Aug 11 Tuesday
We’ve been celebrating KNKX’s 10th anniversary with special events around the region, and our next stop is in Tacoma on Tuesday, August 11 at Foss Waterway Seaport with the program beginning at 7:30 p.m. KNKX jazz host Abe Beeson is our Master of Ceremonies and throughout the evening, he'll share some anecdotes about KNKX's first 10 years, as well as test your KPLU trivia knowledge (with prizes!).
We’ll kick things off with KNKX Director of Music Programming Carol Handley and Tree of Jazz host Justus Sanchez, who’ll provide an overview of the show's origins and methodology, followed by a multimedia exploration of the roots, branches, and budding leaves that connect the music history.
Next, KNKX All Things Considered host Emil Moffatt talks with writer and historian Nancy Bourne Haley and Foss Waterway Seaport’s CEO Brent Mason, about the story of Thea Foss and her legacy. You’ll also learn more about how Foss Waterway Seaport keeps marine history alive in the South Sound.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Come early to explore the museum’s exhibits, and enjoy the pre-event reception from 6:30-7:15 p.m. with complimentary non-alcoholic beverages (plus beer and wine for purchase), light bites, and music from Counterpoint, featuring some of the Northwest’s talented young jazzheads. You can also play games like Giant Connect Four, Giant Jenga, and Cornhole.
Sep 12 Saturday
KNKX invites listeners to celebrate our 10th Anniversary in Victoria B.C.! We're excited to present an evening with Astrocolor at The Coda on September 12 which will begin with an exclusive live taping of a four-song KNKX studio session hosted by Abe Beeson, followed by a full Astrocolor set in its seated AstroJazz format. Both will take place on the Main Stage, which will be configured for GA seating.
Astrocolor is a four-time nominee at the Western Canadian Music Awards, winning Instrumental Artist of the Year. The band's AstroJazz series (Moonlighting - AstroJazz Vol. 1 and Stargazing - AstroJazz Vol. 2) explores the nexus between experimental jazz and instrumental psychedelia, and has been a regular playlist staple on KNKX since 2023. This will be the first opportunity to hear new songs from the band's forthcoming release performed live.
Astrocolor is: Anand Greenwell, Sax; Andrew Poirier, Guitar; Neil James Cooke-Dallin, Keyboards and percussion; Lindsay Bryan, Vocals; Amrit Basi, Drums; Piers Henwood, Keyboards
The Coda is located at 751 View Street in downtown Victoria. 19+ Venue: Valid Physical ID Required For Entry
Aug 05 Wednesday
Presented by KNKX. John Primer has undisputedly helped build the sound and style of Chicago blues as we know it today. The echoes of tradition bellowing from the birthplaces he played such as Maxwell Street, Theresa's, Checkerboard and Rosa's Lounges, pulse from every chord in his fingers today. John Primer is a 3 time Grammy® Nominated, Blues Hall of Fame, Living Legend.
Growing up on Mississippi sharecropper land in 1945, inspired by his family’s hard work and field songs daily, deep devotion to spirituals on Sundays, and blues on Saturdays. John dreamed of one day playing with the legendary Muddy Waters!
Moving to Chicago in 1963, he started on that path of becoming a great bluesman, getting his first steady gig working for tips at the legendary Maxwell Street in Chicago on Sunday's with the Pat Rushing Band. He quickly became noticed and was hired at the famous Theresa’s Lounge working for The Junior Wells Band (the house band), seven nights a week for seven years! John was taught by all the Master's of the blues. He worked hard and impressed Willie Dixon enough to go on tour with him and his Chicago Blues All-Stars Band. At this point he was known, and John's dream finally came true in late 1979 when he got to play with his idol, Muddy Waters! Muddy called for him to lead his band and changed his life forever. John was touring all over the world and opening up the show for the Rolling Stones and meeting and playing with many famous Blues and Rock & Roll musicians. After Muddy’s untimely death in 1983, he joined up with Magic Slim & The Teardrops for the next 13 years, traveling all over the world, bringing Chicago Blues to every corner of the planet. Many people had never heard Blues before!
