly what I hear now are guitar players who sound a little bit like me mixed with a little bit of [John Scofield] and a little bit of [Bill Frisell],” he continued. “What’s interesting about Pasquale is that he doesn’t sound anything like that at all. In a way, it is a little bit of a throwback, because his model—which is an incredible model to have—is Bud Powell. He has somehow captured the essence of that language from piano onto guitar in a way that almost nobody has ever addressed. He’s the most significant new guy I’ve heard in many, many years.”
For over 55 years, Tower of Power has delivered the best in funk and soul music.“We were a Soul band called The Motowns.” recalls Emilio Castillo. “Rocco was the bass player, I was there, and my brother was the drummer. I met “Doc” Kupka back in 1968, and gave him an audition. He came in the band, and we eventually changed our name to the Tower of Power.” The reason for the band name change was that they had a specific goal in mind.
East Bay Grease defined their sound and landed them with Warner Brothers. Bump City, their 1972 debut for the label, was a hit on both the Billboard 200 and the R&B Albums chart, and netted them the hits “You’re Still A Young Man” and “Down to The Nightclub.” The 70s were a boom period with radio classics like “So Very Hard to Go” and “What Is Hip?,” and the band continued to tour and record over the years. Castillo says their love of the stage is the same today as it was back in 1968.
50 years later, in 2018, they returned to Oakland to celebrate their landmark 50th anniversary. Tower’s window-rattling grooves and raucous party spirit has been a balm for the soul throughout their half-century existence, but the release of 50 Years of Funk & Soul: Live at the Fox Theater couldn’t have arrived at a better time.
The band has long since surpassed Castillo’s modest aspirations, traveling the world, enjoying hit singles on their own and backing legendary artists including Otis Redding, Elton John, Santana, the Grateful Dead, John Lee Hooker, Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, and countless others. In the process they’ve defined an “Oakland soul” sound as instantly recognizable as those from Castillo’s hometown, Detroit, as well as inspirations like Memphis and Philadelphia.
Blues icon. Soul man. Rock and roller. Robert Cray is all these things – and more. The Georgia-born, Washington-raised musician first picked up a guitar after seeing The Beatles on TV, and then, having witnessed Jimi Hendrix perform in Seattle, determined that his destiny would also follow a similar path. And so he has: across the past half century Robert Cray's developed into one of American music’s most singular artists.
Think about it: Robert Cray has shared stage and/or studio with the likes of John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry, Albert Collins, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and the Memphis Horns. Cray’s stinging guitar playing and soulful voice, his skills as a band leader and performer, mark him as keeper of the flame for American roots music, an artist who never fails to deliver. "We were so lucky just be able to see them," says Cray of trading guitar licks on stage with legends of blues, rock, and soul, "let alone share the stage with them -- what an experience!"
As an artist, Robert Cray's aged like fine wine -- his voice has developed a greater range and expressiveness; this he's put to use on masterful interpretations of such Southern soul standards as "I Forgot To Be Your Lover," "Your Good Thing Is About To End," and "Nobody's Fault But Mine." At the same time, Cray's guitar playing now possesses an additional depth, a growl that can hint at a caress then signal emotional upheaval.
His recent run of albums -- 2014's In My Soul, 2017's Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm and 2020's masterful That's What I Heard -- are amongst the very finest he's made. Every song here is deeply felt, whether an agonised song of loss, an angry protest number, or a dance tune that gets audiences pumping.
Nov 09 Sunday
Echoes of the Floating World features a striking collection of 18th, 19th and early 20th-century Japanese woodblock prints from the Tacoma Art Museum and others, displayed alongside works by contemporary Northwest artists. This exhibition honors the rich legacy of ukiyo-e while exploring its cultural impact on today’s artistic expressions.
Hours-
Monday CLOSEDTuesday CLOSEDWednesday 10 am – 5 pmThursday 10 am – 8 pmFriday 10 am – 5 pmSaturday 10 am – 5 pmSunday 10 am – 5 pm
We are protesting project 2025. TacomaRama marching band will join us for the next 4 years. We will meet each month on the Saturday closest to the 18th each month. Always 10am, always Reconciliation park. Feel loved and supported.
The period from the 1870s to the 1900s, known as the Gilded Age, saw the rise of the railroad, textile industry, and production. It also saw a rise in migration to US cities, providing workers to fill low paying jobs producing many of the fashions of the era. This era marked a turning point in fashion as new technologies and changing cultural norms transformed the ways in which people dressed.
Explore this history and enjoy the rare chance to see clothing, notions, and artifacts of the period from the Washington State Historical Society collections.
Never Turn Back: Echoes of African American Music unveils the profound legacy of Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul artists who shaped the soundscape of American culture and used their music as instruments of resistance, identity, and representation.
Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul embody the profound influence of African American music on culture and history. From the spiritual foundations and transformative movements of Gospel hymns to the revolutionary improvisations of Jazz, the Blues’ Southern roots rising from the Mississippi Delta, and Soul’s powerful amplification of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, these genres have defined the unique sound and undying spirit of a nation that continues to echo through contemporary Black music today.
The 37th annual Best of the Northwest Fall Show is Seattle's Premier Art & Fine Craft show.
Location: Hangar 30 in Warren G. Magnuson Park, Seattle
Dates: November 7-9, 2025
Special VIP Preview: Friday, 11am - 2pm, 21 and over
General Admission: All-Ages - Friday, 2pm - 7pm, Saturday, 10am-6pm & Sunday, 10am-5pm
We are excited to announce our premier 3-day event, starting November 7. Help us celebrate 37 years of the Best! This year's event starts Friday morning with a special VIP Preview. Be the first to see the art and buy from the artists. Your VIP Preview ticket includes complementary assorted pastries and treats. Enjoy live music while you shop and enter for a chance to win prize drawings of gift certificates for artwork. Your VIP Preview ticket is also valid all weekend. $15 in advance/$20 day of the event.
The following days/times: Fri, 2pm-7pm, Sat, 10am-6pm and Sun, 10m-5pm are open to the public and all-ages. The general admission prices are $3 advance and $5 day of the event, with ages 12 and under entering for free during these hours. A variety of Seattle food trucks are onsite throughout the weekend. Enjoy seeing 115+ talented NW artists in all mediums. Find exciting treasures for yourself or a gift for someone special. Look for artists in action and see how the artwork is made. Vote for your favorite art booth and enter to win a gift card.
During the event, two cash awards of $250 each will be given to the two booths that receive the most People's Choice and Juror's choice votes. These artists will also be given a coupon for free application and a guaranteed spot in the next Best of the Northwest show. Two Honorable mentions will also be picked by voted and will receive a coupon for free application and a guaranteed spot in the next Best of the Northwest show.
Join us every Second Sunday for a soulful early afternoon of community, comfort food, and spirit-lifting sounds. Our Gospel Brunch blends the rich traditions of gospel and non-secular music through expertly curated playlists delivered in high-fidelity sound—designed to feed both your heart and your appetite.Brunch favorites by Chef TayCurated gospel and soul playlists in rich, high-quality audioSpecial guest performances are on the horizon—subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss a beat.
Are you a gospel singer interested in sharing your gift with our community? We’d love to meet you! Join us during Gospel Brunch and introduce yourself.
