Daniel Rossen sings and plays guitar.

An Evening with Daniel Rossen at Neumos

2022-06-18 Hardly Raining Singer-songwriter Daniel Rossen (Grizzy Bear, Department of Eagles) performed a solo set at Neumos on June 18, 2022. Rossen sang, and alternated between three guitars and electric piano. His style is notable for dense guitar harmonies and moody vocals. (Check out his Reddit AMA!) Rossen eschewed a set list, instead taking—and declining—requests …

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Christian McBride on bass.

Christian McBride at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley

2022-06-14 Hardly Raining Bassist Christian McBride kicked off a two-night run at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley on June 14, 2022. An eight-time Grammy®-winning musician, McBride is also a composer, broadcaster, educator, and festival artistic director. Although McBride just turned 50, his band showcased young jazz talent—most of the band was well under 30. Personnel included Nicole …

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Carrie Akre uses a pink "menopause fan" onstage.

Carrie Akre (with Danny Newcomb) at Tractor Tavern

2022-06-11 Hardly Raining Vocalist Carrie Akre and her band performed at the Tractor Tavern in Ballard. Originally planned for August 2021, the show had been postponed due to a COVID exposure. Akre has fronted Seattle musical groups (Hammerbox, Goodness, The Rockfords) since the early grunge era. Her band at this show included Tim DiJulio (guitar, …

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Orrin Evans on piano.

Orrin Evans & the Captain Black Big Band

2022.06.08 Hardly Raining Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band played the Royal Room for two nights, closing out the spring series of the recently formed Seattle Jazz Fellowship (SJF). Band members included Orrin Evans (piano), Mark Whitfield, Jr. (drums), Luques Curtis (bass), Caleb Wheeler Curtis (alto), Troy Roberts (tenor), David Gibson (trombone), Reggie …

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Steel House onstage at Seattle Art Museum

Steel House: Brian Blade, Scott Colley, & Cuong Vu

2022-06-07 Hardly Raining Steel House performed at the Seattle Art Museum’s Plestcheeff Auditorium, in an event organized by Earshot Jazz. Personnel included Brian Blade (drums), Scott Colley (bass), and Cuong Vu (trumpet and electronics). Edward Simon (piano) was originally scheduled to play with the group but became ill, so Vu stepped in last-minute. The group’s …

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Protesters shout and hold signs

“Bans Off Our Bodies” Abortion-Rights Rally

2022-5-14 Hardly Raining Thousands gathered in Cal Anderson Park in support of abortion rights. Part of a Day of Action, the Seattle rally was one of 450 “Bans Off Our Bodies” events held nationally on May 14. The Planned Parenthood Action Fund and other reproductive-rights groups organized the events in response to a leaked U.S. …

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Children learn to drum

Northwest Folklife Festival Returns to Seattle Center

2022-05-28 Hardly Raining After two years of a virtual-only festival format, the Northwest Folklife Festival returned in person at Seattle Center this Memorial Day Weekend. The theme of the 51st annual event is “Metamorphosis: in with the old, in with the new.” Across 16 stages, the in-person festival features music, dancing, film, visual art, buskers, …

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President Joe Biden speaks at Green River College

President Joe Biden Visits Greater Seattle

2022-04-22 Hardly Raining U.S. President Joe Biden visited the Pacific Northwest for the first time during his presidency. After a stop in Portland yesterday, Biden continued on to Seattle to attend private fundraisers and sign an Earth Day executive order for the protection of old-growth forests. In the student union building of Green River College in Auburn, …

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Darelle Holden and Dave Holden, Sr. pose after the gig at Calluna Restaurant.

Continuing a Seattle Jazz Legacy: Dave and Darelle Holden Perform at Calluna

2022-04-14 Hardly Raining The Holden family carries a three-generation legacy in Seattle’s jazz scene. Although “Patriarch of Seattle Jazz” Oscar Holden has passed, the musical tradition continues through his descendants. Those include Oscar’s son, Dave Holden Sr., and Dave’s daughter, Darelle Holden. Both toured for decades, but they had never performed together—something Darelle regretted. That …

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