(Photos by Leda Costa for WSB, unless otherwise credited)

6:59 PM: “My Flea Has Dogs” was the opening song for kindie-rock superstar Caspar Babypants at tonight’s season finale of the Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series, and lots of critter songs have followed – spiders, crabs, butterflies, bears …

Adoring fans are hopping and dancing all over the east lawn at Hiawatha, where it’s nice and shady, cooler than the 90-ish warmth out in the sunshine.

Before the show, Caspar B (who grownups also know as Chris Ballew of the Presidents of the United States of America) signed autographs and posed for a few pix;

(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)

If you’re here, you’ll have a chance to buy CD’s post-show, too (“Away We Go” is a brand-new album, and “Winter Party” is due out this November), as well as art from wife and creative partner Kate Endle:

Since this is the last Hiawatha show of the year, some shoutouts. First, Katy Walum, who was president of the ANA when Summer Concerts launched in the summer of 2009 and has continued to coordinate it each year since:

This year’s gold sponsor, Metropolitan Market (also a longtime WSB sponsor), has a tent here with free brownie bites:

We’ve been proud to be media sponsor every year since the start back in 2009. And the Associated Recreation Council of Hiawatha is a partner for the ANA in making this happen – they’re raising money with a concession stand over by the southeast corner of the center. The show’s on until 8 pm, so you have time to get here – more coverage to come!

8:03 PM: Last song just ended – though Mr. Babypants took a break for some of his riotous commentary, in this case telling the wee ones to understand that when they grow up and have homes and jobs of their own, they’re not going to be able to just take a nap in the afternoon any old time, so they should be sure to do that every day right now – “napping is a privilege, not a right” – and the parents all cheered.

If you missed tonight’s show or want to see/hear Caspar Babypants again – this Saturday morning at 10:30 am, he has a nonprofit-fundraiser show here in West Seattle, at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – details here.

And Katy Walum has just told the crowd this is her last show after coordinating the concerts every season since the start – free shows that have drawn thousands, gathering on summer Thursday nights.

Want to get involved? The Admiral NA’s next meeting will be September 13th, 7 pm, at The Sanctuary at Admiral (42nd/Lander).

EARLY FRIDAY: Photos added, as promised, above and below, including Caspar B with fans post-show:

And a remembrance of the golden sunshine on the edge of the lawn as tonight’s show started:

Some concertgoers brought pets:

Most simply brought their energy, enthusiasm, and wonder:

Thanks to everyone who’s come to, performed at, helped out at, etc. the Hiawatha concerts these eight seasons!

6:25 PM: Just under way in The Junction – a fashion show!

Youth models, designers, and production crew members are all involved as the show takes to the runway at the West Seattle Christian Church Activity Center (4400 42nd SW), with an enthusiastic audience here cheering them on.

Two groups of models are scheduled to appear – the Little Royals are modeling right now, with The Reign of Fashion scheduled around 7 pm, with the TKG Dance Crew performing inbetween (photo added):

The show (free admission) is scheduled to continue until 8 pm, so you have lots of time to get here.

The nonprofit Unified Outreach (headquartered across the street at Ginomai arts center) has organized it with the help of a grant from the city’s Work Readiness In The Arts program.

7:43 PM: Back at HQ now, and we’ve added more photos.

If you need an energy boost, get yourself down to the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center (along Walnut, south of Lander) and catch the rest of tonight’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha performance by the Total Experience Gospel Choir, led by Pastor Patrinell Wright:

On piano is TEGC’s longtime accompanist Lou Magor, who you might know for his West Seattle venue Kenyon Hall!

They’re just a few songs into the show, which should go until at least 8 pm. Free – just bring a blanket or chair, lots of folks here but still lots of room. The Admiral Neighborhood Association presents the series, and we’ve co-sponsored it since the start – great place to be on a summer night.

ADDED: A few more photos. Including this one – part of the crowd that the ANA tallied at 600+!

Plus, we should mention that next Thursday (August 18th) is this year’s second-to-last concert: Duke Evers (here’s a sample).

6:46 PM: We’re at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle, across from Chief Sealth International High School), where Band Jam 2016 is happening for at least the next hour and a half – more than half a dozen marching bands in a showcase originally organized in 2009 by All-City Band director (and new Denny International MS assistant principal) Marcus Pimpleton, meant as a tuneup for tomorrow night’s Seafair Torchlight Parade but having expanded into much more. As he said in opening remarks to the hundreds of spectators who are here for the free show, it’s also a chance for the participants to see other musicians, including adult bands like the Sounders’ Sound Wave, participating tonight. Above, the Junior All-City Band was the opening band; the 8- through 17-year-olds of Pacific Northwest Drumline are next:

This drumline has become a regional parade favorite:

7:04 PM: Kennedy Catholic High School‘s Summer Marching Band, from just a few miles away in Burien, is on the field now:

They won the band category at the West Seattle Grand Parade last Saturday.

Sumner High School‘s massive marching band is up next.

As announced, this band includes both middle- and high-school students.

8:07 PM: After Sumner, the All-Star Drumline from Poulsbo (Band Jam debut!):

And now Sounders FC‘s Sound Wave is rocking the stadium:

Show-stopper choreography as well as musicianship:

Up next: The hosts and stars of the show, All-City Band (who were the overall winners at the West Seattle Grand Parade last Saturday):

8:33 PM: ACB is still wowing the crowd.

ADDED EARLY SATURDAY: More photos and video added inline above – and bonus photos below: Read More

6:42 PM: We’re on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center (Walnut/Lander), where you can come enjoy a free concert on this warm, clear night until ~8 pm. The Banner Days are performing the second of this year’s six Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association. See the full season lineup here!

