On occasion, we have the joy of introducing newly discovered talent to My Edmonds News readers through this column. When we heard of the free lineup of music from Bob Z. owner of Edmonds Tunes (which is staged at Café Louvre) we realized that some exhilarating introductions were due.

Bob is using his free-Friday-night platform to roll out an Edmonds Kind Of Welcome to none other than singer/composer Violet Heart – guitar shredder and wildly talented musician.

Bob says of Miss Heart, “When she gets up on stage she just wails on that guitar! ‘just blows everyone away. I had her on the show a few months ago and I’m super excited to have her back. There’s really no one else around that does what she does.”

When we listened to Miss Heart’s tapes we immediately thought of BB King and Stevie Ray Vaughn — whose covers she performs. Before we all meet at Café Louvre this Friday – click on the round-trip link and see if you don’t agree that Miss Heart is going places – and we’re happy one of those places will include downtown Edmonds. Here is Violet Heart on YouTube.

Learning of Miss Heart’s appearance, Artfully Edmonds (AE) made a fast dash to the star’s doorstep and pleaded for an exclusive interview on behalf of our readers – granted!

Listen in:

– – – –

AE: Violet, let me take this opportunity to welcome you to My Edmonds News. We are so happy that you are able to take time out to introduce yourself to our readers; and we appreciate receiving an exclusive interview.

Let’s start with a few biographical questions:

1. Where did you grow up?

1.  Are your parents (or any other family member) inclined toward music or life on the stage?

1.  Where did you receive your musical training?

– – –

VH: Actually, I grew up in rural North Dakota! (Note: Miss Heart added the exclamation point, so we presume this disclosure surprises most people.)

My family is not inclined toward the stage; however my mom played piano when she was young, so she had an appreciation for music.

She enrolled my three sisters and me in piano lessons when I was 7. As it turned out, I was the only one that really enjoyed it and stuck with it. I continued on the piano for eight years.

By the time I was 14, I was listening to a lot of rock music and knew I had to learn to play the electric guitar.  There were no guitar teachers in the small town where I lived so I spent the first few years teaching myself, with books and videos and applying the musical knowledge I had learned from piano lessons to the guitar.

Regarding your question about my music education, I really wanted to attend Berkelee College when I first heard of it. I was about 14 or so, but my parents said, “No way!” (Laughter)

Years later I was living in Oregon and I enrolled at Western Oregon University, where I received two years of formal music education. While attending Western Oregon University I studied music theory, guitar, piano, and music composition. It was a great experience!

Beyond that I have been taking private lessons and lots and lots of continued practice.

– – – –

AE: Violet, What has been your biggest “on stage” accomplishment, or recording success thus far?

VH: In 2015, I released two singles, “Black Widow” and “Tell Me!”

I have been very lucky to perform in some really fun shows and write/record guitar and keys for an array of songwriters/bands in the past.

But these two 2015 singles were my first “solo” works to be released, so that was a really exciting process and special accomplishment for me.

I enjoyed creating them so much, I will definitely be continuing on, writing and recording new compositions this year.

– – – –

AE: You have an incredible fan base — your music videos are getting tens of thousands of hits — how is it that Edmonds is so lucky to have you visit?

VH: My music has been online for a number of years now.  When I was a kid I never would have guessed people in other parts of the world would ever hear a piece of music that I created. It’s truly amazing.

I love Seattle, and I have been in the Northwest for a while and now consider it my home.

Regarding Edmonds: It is such a vibrant little enclave, I love what Edmonds Tunes is doing for the music community; and I am so glad to be a part of it!

– – –

AE: Violet before departing with “See you soon,” let’s share your cut of BB King’s “The Thrill Is Gone”

Thank you, Violet for taking the time to introduce yourself to My Edmonds News readers. It is wonderful to add you to our pages of celebrity interviews.

See you at Café Louvre (210 5^th Ave. S.) on Friday – Artfully Edmonds will be cheering you on from the audience.

~ ~ ~ ~

Now, on to our line-up of the type of events that have made Edmonds the arts destination that it has become. Bookmark My Edmonds News on your smart phone or tablet because, as we all know, when one is looking for hot gigs, only up-to-the-minute event news will do!

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This production ends Sunday!

The Phoenix Theatre
9673 Firdale Ave.
“Communicating Doors” by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Christine Mosere

“Communicating Doors” – a production for adult tastes has dominated Edmonds’ theatre news with its racy, bust-out-laughing scenes, directed by Christine Mosere – a transplant of New York’s theatre district.

