Some'tet featuring Michael Whitmore
Sunday nights at Durong (behind Vashon Sugar Shack)
6:30pm
No cover, tip jar
Limited seating
21+

The soundscape of Some’tet is a captivating blend of mellow, west coast cool jazz infused with bursts of bold, inventive energy. Layered into their unique style are vibrant South American rhythms, the subtle elegance of art songs, the unpredictable flair of free jazz, and the heartfelt allure of torch songs, all complemented by soulful vocals that leave an indelible impression. Their music weaves together four essential elements: adventure, beauty, spirituality, and soul, creating a rich tapestry that resonates deeply with listeners.

Join us for a Sunday of relaxation and inspiration at Vashon’s most intimate lounge, a hidden gem nestled behind the Sugar Shack. Let the smooth, soulful sounds of Some’tet set the tone for an evening of pure musical delight. Don’t miss this chance to unwind and experience the heart of Vashon’s jazz scene!

Snapdragon Trivia Night
Every Thursday | 6:30 PM
Home Sweet Home at Snapdragon

Gather your friends and test your knowledge at Snapdragon Trivia, hosted by the one and only Michael Whitmore! It’s a fun-filled evening where you can team up, compete, and show off your smarts.

Expect prizes, unexpected twists, and plenty of laughs along the way. Join the excitement, connect with your community, and enjoy the warm and inviting vibes of Snapdragon. Don’t miss out on the whole shebang!

Whim W'Him Contemporary Dance Co.
"WINTER '25"
Vashon Center for the Arts
Thursday, January 23
7:30pm
FREE FOR YOUTH!

Whim W’Him presents an incredible range of work for Winter ‘25 from choreographer Cameron Fraser-Monroe, member of the Tla’amin First Nation; director and artist Robyn Mineko Williams; and a can’t-miss World Premiere from Olivier Wevers.

Twice a year, VCA is thrilled to offer dance programs by award-winning Seattle-based contemporary dance company Whim W’Him. Since 2009, Whim W’Him has showcased innovative collaborations with regional and global dance artists. As a principal dancer with both the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet, Artistic Director Olivier Wevers saw how imaginative storytelling and movement exploration can imbue a sense of curiosity and wonder into dance. These qualities are in every program Whim W’Him brings to VCA.

Social Dance Party
Snapdragon
Saturday, January 25th
6pm-9pm
$10 suggested donation
One drink minimum

Mark Saturday, January 25th, on your calendar for a Dance Party with Sarah Howard at Snapdragon from 6-9 pm. Practice makes progress! We'll be playing music from all walks of life and dancing to Salsa, Foxtrot, Swing, Waltz, Tango, and more with mini-lessons throughout the evening. The bar will be open for food and drink. Solo dancers are welcome!

Gangstagrass
Vashon Center for the Arts
Saturday, January 25
7:30pm
BLUEGRASS MEETS HIP-HOP!

Gangstagrass is a multi-racial collective of musicians who demolish every preconception you have about country and hip-hop music. These string pickers and MCs create a shared cultural space for dialogue and connection between folks that usually never intersect. The boundaries are gone, and Gangstagrass is doing things nobody thought would work, but when you hear it, you know, down in your soul, that it does work. Gangstagrass is here to help us party together with an irresistible blend of America’s rural and urban music traditions.

Insights: The Birds in the Arts with Adria Magrath
Vashon Center for the Arts
Sunday, January 26, 2pm
FREE

Join us for an engaging gallery talk with Adria Magrath, Vashon Bird Alliance board member and Vashon Nature Center steward of the Heron Meadow. Adria brings her extensive knowledge of avian life to "Birds Take Flight", an art exhibition featuring a stunning array of bird-inspired artwork. The talk is free to the public.

During this conversation, Adria will guide visitors through the gallery, highlighting a selection of birds depicted in the artwork and sharing fascinating insights into their unique behaviors, habitats, and environmental roles. From majestic herons to playful songbirds, learn more about the avian subjects the artists brought to life in various artistic mediums.

The exhibition showcases an impressive collection of creative works, including paintings, drawings, photography, fiber arts, quilting, felting, embroidery, watercolors, glasswork, mixed media, and more. Adria’s expertise will enrich your appreciation of both the art and the birds that inspired it, offering a deeper understanding of the connection between nature and creativity.

Adria Magrath is an island biologist and naturalist. After a career in research and tenure as a biology professor, she now spends her days working in the Vashon community as a citizen scientist, steward of Heron Meadow, gardener, habitat restoration specialist, and occasional environmental educator. Among her other roles, she serves on the board of the Vashon Bird Alliance and works for the Vashon Nature Center and Vashon Center for the Arts.

The event is free and open to the public.

