Jul 17 Thursday
Sponsored by KNKX. Volunteer Park Trust is thrilled to announce the return of our Summer Series—featuring none other than two-time Grammy Award winner Sara Gazarek! Back by popular demand, Sara and her band will once again grace the stage at our spectacular series of performances in the beautifully renovated Volunteer Park Amphitheater.
Her appearances over the past two years have been a standout highlight of the season, captivating audiences of all ages and helping to shape this celebration into a beloved summer tradition.
This year’s lineup continues the momentum with a stellar roster of the Pacific Northwest’s finest musicians and songwriters. Each evening promises unforgettable performances in Capitol Hill’s new cultural hub—Volunteer Park.
Our free concerts will be held every Thursday from July 10 to August 14, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Our series kickoff on July 10, known as Picnic in the Park, will include kids’ activities and free ice cream. Food trucks will be available at every concert. Gather your friends and family, and join us in celebrating music, community, and summer in Seattle!
The lineup:
July 10The PaperboysStacy Jones Band
July 17 - presented by KNKXSara GazarekJovino Santos Neto
July 24Nite WaveThe ABBAgraphs
July 31LeRoy Bell and His Only FriendsDance Church
August 7Quincy Jones Tribute with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra - presented by KNKX
August 14KalimbaDay Soul Exquisite
Jul 12 Saturday
Ballard SeafoodFest is an iconic Seattle 3-day festival that attracts more than 70,000 attendees each year. While visitors are drawn year after year to the incredible bounty of seafood delicacies, the event now celebrates a live performance stage, an expansive beer and cocktail garden that highlights the best of Ballard’s beverage scene, an eclectic mix of artisan craft vendors, family-friendly and all-ages activities, and much more. It all started in 1974 as a neighborhood salmon barbeque celebrating Ballard’s fishing industry and Scandinavian heritage while raising funds to support the Ballard community. The gathering quickly became a beloved tradition. Each year, Trident Seafoods shares their salmon catch, while Alder trees are selected and felled by hand. The salmon is then artfully prepared over open flame, creating an impressive aromatic, visual and edible centerpiece to the 50+ year community festival. The event remains free of charge to the public. All proceeds from Ballard SeafoodFest are reinvested back into the neighborhood through projects and programs that help ensure Ballard remains a vital and vibrant corner of Seattle.
Presented by KNKX. Son Cubano is one of the most popular musical styles in Cuba, and Grammy-nominated Kiki Valera is one of its foremost exponents. Over the last century, this style of traditional Cuban music has contributed to many other genres of music including salsa, cha cha cha, mambo and Latin jazz. Kiki Valera is the oldest son of the famous La Familia Valera Miranda septet, a multi-generational music group from Santiago de Cuba. Since the 19th century, La Familia Valera Miranda has played a significant role in Cuban culture by collecting and preserving the deep-rooted traditions of the legendary Sierra Maestra mountain region. A multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and producer, he’s best known as one of the world’s greatest players of the Cuban cuatro, a mid-size guitar with 8 strings grouped in sets of 2. His current project features other internationally acclaimed recording artists including Grammy Award-winning vocalists Jeremy Bosch and Carlos Cascante of Spanish Harlem Orchestra fame.
Jul 16 Wednesday
Bill Evans re-defined Jazz piano in the 1960s with his subtlety, lyricism, and unique approach to harmony. One of the many players influenced by this legacy is the prolific Canadian composer and virtuoso pianist, Renee Rosnes.
The Piano Starts Here series highlights the work of some of the most prolific and talented composers and pianists to have ever tackled the instrument. Each of the performances brings together Seattle’s finest pianists to perform the works of the artist selected for that evening on the Royal Room’s Steinway B grand piano. Past PSH performances have highlighted the work of Sonny Clark, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Sun Ra, Annette Peacock, Bill Evans, Mary-Lou Williams, Fats Waller, Herbie Hancock, Alice Coltrane, Herbie Nichols, and countless others.
Curated by Wayne Horvitz and Alex Guilbert. Hosted by Alex Guilbert.
Featuring:
Marc SealesLynette WestendorfMichael OwcharukRyan BurnsKate MolloyAlex Guilbert
Jul 18 Friday
Presented by KNKX. As one of the most innovative and influential pedal steel guitarists of his generation, Robert Randolph blends gospel, rock, blues, and soul in a way that speaks to both his musical roots and modern-day artistry. His highly anticipated new solo album, Preacher Kids, set for release on Sun Records, marks a pivotal moment in his career. Produced by Shooter Jennings (known for his work with Brandi Carlile and Tanya Tucker), this album captures Randolph stepping outside of his work with the six-time Grammy-nominated Robert Randolph & The Family Band.
