Hardly Raining

Seattle music and culture blog. Features concert photos, show reviews, artist interviews, local events, and more.

Warren Dunes at Neptune Theatre (with Shaina Shepherd, Black Ends)

By / 2021-08-14 / Music, Photos

2021-07-31 Hardly Raining “Beach music” group Warren Dunes headlined the Neptune Theatre on July 31, 2021. The family band includes Julia Massey (lead vocals, dual keys), Jared Cortese (guitar), and Dominic Cortese (drums). Joining them were special guests Chris Blount, Eva Walker, and Alaia D’Alessandro. Adding activism to music, the band donates half the profits …

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Kassa Overall at Neptune Theatre (with Breaks and Swells, & Payge Turner)

By / 2021-08-07 / Music, Photos

2021-07-24 Hardly Raining Seattle native Kassa Overall returned from Brooklyn to headline at the Neptune Theatre on July 24, 2021. The “backpack-jazz producer” fuses jazz drumming with elements of hip-hop. Overall has achieved significant recognition for his innovative style. During the pandemic, Overall released two COVID-inspired albums: Shades of Flu: Healthy Remixes For an Ill …

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Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio (with Marshall Law Band) at ZooTunes

By / 2021-08-07 / Music, Photos

2021-07-25 Hardly Raining Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio (DLO3) performed at Woodland Park ZooTunes on July 25, 2021. DLO3 includes Delvon Lamarr (organ), Jimmy James (guitar), and Dan Weiss (drums). The acclaimed soul-jazz trio plays two nights at Seattle’s Jazz Alley in August, and tours this autumn in support of their 2021 release, I Told You …

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Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Amanda Taylor, & Johnaye Kendrick perform as säje at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley on July 6, 2021.

An Interview with Vocal Supergroup säje

By / 2021-09-20 / Interviews, Music, Photos

2021-07-06 Hardly Raining GRAMMY-nominated vocal ensemble säje (“rhymes with beige”) made their Seattle debut at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley on July 6 & 7, 2021. It was their first live performance together since COVID-19. Vocalists Sara Gazarek, Amanda Taylor, Johnaye Kendrick, and Erin Bentlage were joined by Ben Williams (bass), Kendrick Scott (drums), Dawn Clement (piano), …

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Reopening at Boxley’s Jazz Club: An Interview with Founder Danny Kolke

By / 2021-08-07 / Interviews, Music, Photos

2021-07-02 Hardly Raining Boxley’s Jazz Club is located about 30 miles east of Seattle in North Bend, WA. The town of 7,000 is a portal to the Cascade foothills that hosts a number of downtown restaurants and shops. It was also made famous by the 1990 TV series, Twin Peaks. In 2009, Boxley’s began as …

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Columbia City’s First Pride Block Party

By / 2021-08-07 / Justice, Photos

2021-06-27 Hardly Raining Seattle’s Columbia City neighborhood celebrated its first-ever LGBTQIA+ Pride celebration on Sunday, June 27. Although it was organized just a few weeks ahead of time by Columbia City neighbors, the grassroots event included a disco DJ, drag entertainers, an emcee, a local-business raffle, temporary tattoos, and miniature ponies. Neighbors donated, and excess …

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Juneteenth Freedom March and Celebration

By / 2021-09-20 / Justice, Music, Photos

2021-06-19 Hardly Raining Juneteenth became a U.S. Federal holiday just last week, but Seattle has been holding an annual celebration since 1980. Seattle’s event was founded by the late activist and boutique owner Decharlene Williams, whose legacy this year’s march and celebration honored. The march began at Williams’ business at 22nd Ave & E Madison …

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