With its flashbacks, scene changes, and libido-enhanced linguistics Artfully Edmonds originally imagined that the “Communicating Doors” might be a challenge to follow – which would be ironic. Not so! Read our review in which we proclaim Ayckbourn’s play, “scream-ingly funny”.

The plot? A frantic race through time begins when sexpot and dominatrix “Poopay” is hired by an elderly gentleman who wishes to confess, to someone who may have sins of their own, that he was an accomplice in the death of his wives. Unfortunately the actual killer over hears the confession and now Poopay is in peril! She makes a mad dash through the hotel’s communicating doors (a set of doors that adjoin hotel rooms) when it dawns on her that her life is in danger and the chase is on!

Starring Liz Adkisson as Poopay (dominatrix to whom murder-mastermind Reece is a client); Melanie Calderwood as Reece’s second wife; Simone Barron as Jessica (Reece’s first wife); Dan Jacoby as Harold (house detective); Curt Simmons and Michael McFadden as the older and younger Julian (Reece’s business associate).

The doors close on this production this Sunday. Don’t miss it!

For tickets proceed to Phoenix Theatre’s online box office.

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Plays through Sunday, March 6
Driftwood Players at
  Wade James Theatre
950 Main St.

“Proposals” by Neil Simon
directed by Paul Fouhy

Artfully Edmonds applauds Driftwood Players smart choice of Neil Simon’s play, “Proposals.”

Coined as “mildly autobiographical,” Simon’s 1997 play recalls the last time the Hines family gathered at their retreat in 1950s Poconos. One can’t imagine that so much dysfunction can devolve onto stage – but it does. The Driftwood Troupe steps through the divorce, the love-triangles, and the lack of boundaries with tenderness and bittersweet humor.

“Proposals” introduces Edmonds theatre lovers to the talent of Ryan St. Martin (reviewed by My Edmonds News in this piece.

Also included in the troupe line-up for this production is Cynthia King as Clemma; Jana Gueck as Josie; Spencer Stromberg as Kenny; Joel Ambo as Ray; Nicholas Horiatis as Burt; Anthony Floyd as Lewis; Molly Hall as Annie; and Laura McFarlane as Sammii.

If you grew up in The ’50s – or know someone who did – you cannot make a better theatre choice for great on-stage entertainment. “Proposals” runs through Sunday, March 6.

Tickets for “Proposals” are available at the Driftwood Players online box office.

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Friday/Saturday
   Feb. 26, 27
And March 3, 4, 5

Romeo & Juliet
By Shakespeare
Directed by Katie Powell

– – –

Meadowdale Players
Meadowdale High School
Black Box Theatre
6002 168^th St. S.W.

Meadowdale Players’ sent out casting calls and rehearsed their lines; designed exciting staging and is now ready to present to the Edmonds community its first production of 2016 – Romeo and Juliet.

Quite possibly Shakespeare’s most well known play, the Meadowdale Players extend this invitation from their event page, “Come see Meadowdale Player’s performance of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy, Romeo and Juliet.

In Romeo and Juliet, a long feud between the Montague and Capulet families disrupts the city of Verona and causes tragic results for Romeo and Juliet.”

Passion, secrets, revenge and an ill begotten marriage seal the fate of two young lovers in this played penned by The Bard in the 1590s.

Please note that Opening Night will actually be Friday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. The Thursday, Feb. 25 performance has been cancelled according to a notice on the troupe’s Facebook page .

Tickets to “Romeo and Juliet” will be available for you and your family at the door of the Meadowdale High School’s Black Box Theatre.

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Friday, Feb. 26
6 p.m.
Edmonds Tunes at
   Café Louvre
   210 5^th Ave. S.

Free Friday!

This week Edmonds Tunes rocks Café Louvre with an eclectic mix of explosive Seattle-area musical talent.

Heading the Edmonds Tunes playbill this week is “Violet Heart” and her electric guitar instrumentals. For more on this featured musician take in this YouTube video .

Then there’s the acoustic rock and whiskey-soaked voice of Andy Cartahan who joins the free Friday bill along with newly-discovered talent and Hawaiian transplant Ryan Higgs on his ukulele and suitcase percussion.

