Now in its 18th year, this popular summer concert series at Deception Pass State Park is a celebration of America's wide variety of musical traditions.
Time: All concerts are 7-8 p.m.
Location: All concerts are held at North Beach Amphitheater at Deception Pass State Park
Dunava: July 13
Dunava is a Seattle-based women's vocal ensemble specializing in the a cappella folk music of Eastern Europe. Founded in 2005, the group is made up of singers from diverse musical backgrounds who share a passion for complex and beautiful harmonies. The choir's repertoire includes songs from the Balkans as well as other Slavic countries and the Caucasus.
Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms: July 20
Caleb Klauder & Reeb Willms are known to roots music fans for their soulful harmonies, driving dance tunes, classic original songs, and commitment to rural American music. Caleb and Reeb hail from Washington State—Caleb from the coastal islands, and Reeb from the high desert plateau. They live in the San Juan Islands and are at the heart of the exceptional old-time and country music scene in the Pacific NW with the Caleb Klauder Reeb Willms Country Band and the Foghorn Stringband, of which Caleb was a founding member.
Eduardo Mendonça & Show Brazil! : July 27
Brazilian vocalist, composer, percussionist, guitarist, and musical arranger, Eduardo Mendonça has played and directed Brazilian music in the US, Canada, Nepal, and Brazil since 1974. A native of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, Eduardo and members of Show Brazil are a vibrant group who perform a variety of Brazilian music and dance traditions including bossa nova samba, música popular brasileira (Brazilian popular music), Ijexa (the music and rhythm from Candomblé religious rituals), Baiao (rural music from the state of Pernambuco), and Maracatú (an ancient Afro-Brazilian carnival tradition).
Tzepl: August 3
Tzepl weaves together the accordion of Laurie Andres, the trombone and tuba of Jimmy Austin, and the violin of Mae Kessler into a musical braid that manages to be simultaneously harmonious and quarrelsome. They approach instrumental Yiddish music, often known as klezmer, in a way that is mostly traditional, but not strictly so. Their sound combines elements of nineteenth century European string players with the brassy American style of the early twentieth century, with the accordion bridging the gap. Tzepl’s music is just as pleasant for listening as it is invigorating for dancing.
Ranger & The Re-Arrangers: August 10
Ranger & the Re-Arrangers evoke the spirit of a Paris cafe and the raucous energy of a Romani campsite with their version of Hot Club Swing. “At the heart of their sound is Ranger Sciacca's sweet violin playing… his sense of melody and daring improvisations” (World Rhythm). The band’s repertoire includes swing standards, traditional European melodies, the music of Django Reinhardt, and Ranger's unique originals.
Chumlilies : August 17
The Chumlilies are a four-piece string band sprouting from the Wenatchee Valley featuring acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle and bass. Their first rehearsals transpired in a small yurt on the Chumstick Highway in 2019 and now they play throughout Washington. All members are vocalists, composers and multi-instrumentalists who write original tunes. Their passion for music and collaboration has fused them into a fun, loving family band. They recorded their first full-length album 'Runaway Wild' in 2020 and released their second full-length album 'Roots in real thick Mud' in 2023. Their music has been described as Americana, Country-Roll and Folkgrass. Their original tunes swirl with enchanting three-part harmonies, vivid lyricism and strikingly gorgeous composition. They soften you with their charm, transport you with their talents and bring you home with their genuine hearts.
Whiskey Deaf Quartet: August 24
Whiskey Deaf performs bluegrass and traditional American music, and features the fiery fiddling of Annie Staninec, who has toured in over a dozen countries performing with everyone from David Grisman to Rod Stewart. This band combines decades of musical experience across many genres, and their passion for this music comes through in every performance. Whiskey Deaf has played at esteemed festivals and venues internationally, has been a hit at our other Washington State Park Folk Traditional Arts program venues, and will be a great addition to this year's Deception Pass program - Annie's joyful exuberance is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
featuring students, alumni, and faculty of Pacific Lutheran University’s Department of Music.