Recorded at Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles and Zac Brown’s Southern Ground Studios in Nashville, the project features a collective of musicians who, like Randolph, grew up as preachers' kids. Together, they share stories of transitioning from church music to the world of rock and blues, while never losing the powerful spiritual connection that first inspired them. The sessions for this album began as a series of jam sessions, with Randolph and the band focusing on capturing the raw, live energy of their sound. Later, these jams were rounded out with songwriting sessions, where the songs took shape, maintaining the spirit and spontaneity of their original creation.
He has also contributed to major musical moments across genres. Randolph performed with Luke Combs on a Charley Pride tribute for CMT, played on Jon Batiste’s We Are, which won the Grammy for Album of the Year, worked on the Elvis movie soundtrack, and performed on the Zac Brown Band’s tour. Most recently, he celebrated the Grammy win for Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, for which he contributed pedal steel in "16 Carriages" and "Ya Ya."
Sponsored by KNKX. The 38th Annual Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival is located at the Blues Ranch on the Methow River in the resort town of Winthrop, Washington. The three-day event is packed full of exciting national and regional entertainment for all ages. There is on-site camping, food and craft vendors, portable showers, and a beer garden. The Blues Ranch is the perfect setting for one of Washington’s finest music festivals.
The 2025 lineup includes:Samantha FishRobert RandolphTab BenoitDiggin DirtSugaray RayfordCJ ChenierThe Heavy HeavyLachy DoleyToo Slim & The TaildraggersJoel Astleyand more!
Jul 19 Saturday
Sponsored by KNKX. Tickets are sold out to this event, but you can still support the great work Oasis Youth Center does by donating in honor of their 40th Anniversary.
Oasis Youth Center is the only organization responding to the unique needs of queer youth in Pierce and surrounding counties. Our goal is to go beyond support for survival; we aim to cultivate accessible pathways for youth to thrive authentically. To achieve this, we have over 30 hours of weekly programming and special events throughout the year tailored to the needs and interests of queer youth. Each program and event helps nurture a healthy, thriving community engaged in cultural celebration, leadership development, artistic expression, and stewardship of the legacy and impact the LGBTQ+ community has in the world.
Aug 29 Friday
Sponsored by KNKX. Bremerton’s Admiral Theatre Foundation and Kitsap Fair and Stampede Association proudly present the 2nd annual Kitsap Blues Music Festival on Labor Day Weekend - Friday, August 29 - Sunday, August 31, 2025 at the Kitsap Fairgrounds in Bremerton, Washington. Enjoy a variety of incredible rhythm and blues artists over three days. BBQ, Concessions & More. Beer & Wine Gardens. Only 21+ admitted.
The lineup includes Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Eric Gales, Shemekia Copeland, Duffy Bishop, and so much more!
The demands of the music of Steely Dan are high, both in technical proficiency and in preserving the sarcastic, knowing attitude originally conceived. Nearly Dan does well on both fronts, fusing together the chops of 12 diversely-talented artists (with backgrounds in jazz, rock, R&B, country, and swing) into a veritable butcher’s shop window of precisely cut bass lines; surgical, highly reminiscent guitar solos; a biting yet sophisticated horn section and richly marbled beats. Nearly Dan's recipes avoid over-earnest adulation, coolly presenting Steely Dan’s Burroughsian black humor and notoriously perfectionist musicianship. Mixed with their own arrangements of those masterpiece compositions, the result is pure ambrosia. Nearly Dan puts their earnestness where it matters most; into the relaxed but highly practiced execution of great songs like the bouncing “Reelin’ In the Years,” the sorrowful, karmic circularity of “Do It Again,” or the funny but mortified “Peg.” Endorsed by the company they keep, this group’s musicians have performed with greats such as Stevie Wonder, Sammy Davis Jr., Ray Charles, Lou Rawls, the Four Tops, the Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Huey Lewis, Tower Of Power, Tito Puente, Natalie Cole and Gladys Knight.
Live Music Returns to the Waterfront This Summer!
Get ready for an unforgettable summer on the water—Oodalalee: Concerts at Pier 62 is here. Brought to you by your friends at The Crocodile, this brand-new summer series transforms the recently renovated Pier 62 into a beautiful open-air concert venue, right on the edge of Elliott Bay.
Kicking off June 1 with a performance from Hermanos Gutiérrez, the series brings a stacked lineup all summer long, including Silversun Pickups, Watchhouse, Deltron 3030, Cosmo Sheldrake, Blind Pilot & John Craigie, Fruit Bats, and Otoboke Beaver with even more to be announced.
Get ready to party like it’s 1996! This year, Three Dollar Bill Cinema is turning back the clock and turning up the volume with a fierce, joy-filled retrospective the Queer & Trans Film Festival 2025—July 10–12 at Broadway Performance Hall and Erickson Theater.