John paid his dues and in 1995 he began leading his own band, The Real Deal Blues Band. He has recorded more than 100 albums with 17 albums in his own name. He has written and produced more than 55 songs on more than 6 record labels including his own, Blues House Productions. John was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, has earned 3 Grammy® Award nominations, was given 2 Lifetime Achievement Awards, awarded the "Muddy Award" for being a Traditional Blues Icon, winning several Blues Music Awards and Blues Blast Awards as well as many other awards. Coming from very humble beginnings, he has managed to work very hard to get where he is today. He takes pride in mentoring so many incredible musicians. He is keeping the blues alive and is a Legendary Blues Icon!
Aug 06 Thursday
Sponsored by KNKX. Volunteer Park Trust is thrilled to announce the return of their Summer Series with performances in the beautifully renovated Volunteer Park Amphitheater. KNKX will host the concert on August 6 - stop by our booth and say hello!
The free concerts run through August 13, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Food trucks will be available. Gather your friends and family, and join us in celebrating music, community, and summer in Seattle!
Summer Series 2026 Artist Lineup - Remaining Concerts
July 23Clinton Fearon and the Boogie Brown BandLeRoy Bell and his Only Friends
July 30Beatle ConcertZje Mongol
August 6 - hosted by KNKXMarchFourthDance Church
August 13Nite WaveABBAgraphs
Sponsored by KNKX. Presenting Folklife Session’s newest resident, Carlos Snaider! Carlos will be playing on the first Thursday’s of June, July, and August in the MBC Cherry St. taproom from 7-9PM.
About the artist: Aquiestoy is the project of guitarist, producer, and singer-songwriter Carlos Snaider. Raised by a Nuyorican mother and Ecuadorian father across cities in the US — and, briefly, in Quito, Ecuador — Carlos is now based in Seattle with his music taking him to and from Latin America.
The name Aquiestoy fuses the Spanish words for “here” and “I am”, which he translates as “ibehere.” That sense of presence without fixed ground runs through music that includes live solo and band arrangements, hardware synth production, and songwriting in English, Spanish, and Spanglish that are from many places and nowhere at once.
With Aquiestoy as his current root, Carlos also plays in the bands EarthtoneSkytone, Eléré and Star Gondola in Seattle.
Supported by KNKX. The Sergio Mendes Band Returns! Led by Gracinha Leporace, Mendes' wife and vocal partner of over 50 years. Joined by the musicians who stood beside him, to Celebrate 60 Years of Brasil '66 and the Joyful Legacy of Brazilian Music!
The iconic sound of Sergio Mendes, performed by the original members of The Sergio Mendes Band as they continue his legacy by performing his music and celebrating his life. The Sergio Mendes Band toured and performed alongside the maestro. Before his passing in 2024, Mendes called this group the best band he ever had. Marking 60 years since the debut of Brasil '66, the band continue Mendes' lifelong mission of sharing the vibrant rhythms and infectious soul of Brazilian music with audiences around the world.
"Carrying Sergio's music forward is both an honor and a responsibility. This band embodies his spirit, joy, and deep love for Brazilian music. Sergio cherished every single member of this extraordinary ensemble, and we're proud to continue what he started." - Gracinha Leporace.
With a sound that blends timeless Brazilian grooves with fresh arrangements and uplifting energy, The Sergio Mendes Band brings a renewed sense of celebration to every performance. Each note pays tribute to Mendes’ remarkable influence — a career that helped shape the global appreciation of Bossa Nova, Samba, and the unmistakable warmth of Brazilian culture.
Aug 07 Friday
The West Sound Film Festival features talent both local and abroad. The Festival shows a large array of films including experimental, documentaries, comedies, horror, music videos, dramas, animated, feature length films and more. We aim to encourage networking, growth and share stories from all walks of life. The West Sound Film Festival will be hosted at The Historic Roxy Theatre, an independent non-profit theater in Bremerton, Washington and SEEfilm Cinemas. We look forward to bringing both local businesses and filmmakers together for a fresh, contemporary celebration of film. Check out the lineup here.