See the art exhibition "Birds Take Flight:
In the Gallery: Wed - Sunday 12-5pm
Online:https://bit.ly/BirdsTakeFlightVCA

Cindy Hoyt's Book Release Party for "Lucid"
Sunday, January 26th
4:00pm
Snapdragon

"Her house sits on a flagpole. Her dog plays the saxophone. Yes, radio personality Callie Naylor has always followed her dreams.

But lately, those dreams have begun following her.

Ever since she learned to induce lucidity—becoming aware when she was inside a bad dream, then morphing it into something wonderful—Callie and her “technicolor Play-Doh brain” have had a lot of fun. But her increasing skill encroaches on territory previously held by her subconscious (aka “Sub C”), who retaliates via bizarre and sometimes dangerous daytime attacks.

When Sub C forces her to choose between the people she loves and nonstop five-star phantasmagoria, Callie learns that life’s ultimate showdown is the one you have with yourself."

Cindy Hoyt has explored every aspect of sun worship, from its 5000-year history to the latest tanning tips to an A-Z list of the most entertaining activities you can perform lying on your back. That was the inspiration for "Tansmania," the first book on how to get a tan while laughing--and make you laugh at the things we do in the name of body image.

A classic rock radio DJ on an island off the coast of Seattle, Cindy also writes and acts in comedy sketches for a regional variety show with audiences 600-strong. Besides “Tansmania,” she’s written “Lucid,” the first how-to novel (about lucid dreaming), along with humor columns and videogame dialogue.

Some'tet featuring Michael Whitmore
Sunday nights at Durong (behind Vashon Sugar Shack)
6:30pm
No cover, tip jar
Limited seating
21+

The soundscape of Some’tet is a captivating blend of mellow, west coast cool jazz infused with bursts of bold, inventive energy. Layered into their unique style are vibrant South American rhythms, the subtle elegance of art songs, the unpredictable flair of free jazz, and the heartfelt allure of torch songs, all complemented by soulful vocals that leave an indelible impression. Their music weaves together four essential elements: adventure, beauty, spirituality, and soul, creating a rich tapestry that resonates deeply with listeners.

Join us for a Sunday of relaxation and inspiration at Vashon’s most intimate lounge, a hidden gem nestled behind the Sugar Shack. Let the smooth, soulful sounds of Some’tet set the tone for an evening of pure musical delight. Don’t miss this chance to unwind and experience the heart of Vashon’s jazz scene!

"The Maury Island Incident" Film Screening and talk
Vashon Theatre
January 28th
6:00pm

Join the Vashon Heritage Museum at the Vashon Theatre for screening of “The Maury Island Incident” followed by at talk by film makers Scott Schaefer and Steve Edmiston.

Tickets are $10 for students, seniors & members; $15 General

Tickets can be purchased at https://www.vashonheritagemuseum.org/events/2501-tue-talk

Snapdragon Trivia Night
Every Thursday | 6:30 PM
Home Sweet Home at Snapdragon

Gather your friends and test your knowledge at Snapdragon Trivia, hosted by the one and only Michael Whitmore! It’s a fun-filled evening where you can team up, compete, and show off your smarts.

Expect prizes, unexpected twists, and plenty of laughs along the way. Join the excitement, connect with your community, and enjoy the warm and inviting vibes of Snapdragon. Don’t miss out on the whole shebang!

Benjamin Hunter
Snapdragon
Friday, January 31st
7:00pm

Reality has offered a fertile canvas for violinist, storyteller, educator and community enterpriser Benjamin Hunter’s endeavoring mind.

Cross pollinating multiple artistic disciplines for more than a decade, the Seattle based polymath, award winning multi-instrumentalist, composer, creative & culture advocate, social entrepreneur, and producer has dedicated his life to transforming the world’s stale status quo into a vibrant, inclusive, communal, and compassionate society.

He is the founder of Community Arts Create, co-founder of the Hillman City Collaboratory, co-founder of Black & Tan Hall, and currently serves as the Artistic Director at NW Folklife. He served on the Seattle Music Commission from 2017-2021, and co-chairs the Columbia Hillman Arts & Culture District.

Benjamin was the recipient of the 2015 Governor’s Arts & Heritage Award and the 2016 City Arts Magazine Future’s List Award. In 2016, his roots duo, Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons, took 1st place in the International Blues Challenge. Benjamin is a 2019 Gordon Ekvall Tracie Memorial Awardee, a 2020 Artist Trust Fellowship Awards recipient, and served a 2020/2021 Artist-in-Residence at On The Boards.