8:47 PM: Photos added. The band:

And the crowd:

Next week (6:30 pm Thursday, August 4th), Vicci Martinez!

(WSB photos by Torin Record-Sand)

Maybe it was traffic, maybe it was the clouds gathering to the west … took a while for the crowd to build at tonight’s season kickoff for Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, but eventually, they were there. Along with Smokey Brights, the first of this year’s six acts:

Smokey Brights is a Seattle quintet, together since 2011.

Summer Concerts at Hiawatha go back even further, now in their 8th year, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, with sponsors including WSB. Next Thursday (July 28th) at 6:30 on Hiawatha’s east lawn, bring your chair/blanket to see and hear The Banner Days. Full season lineup is here.

P.S. In the meantime, lots of outdoor music this weekend at the Alki Art Fair, which we’re also co-sponsoring this year – see the lineup here – and remember the free shuttle!

Something extra on the Alki Beach promenade west of Statue of Liberty Plaza today – a piano that you’re invited to see, and play!

The piano will be there until 7 pm, as part of this year’s Pianos in the Parks; it’s one of 10 “artistically enhanced pianos” that have been placed, mostly for one-day stops, in parks around the region. This one is by artist Brittany Carchano and titled “Nostalgic Tides“; she says it was inspired by growing up in West Seattle.

(WSB photo, 2015 Band Jam)

Summertime means Seattle Public Schools‘ mega-marchers, the All-City Band, are on the move. We have three West Seattle events to tell you about, all later this month. First, ACB is celebrating its 65th anniversary with a fundraising dinner/auction on July 22nd:

This year, All-City Band celebrates 65 years of Entertainment, Excellence, & Pride by gathering friends, families, and past & current members of ACB with a dinner and auction.  We will gather together to celebrate this amazing accomplishment by holding an auction dinner fundraiser followed by an Alumni weekend.     

You can join us by attending the 65th Anniversary Auction and Dinner on Friday, July 22nd.  The event will be held at the South Seattle College Brockey Center (6000 16th Ave SW).  The event will begin at 6 pm with a cocktail hour and silent auction, followed by dinner, a live auction, and entertainment. 

Tickets are $45 and can purchased using this link.  Ticket prices will increase to $50 after July 5th.

Band alumni can also use the link to register to participate in the alumni weekend.  The Alumni weekend will include an all-band rehearsal on Saturday, July 23rd, and marching in the Seafair Chinatown Parade on Sunday, July 24th.   

All proceeds from this event will directly fund items for All-City Band and the students such as purchasing new equipment, purchasing music, and helping with student scholarships for tuition and travel. If you have questions, or need additional information, please email them to foacbpresident@gmail.com.
 
Thank you very much for considering All-City Band, and attending our function.  The auction is sponsored by the Friends of All-City Band, (FOACB), a 501(c)(3) with tax ID #20-23354444.

The next day, on Saturday, July 23rd, you’ll see the All-City Band (directed by Marcus Pimpleton) in the West Seattle Grand Parade (11 am start at California/Lander in Admiral, heading southbound on California to Edmunds in The Junction).

And on Friday, July 29th, the ACB will again host and perform in Band Jam, an annual pre-Torchlight Parade tuneup for marching bands (and special guests) – always free and fun, at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) – more details (including confirmed start time) are promised soon.

Thanks to Don Brubeck for the photo and report: “Four WSHS band members were practicing at Alki (Playfield) just now. Getting ready to head to the beach for busking to raise money for a new tuba.”

Tucked away in a corner of western Gatewood, The Building holds many delights. Among them is the ProletariYacht Club, where, as featured in today’s West Seattle Saturday calendar-highlights list, live music is happening right now. We stopped by just before sunset.

On the bill tonight, as announced by the PYC, “Blake Musselman (aka Moogie Man), who’s performing “a theatrical rock-based show, Marko Reyes-Jech with soul/funk crooning, and Tim Scallon with rock-based looping.” (updated) That’s Tim in our photo above; (added) video:

Just wander into The Building, off SW Othello (at 4316) just west of the Westside Unitarian Universalist church, and downstairs – follow the signs.

(WSB photo from Caspar Babypants @ Summer Concerts at Hiawatha in 2015)

About an hour into summer, we have the news music lovers have been awaiting – the lineup for this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, with sponsors including WSB, one month before the start of the six-Thursday-night outdoor-show series. Coordinator Katy Walum says it was “a big challenge to review the work of so many talented artists who applied,” but they had to settle on a half-dozen, and here’s the result:

July 21st: Smokey Brights – video here

July 28th: The Banner Days – video here

August 4th – Vicci Martinez – video here

August 11th – Total Experience Gospel Choir – video here

August 18th – Duke Evers -video here

August 25th – Caspar Babypants – video here

The concerts are all free, on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center – bring your own chair/blanket/etc. – and start at 6:30 pm.

In the chapel at Providence Mount St. Vincent tonight, worldwide celebrities drew a crowd. They are the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, best known for a documentary titled “Landfill Harmonic.” As the website about the documentary explains, they are a “Paraguayan musical group of kids that live next to one of South America’s largest landfills. This unlikely orchestra plays music from instruments made entirely out of garbage.” Like this violin, made from paint cans, kitchen baking pans, wood from pallets, and a fork:

And this cello, also made from pallet wood and an old oil can:

Here’s video with an introduction, translated, from their leader, followed by tango music starting at about 2:45 in:

If you missed the Recycled Orchestra in West Seattle tonight, they have two Seattle performances tomorrow – 3 pm at the Royal Room in Columbia City, and 7 pm at Hearthstone in Green Lake.