The West Sound Film Festival was previously known as the Port Orchard Film Festival founded by Amy Camp and Nick Taylor. The Festival debuted in 2016 in Port Orchard at our original home, the Dragonfly Cinema. “ In 2019 we partnered with the Roxy Theatre to move the festival to downtown Bremerton. SEEfilm Cinema and many other downtown businesses also came on board to offer space and support. The pandemic forced us to hold a virtual festival in 2020 but we are back, growing, learning, and going strong.” After several successful years of the International Film Festival and learning a thing or two, our sights are on the screen ahead.
Aug 08 Saturday
Celebrate 21 years of IN THE SPIRIT! Experience this free community festival showcasing Native arts and culture with live music, artisan vendors, art exhibitions, interactive demonstrations, delicious food, and complimentary museum admission. Join this powerful celebration hosted by Washington State History Museum, Tacoma Art Museum, and Museum of Glass.
Aug 13 Thursday
Supported by KNKX. Grammy-winning producer, guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli celebrates the centennial of iconic singer Tony Bennett with a pair of heartfelt tributes.
Dear Mr. Bennett, to be released March 3, 2026 via Green Hill Music, features Pizzarelli's trio with bassist Mike Karn and pianist Isaiah J. Thompson performing timeless songs made famous by Bennett.
For world-renowned guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli, Tony Bennett was more than simply an influence. Pizzarelli's late father, the revered guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, was a frequent sideman for the legendary singer, appearing on albums including 1960's To My Wonderful One and 1969's I've Gotta Be Me. John got his own opportunity to accompany Bennett for a radio broadcast that also featured pianist Ralph Sharon and bassist Jay Leonhart.
The admiration was mutual - Bennett could be found in the audience for a number of Pizzarelli's performances, and sketched his likeness on two occasions. The charming artwork that graces the cover of Pizzarelli's heartfelt new tribute album, Dear Mr. Bennett, was rendered during an engagement at Feinstein's nightclub at New York’s Loews Regency hotel.
Dear Mr. Bennett, released in March, 2026 via Green Hill Music, is on the one hand a loving farewell to a profoundly influential musician who meant so much to so many. At the same time, it's a spirited celebration, arriving just in time for Bennett's landmark August 3rd centennial. A five-song EP will follow on August 7th to coincide with the occasion. Both releases feature songs made famous by Bennett over the course of his remarkable seven-decade career, rendered with lively warmth, soulful balladry and embracing swing by Pizzarelli and his trio featuring bassist Mike Karn and pianist Isaiah J. Thompson.
Aug 14 Friday
The Downtown Tacoma Blues Festival is coming to Broadway!! Don't miss this three-day extravaganza of world-class blues!!
**Friday, August 14th - 5pm to 9pm inside of the TACOMA CENTRE with hosts Ebony & Ivory Coffee - PRE-FUNK FRIDAY - FREE TO THE PUBLIC - Beer & Wine available for purchase. Suggested donation $20.
Scheduled to Perform: Mark DuFresne & David Kosins; Terry Hanck & Kid Andersen; The Joel Astley Band; Alvon Johnson with Ben Rice & Derrick D’Mar Martin~Join us for the afterparty at The Hotel Murano with the T-Town Aces!
**Saturday, August 15th - BLUES ON BROADWAY - Featuring TWO stages with headliners VANESSA COLLIER, RICK ESTRIN & THE NIGHTCATS and TOMMY CASTRO & THE PAINKILLERS! Festival opens at 11am - Music from 12pm to 7pmAlso scheduled to perform: United By Music with Ben Rice & Curley Taylor; Alabama Mike & The Greaseland All-Stars; Eden Brent~Join us for the afterparty at Hotel Murano with Mark Hurwitz & Gin Creek feat. Tanya Hodel
**Sunday, August 16th - SOUL SUNDAY at Hotel MuranoScheduled to Perform: Darelle Holden; James Lee Murray Band; Marcel Smith & Lisa Andersen with Kid Andersen~All-Star Invitational Jam
Festival is FREE to the public & VIP packages are available.