Ben plays in the internationally acclaimed roots duo, Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons; as a soloist, performing original works; and with his band, The Intraterrestrials. In 2017, Benjamin composed music for the critically acclaimed dance piece, Black Bois, which presented at On the Boards in 2017, and The Moore Theater in 2020. In 2023, Benjamin collaborated with Seattle and New York based artists to create Untitled, composing the music for a multi-disciplinary production with dance, visual, architectural, and storyteller artists. Connecting all his experiences in one musical language, Benjamin’s music scans the margins and the nucleus alike searching for the stories and intersections where everything converges.

In 2014, Benjamin presented a TEDx talk entitled, When Folk Music Speaks. In 2022, he presented as the season capstone for the Chautauqua Lecture Series, entitled, The Renaissance of Folk. Benjamin continues to speak at colleges, universities, conferences, and events across the country, and is part of the 2022/2023 Washington Speaker’s Bureau. ​

With so much completed already, determining Hunter’s next step is near to impossible. However, two things are for certain, whatever it is, at least a small slice of the world will be better off for it, and that endeavoring mind of his will forever be insatiable.

https://www.benjaminhuntermusic.com/

Mycologist Danny Miller on:
THE SECRET HISTORY OF MUSHROOMS
Vashon Center for the Arts
Sunday, February 2
2pm

What are the biggest surprises that recent studies in DNA have shown us about the (until now) secret history of mushrooms on the planet? Danny first got interested in Mushrooms in 2007 after seeing strange colorful creatures in the forest all the time while hiking and skiing off trail, and finally decided he had to find out what they were. The more he learned, the more interesting they seemed, and it just hasn’t stopped.

Danny is the Education Chair for the Puget Sound Mycological Society, helping to design and teach the curriculum for the club’s mycology classes. He is also the club Librarian, and ID Committee co-coordinator and an emergency poisoning point person for King County Washington Poison Control. Danny also belongs to the PNW Key Council, a group of amateur and professional mycologists and is a co-author of MycoMatch (formerly MatchMaker) with Ian Gibson, the free PNW mushroom ID program for the PC. He has a big interest in taxonomy and figuring out where all of the mushrooms fit into the fungal tree of life, and is currently trying to collect the DNA of every PNW species to determine which still need names.

This talk is presented in collaboration with Vashon Nature Center.

International Guitar Night - 25th Anniversary
Vashon Center for the Arts
Thursday, February 6 • 7:30pm

INTERNATIONAL GUITAR NIGHT, the world’s premier touring guitar festival, is coming to Vashon! For each tour, IGN founder Brian Gore brings together a new cast of guitar luminaries for a special evening of solos, duets, and quartets, highlighting the talent and diversity within the acoustic guitar world.

Don't miss the exceptional lineup Brian has assembled to commemorate IGN's 25th Anniversary:

LULO REINHARDT is well known to IGN audiences. The grandnephew of legendary Django Reinhardt, Lulo plays Latin Swing music, a combination of Gypsy Swing with Latin rhythms.

ALEXANDRA WHITTINGHAM is a dynamic classical guitarist with a repertoire ranging from the classics to contemporary composers.

NIWEL TSUMBO has kept his unique Congolese percussive style alive over the past twenty-five years living in Ireland.

SOENKE MEINEN is a leading Contemporary Fingerstyle guitarist. He mixes the incredible dexterity of his high-speed compositions with sensitive ballads.

On Vashon Island, Washington First Fridays are when the artists, galleries, and local merchants put up new art installations and window displays to celebrate the month. Crowds gather to view the art and visit with friends. The town is alive!

Vashon Events is proud to promote this monthly community-building event by gathering information from galleries, artists, and merchants about their First Friday plans. We send out a monthly newsletter to let community members know just what is happening.

Join our newsletter HERE to get a monthly update on First Friday happenings, or if you are already a subscriber, update your profile now.

Special thanks to our First Friday Art Gallery Cruise Promotion Sponsors:

The Madrona Group/John L. Scott Vashon
Island Insurance
O Sol Mio
4Culture
ArtsWA

The mission of Vashon Events is to create, provide, and expand positive life experiences through music and art for all. Your gift makes a difference in the lives of artists and musicians.

Wolfchild
Open Space for Arts & Community
Friday, February 7
Doors 6PM | Show 7PM

WOLFCHILD is a Seattle based Cinematic Folk Rock band with influences ranging from the immersive earthy sounds of Gregory Alan Isakov, Lord Huron, and The Paper Kites to the contemporary experimentation you might expect from Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, or Andrew Bird. They have performed on stages such as The Troubadour, Mississippi Studios, “The Egg” (Albany, NY), Folklore (UK), and Java (Paris); At festivals like Imagine Music & Arts, Cascade Equinox, Oregon Country Faire, SXSW, Burning Man, 4 Peaks, Summer Meltdown, Northwest Folklife, and many more.