We’re uniting the legacy of the Seattle Queer Film Festival and TRANS|lations to celebrate 30 years of queer cinema and 20 years of trans storytelling. That means iconic shorts and features from festivals past, a brand-new lineup of trans-made and trans-led short films, and a spotlight on the brilliant local voices that shaped our scene. No virtual fest this year—so mark your calendar, grab your crew, and get ready to celebrate the stories that made us.
Opening night film on July 10 is Beautiful Thing, 7 p.m. at Broadway Performance Hall. Hettie Macdonald’s film is a tender, coming-of-age love story set against the gritty charm of a South London housing estate. When two teenage boys—shy, sweet Jamie and rough-edged Ste—discover an unexpected romance next door, they navigate nosy neighbors, pub brawls, and Donna Summer ballads to find something rare and real: first love that actually lasts. Released at a time when positive queer representation was still rare in mainstream media, Beautiful Thing became an instant touchstone for its warmth, honesty, and unabashed hopefulness. Equal parts kitchen-sink drama and glittery dream, it’s a queer classic with a heart as big as its soundtrack.
Fast Penny Spirits 5th Anniversary PartyDate: Saturday, July 12, 2025Time: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PMLocation: Fast Penny Spirits, Seattle, WA
Celebrate five years of Fast Penny Spirits with an unforgettable summer evening of music, burlesque, and craft cocktails. This glittering anniversary party will feature a full burlesque show with legendary performers Indigo Blue, The One and Only Inga, Ruby Mimosa, and Carmen Caliente, hosted by the ever-fabulous Sailor St. Claire.
Enjoy sets from DJ Asia, signature cocktails crafted by Fast Penny Spirits, elevated bites by Chef Celeste of FRAÎCHE, and ice cream from Batch3.
Tickets include: • Full burlesque performance • DJ set • Entry to the celebration
(Food and drinks sold separately)
Ticket Pricing: • $36 per person / $120 for a group of four through June 12 • $46 per person after June 12
Come raise a glass and celebrate with style—this is one summer party you won’t want to miss!
Tickets & Details: shop.fastpennyspirits.com
Join us for an intimate evening of literature and conversation with acclaimed memoirist Deb Miller, joined by celebrated local authors Leslie Johansen Nack and Rayne Lacko. Set against the charming backdrop of historic 'Little Norway' on the shores of the Puget Sound, this special gathering invites guests to enjoy thoughtful dialogue, curated readings, and a cozy atmosphere complete with wine, cheese, and the shared love of storytelling. It’s a night designed for book lovers, community connection, and meaningful moments.
June 20 - August 1, 2025 Summer Festival 2025 The World’s Largest Chamber Music Party returns!
This five-week celebration of extraordinary music and first-rate artists presents 12 mainstage concerts at Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall, each including a free pre-concert recital; two outdoor concerts in idyllic parks in Seattle and Bellevue; 18 concerts aboard The Concert Truck; the live music and cooking event Tasting Notes; an exciting variety of community and education programs, and for those who can’t attend in person, the return of our live streaming and on-demand, state-of-the-art Virtual Concert Hall.
Among the renowned artists participating this year are violinists James Ehnes, Elena Urioste and Noah Bendix-Balgley; pianists Yulianna Avdeeva and Inon Barnatan; and cellists Bion Tsang and Sterling Elliott. Highlights include masterpieces by Beethoven, Brahms, Fanny Mendelssohn, Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, and Tchaikovsky; music by important 20th-century composers, such as Mieczysław Weinberg, Rebecca Clarke and Amy Beach; and a selection of lesser-known works handpicked for the festival, including neglected pieces by Mel Bonis, Charlotte Sohy, and Moritz Moszkowski.
From a very young age Jose Gonzales had a creative curiosity. It all started with the piano and led to a life exploring music and theatre. His jazz trio includes Matt Jorgensen on drums and Michael Marcus on upright bass. Their juicy, funky sound have become a Northwest favorite, especially their thrilling annual performance of Vince Guaraldi’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas". Dynamic, bluesy, and passionate, Jose “Juicy” Gonzales sings and plays your favorites and more. www.jose.band
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.”
Set in the East Village of New York City, during the previous pandemic, Rent is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Based loosely on Puccini’s La Boheme, Jonathan Larson’s play follows a year in the life of a group of young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Rent has become a pop cultural phenomenon, with songs that rock and a story that shaped a generation of audiences and taught us all to measure our life in love.
A distant heir to a family fortune sets out to speed up the line of succession by using a great deal of charm…and a dash of murder. When the low-born Monty Navarro finds out that he’s eighth in line for an earldom in the lofty D’Ysquith family, he figures his chances of outliving his predecessors are slight and sets off down a far more ghoulish path. Can he knock off his unsuspecting relatives without being caught and become the ninth Earl of Highhurst? And what of love? Because murder isn’t the only thing on Monty’s mind.