Aug 15 Saturday
Sponsored by KNKX. Let the soulful sounds of Louisiana move you, and join us for Kent's annual celebration of Cajun & Creole food, music, and culture.This year’s lineup features Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble all the way from Louisiana, Pre-show dance lessons with Zydeco LowDown, America’s First Corp Band leading the spirited second line parade with Elegance Drill Team following to steal our hearts.• Authentic Cuisine: Indulge in a variety of Cajun & Creole dishes from Altha’s Cajun Spices, food trucks and food stands offering everything from gumbo to po' boys, BBQ and sweet treats ensuring a true taste of the Bayou and beyond. • Beer Garden: Savor local beverages provided by 2 Towns Ciderhouse and Logan Brewing and wine selections.• Artist & Maker Stalls: Discover unique creations from local artists and makers, featuring everything from handmade candies to original artwork.• Kids Area: A designated space where younger attendees can enjoy entertainment designed just for them.• Second Line Parade: Join in the lively Second Line Parade, a cherished tradition in Cajun &Creole culture where participants dance and celebrate in the street.
Aug 18 Tuesday
The award-winning, hard-touring, guitar slinger blends smoking electric funk and slide guitar, jazzy instrumentals and a tight blues groove with soulful, feminine vocals. Add to the mix her incredible stage presence, all of which makes her an irresistible force in the world of contemporary blues music.
Called 'one helluva a guitar-player' by Bruce Springsteen and nominated for seven Blues Music Awards, Ana was added as the only female guitar-player to the 2014 -'18 all-star Experience Hendrix lineup; a nationwide tour celebrating the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix with Buddy Guy, Eric Johnson, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and many more world renown artists.
She appeared on the cover of Vintage Guitar and Guitar Player magazine. Her albums Can You Stand The Heat'(2013) and Unconditional (2011) where Pick-Of-The-Week by USA Today and featured on NPR Music. Her album POWER (2023) made it to #1 on the Billboard Blues Charts - THE list of best-selling albums nationwide.
You’ll find Popovic in a select group of excellent modern blues guitar players. One reason could be the fact that she’s always willing to work a little harder and travel a little further to master her craft. Ana and her powerful band are tirelessly touring, playing major blues, jazz and rock festivals. She has shared headlining stages with B.B. King, Joe Bonamassa, Gary Clark Jr. and many others. She is endorsed by Fender, D'Angelico, Jim Dunlop and DR strings. When not on tour, she resides in Los Angeles, CA.
Aug 03 Monday
Love hiking? Looking for a way to make a difference? 👀 Join Hike-a-Thon, Washington Trails Association’s community fundraiser!
Hike-a-Thon is for you if you want to …♥️ Give back to trails and public lands (and inspire others to do the same)🌲 Spend more time outdoors this summer, solo or with a team✨ Earn awesome prizes, including the official 2026 T-shirt once you raise your first $40
Everyone is welcome, no matter how or where you enjoy spending time outdoors. Register today to make the most of your Hike-a-Thon!
Drop into Easy Street Records for an afternoon of crate digging. While you're there drop off your damaged or unplayable vinyl records to help support vinyl recycling efforts! Collection bins will be out through the end of September.
Event website: https://www.wmg.com/news/independent-record-stores-and-warner-music-group-launch-nationwide-pilot-to-explore-recovery-pathways-for-vinyl-records
In summer 2026, MOHAI will be one of only eight venues nationwide to host the Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation—a landmark exhibit from the National Archives created in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Inspired by the Freedom Train, which carried historic documents across the country during the Bicentennial, the Freedom Plane National Tour shares original founding-era records from the National Archives with a limited number of cultural institutions nationwide.
Selected as one of only eight venues nationwide, and the final stop on the national tour, MOHAI will host the Freedom Plane National Tour from July 30–August 16, 2026, offering a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the Pacific Northwest to experience these original records before they return to the National Archives vaults.
In alignment with MOHAI’s mission and the significance of America’s 250th anniversary, the Freedom Plane National Tour exhibit will be presented free and open to the public during its run at MOHAI. Additional visitor information will be shared closer to the exhibit opening.
MOHAI will showcase original founding-era documents on loan from the National Archives, central to the creation of the United States.
These fragile, irreplaceable documents are traveling together for the first time as part of the Freedom Plane National Tour. After appearing at a limited number of cultural institutions nationwide, the tour will conclude at MOHAI before the documents return to the National Archives.
In celebration of its 30th anniversary, the Washington State Historical Society invites you to explore the history of building the State History Museum. 30 Years and Counting: The Making of the Washington State History Museum is a special exhibition that uncovers the vision, effort, and community spirit that brought this iconic Tacoma landmark to life.
