7 minute read
Deep Dive
PULLING OUT THE STOPS
BY CONNIE BYE
Photos courtesy Brother Townsend, King Youngblood and by Dinah Satterwhite
To those who complain there’s nothing to do on Bainbridge, give a listen: There’s live music playing at more venues these days, thanks in great part to Andrew Joslyn.
A world-renowned, award-winning musician in his own right, Joslyn has set out to expand opportunities for islanders to enjoy live music while ensuring that musicians have more work and are paid a fair wage.
He now schedules entertainment at five venues: the Marketplace, Manor House, Treehouse Cafe and Lynwood Theatre, all in Pleasant Beach Village/Lynwood Center, plus Bainbridge Island Museum of Art’s new First Friday After Party Concert Series on Art Walk nights in Winslow.
“We’re bringing out people who don’t usually go to shows,” Joslyn said. Bainbridge already had programming focused on jazz and classical music. “But there’re whole sectors of music that had been overlooked.”
So, he tried heavy metal in February at the Treehouse, and he’s booked country, rock, soul, blues, folk, Brazilian jazz and more at various venues.
“I promise you it will be a fun night,” Joslyn said. “It may not [usually] be your bag, but you’ll enjoy yourself.”
Consistency is key, Joslyn said. “At Marketplace, we have music on Fridays, no matter what. When you do that, you develop a following.”
Music lovers arrived well ahead of the 7 p.m. free concert on a soft April evening at Marketplace. An open connecting door to Earth & Vine allowed bar patrons to experience the music, too. People queued up to order drinks and food before Michelle D’Amour and the Love Dealers got started.
Jim and Kari Brumley had snagged two chairs at a shared table with a prime view of the musicians.
“We just love live music; there’s an energy to it,” said Jim , who described himself as a blues-rocker kind of guy who also appreciates other styles. “I like to listen to music at home, too, but I really love hearing it live. We’re here almost every Friday night.”
Kari added: “We hope it keeps going and going. Not having to leave the island to experience this is wonderful—especially after a day at work.”
To be sure, Pegasus Coffee House, Eleven Winery and other area venues include live music in their programming. But Joslyn aims to build on that legacy and take it to another level. For example, he booked King Youngblood, a Seattle alt-rock band that’s nationally known, for the initial BIMA After Party Concert.
Musicians recognize the importance of including Bainbridge and other smaller markets in their schedules, said Lara Lavi, whose Dreaming in Color Entertainment LLC in Seattle manages King Youngblood and other groups. “Those people in the audience will tell other people. You build an audience. So, Bainbridge is not secondary in terms of value.”
The growth in the island market “has been huge for us,” said Brett Townsend, who leads a four-person group, Brother Townsend, that’s based on the Olympic Peninsula. “It’s resulted in a lot of financial support but also private bookings.”
Townsend said his band’s sound isn’t easy to classify: “It’s Americana, a la CCR, country-like, blues-like, classic rock ‘n’ roll. It’s lyric-driven and very approachable. It’s fun and very danceable.”
Music fans ensure that “we have an excellent turnout” on the island, Townsend said. But some Bainbridge fans also travel to hear Brother Townsend play in other places. “That’s rare,” he said.
Events are free at Marketplace, but other venues generally require tickets. The price is $25 for BIMA’s After Party events and for some Treehouse concerts. At Manor House, Lynwood Theatre and other Treehouse events, admission costs $35 to $45.
Live music appeals to people on many levels, said Korum Bischoff, deputy director at BIMA. “These days, people do so much alone—texting, social media. Shared experiences make you feel alive. Post-COVID, it feels even more special now.”
Although some Seattle residents might discover the island’s burgeoning music scene, Joslyn said he mainly wants to provide consistently good experiences for music lovers from Bainbridge and all over the Kitsap Peninsula.
“There’s a lot going on in Bremerton, and I don’t want Bainbridge to be left behind,” he said. “I’ve been trying to get this area on the map and promoted with the rest of the county.”
These days, Joslyn splits his time 50-50 between his own career and booking other musicians. He’s a noted performer, composer, orchestrator and arranger. He graduated in 2001 from Bainbridge High School, went to college, then pursued a career as a musician. He and his wife, Madison, moved back to the island during the pandemic, and he began seriously considering ways to advocate for other artists. When some friends from high school approached him about scheduling musicians at island venues, he dived in.
“It has given me freedom to take on projects I want,” he said. “I prioritized my own craft, but it also allowed me to be even more focused on the music community, looking at what’s happening all over the place.”
Breaking into that community is tough, Townsend said. In years past, musicians often simply showed up at a venue with a demo tape or guitar and asked about performing, he said. The owners would give a listen and decide if they liked the sound. “Now, most venues ask, ‘How many people can you guarantee to bring in?’” And the internet, he said, has added another dimension: How many people are you entertaining online?
“Andrew spans the old and new worlds,” Townsend said. “He’s generous with his time and experience. He’s a real person. He’s still a working artist; he’s not just a suit.”
At BIMA, the First Friday series high lights regional talent, one of the museum’s core missions, Bischoff said. “Music is art,” he said. “We have a stage, and we should be promoting another art form.”
BIMA has woven music into its programming from the start, but the new First Friday events, from 8 to 10 p.m., are tailored for people who don’t want the fun to stop when the Art Walks end, Bischoff said.
Like Joslyn, Bischoff is an advocate for paying musicians fairly. So, BIMA charges admission for the First Friday After Party events to help support the performers. “As a result, bands are calling us, asking, ‘When can we play there?’”
Joslyn has booked musicians for BIMA’s First Friday series through year’s end, except for June, when the date conflicts with the museum’s annual fund-raiser. The first concert, March 1, featuring King Youngblood, “was pretty rocking,” Bischoff said, but expect the mix to be eclectic in coming months.
Joslyn hopes the days when musicians played only for tips are over.
“People have misunderstood that musicians want to play just for the joy of it,” he said. “it’s all about respect for the profession.”
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The Marketplace also offers opportunities for amateurs on Open Mic Nights every Thursday evening, plus special showcase open jam sessions on the second and fourth Thursdays.
Pleasant Beach Village festivals have included St. Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo.
Check what’s coming at pleasantbeachvillage.com/events.
