By Mike De Felice
Kitsap News Group
PORT ORCHARD – Whether you enjoy classic rock, county, jazz or blues, the upcoming Concerts by the Bay series in Port Orchard will suit your musical taste.
The free concerts on Thursday evenings – June 2 through Labor Day weekend – are at Port Orchard’s waterfront in the Port of Bremerton Marina Park Gazebo. All concerts, presented by Fathoms ‘O Fun Festival, run from 6:30-8 p.m.
The setting for the annual music series is ideal, organizers say.
“We have the most beautiful waterfront with ships coming in, seagulls flying over, and the peninsula mountain range and water to be seen. You can also see the ships in the shipyard and ferries crossing,” said Fathoms ‘O Fun Chair Sharron King.
A hot dog vendor will be on hand to deal with hunger pangs, King said.
A variety of bands are included in this year’s lineup. Two past winners of the event’s “Battle of the Bands” competition are returning to perform. Last year’s winner, Bremerton rock and roll group Lana’s Garage, will play on Aug. 4. The High Rollers, a seven-piece brass band that plays classic rock/blues — and the winner of the Battle two years ago — will take the stage on Aug. 25. Two new bands were added to the series: Sun Rust, a contemporary group, and The Wagoneers, a county band.
Musical acts in the series are from around Western Washington, organizers said. There are also three special events in which the concert series will supply live music.
On July 4, three bands will play for downtown holiday crowds. On July 17, a concert will accompany the “Hot Rods at the High School” car show in the stadium parking lot at South Kitsap High School. Then on Aug. 14, three bands will compete in the “Battle of the Bands on Bay Steet” for a $1,000 grand prize.
The summertime concert series has been a summer mainstay for 30 years. Originally, Kitsap County ran the event, followed by the City of Port Orchard. The Fathoms ‘O Fun Festivals organization took over the reins of the annual musical series 15 years ago, King said.
Corporate sponsors of the concert series include Kitsap Bank, Peninsula Credit Union, Waterman Mitigation Partners, Denette Chu at Edward Jones and Canopy World. The City of Port Orchard and Port of Bremerton also help sponsor the series.
Concerts by the Bay lineup:
June 2: Buck & Elizabeth — Bob Dylan tribute
June 9: The Waggoneers — County
June 16: The Big Bear Band — Classic rock
June 23: Common Ancestors — World music
June 30: Hall Full of Rain — Classic rock
July 4: Buck and Elizabeth — Children’s show; The Tonz — Jazz; The Big Bear — Classic rock
July 7: Lucas Rose — Country
July 14: Ranger and the Re-Arrangers — Gypsy jazz
July 17: Hat Full of Rain — Classic rock
July 21: Usual Suspects — Classic rock
July 28: Silver City 6 — Classic rock/blues
August 4: Lana’s Garage — Rock ‘n roll
August 11: Sounds like Dolores — Classic rock
August 14: Battle of the Bands — Classic rock
August 18: Sun Rust — Contemporary
August 25: The High Rollers Band — Classic rock/blues
Sept 1: Mark Lewis — Jazz