Discover the bold ideas and architectural ingenuity that shaped the museum’s distinctive look. From early sketches to final blueprints, see how the building’s design reflects both innovation and reverence for Washington’s past. Go behind the scenes of the museum’s construction. Through photographs and artifacts from the building process, witness how a dream took shape—brick by brick, beam by beam.
Staff Picks: 30 Objects for 30 Years
In a special feature area, museum staff share their favorite objects from the collection—each one a personal reflection on the power of history to inspire, surprise, and connect us.
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.
This is a permanent exhibition. Since time immemorial, Tribal nations have existed in this place we call Washington. This Is Native Land invites visitors to understand Washington State through the lived experiences and voices of its Native people.
Tribal nations are sovereign nations. Today, Native history, culture, and community thrive in our state. Through everyday acts of sovereignty – big and small – Indigenous peoples demonstrate they are still here, they have persevered, and they will always be here.
This Is Native Land is guided by three teachings:We are of the land and watersWith knowledge comes responsibilitySovereignty protects people, lands, and waters
These teachings are shared through multimedia, artwork, and interactive objects designed for guest engagement. They represent a contemporary continuation of Tribal stories and traditions.
Over 100 Native contributors from more than 60 Tribes shaped the exhibition’s stories and content. We thank the Native Advisory Committee and all community participants for their contributions.
LeMay – America’s Car Museum proudly presents The Birth of the American Supercar, a groundbreaking exhibition guest curated by renowned automotive innovator Steve Saleen. This one-of-a-kind display invites guests on an exhilarating journey through the evolution of American supercars. From early speed pioneers to cutting-edge modern marvels, visitors will experience a stunning lineup of vehicles that have redefined engineering, speed, and style, built by a wide range of American automotive manufacturers like Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Saleen himself, and even some more obscure ones like Vector, Cunningham, and Hennessey. From roaring V8s to sleek carbon-fiber bodies, discover how American automakers pushed boundaries, challenged European rivals, and redefined what a supercar could be. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see some of the most thrilling and historically significant American-made performance vehicles ever built—all under one roof.
Each week brings new adventures during the Summer Splash! Festival of Fun! Our event calendar is filled with exciting activities and special guests that spark creativity, curiosity, and wonder. Enjoy roller-skating parrots, circus performers, inspiring artists, border collie athletes, sand carvers, a 25-foot rock wall, and so much more!
Presented by WSECU
“Every piece I create, from the humblest tumbler to the most baroque sculpture, makes a statement about isolation, striving, access, perseverance, boundary pushing, and the pursuit of excellence. I believe my presence in the field as a working-class Black man, striving and excelling in a field occupied chiefly by society’s most privileged (whitest), is a powerful artistic and political gesture. “—Jason McDonald
Glass vessels evocative of the highly ornamented Baroque style, black silhouettes embedded in scenes on ancient pottery vessels, and medallion reliefs of Black figures all abide in the deliberate, expansive practice of Jason McDonald. McDonald’s visual language is deeply rooted in research of ancient histories, traditional techniques, and race. Here, contemporary ideas blend and transform tradition with caring attention to detail, precision in thought, and beauty. Motivated by glass—with its magical properties, myriads of endless possibilities and potential—McDonald’s devotion lies in the desire to refine the craft, making his hands more familiar and knowledgeable with each replication. Through his repetition and re-imagination of these historical forms, the objects transform into sculptures and vessels of time, carrying with them the essence of centuries-old traditions, as well as McDonald’s commitment and insertion of the representation and notions of Black identity. With a commitment to the craft that transcends his own work, McDonald diligently carves out space for those who will follow him through mentoring and the creation of his own glass studio, which he has named Ideal Conditions.
Organized by Tacoma Art Museum and curated by Victoria Miles.
Childhood's End Gallery presents Form a Line, a group exhibition of new work by four distinct Pacific Northwest artists. Finding common ground in bold representation of the natural world, Kathy Anderson, Colleen Cotey, Sara Gettys, and Julia Janeway each bring a practiced sensitivity to their chosen mediums. Through processes that remove material or add it, these four artists present new works rooted in an intimate knowledge of place and material.