Bob Z. has a few words to the wise about Cartahan, “He plays ukulele and percussion (on a vintage suitcase), all while singing and rapping (yep, he ‘raps’ while playing ukulele).

“And as if that weren’t enough, Cartahan’s got a great, soulful voice. His songs are quirky, humorous, lyrically playful and introspective. I can totally see the hipsters in Edmonds going nuts for this guy!”

No ticket link on this one because Edmonds Tunes is free! No-host desserts and drinks are available from Café Louvre.

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Chowder Heads Unite!

Saturday, Feb. 27
11-4 p.m.

2016 Edmonds Clam Chowder Cook-off
   Edmonds Yacht Club
   326 Admiral Way

This weekend, six prestigious Edmonds restaurants will compete for the best traditional (or best cutting-edge) clam chowder in Edmonds!

For more information, go to the Chamber of Commerce web page.

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Saturday, Feb. 27
11 a.m.
   Free!

   Edmonds Senior Center
   220 Railroad Ave.

– – –

7:30 p.m.
   ECA for ticket-holders
   410 4^th Ave. N.

Don’t miss HAPA’s free concert on Saturday, Feb. 27. This free concert will be held in the Ballroom of the Edmonds Senior Center.

No reservations are required. If you would like additional information about concert, or upcoming Edmonds Senior Center events, call 425-774-5555 or visit www.edmondssc.org

– – – –

ECA Sell Out Alert!

HAPA: The Sound of Maui

Often described as the “sound of Maui”, the music and sound of the group Hapa is hypnotic with liquid guitar runs woven around clear Hawaiian vocals and immaculate harmonies.  HAPA’s poetic lyrics exult the rapture of the Hawaiian landscape, history and mythology.

Balcony seating opportunities are available at this link.

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Free!
Sunday, Feb. 28
7 p.m.

Driftwood Players at
Wade James Theatre
950 Main St.

Driftwood’s managing director, Amy Gentry invites us from her Facebook page, “Don’t miss the staged readings of two short plays (15 minutes each) by the Driftwood Playwriting Class.”

Admission is free and there will be a talk-back with the playwrights, cast, the class instructor John Ruoff, and audience after each reading.

Featured work includes:

“Holding Moonlight,” by Amy Gentry

“The Grey Egret,” by Thomas Papazian

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Monday, Feb. 29
6-9 p.m.

Dead Night at the
   American Brewing Company 
   180 W. Dayton St.

“Enjoy all things Grateful Dead,” invites ABC, which proudly partners with the Here & There Food truck known for its Latin-influenced savory flavors.

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The next edition of Artfully Edmonds will come to you in March! Let’s take a look at the Edmonds events that will headline the close of the 2016 first quarter:

Friday, March 4
7:30 p.m.
Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA)
410 4^th Ave. N.

– – –

Early Sell-Out Alert!

Friendly . . . Fun . . . Family-oriented

For 29 years, Boston Brass has set out to establish a one-of-a-kind musical experience, which they now bring to Edmonds!

From exciting classical arrangements, to burning jazz standards, and the best of the original brass quintet repertoire, Boston Brass treats audiences to a unique brand of entertainment, which captivates all ages.

The ensemble’s lively repartee, touched with humor and personality, attempts to bridge the ocean of classical formality to delight audiences in an evening of great music and boisterous fun. The philosophy of Boston Brass is to provide audiences with a wide selection of musical styles in unique arrangements, provided in a friendly and fun atmosphere.

Tickets are available online at ECA’s online ticket outlet.

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Zinc Art + Object sends out this invitation, “Please join us on Saturday, March 12, from 3-6 p.m. for a special Artist’s Reception and Q & A at ZINC Contemporary adjacent to ZINC Art + Object.

Artist Deirdre Murphy will be present to showcase her strikingly beautiful artwork and what inspires her.

– – – –

March 19-20
UNCLAD 2016
Edmonds Yacht Club
326 Admiral Way

Get ready for UNCLAD 2016 – celebrating the human form.

Featuring over 150 artworks by 90 artists from the Pacific Northwest and beyond a myriad of questions are answered at the show’s website .

Artfully Edmonds will be joined by several personal friends for the VIP exhibition – See you there!

Tickets are available online at this website.

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DeMiero Jazz Festival Guest Stars
Charenee Wade
Thursday, March 10
7 p.m.

Tickets for festival seating to hear Charenee Wade.

– – – –

Carmen Bradford
Friday, March 11
7 p.m.

Tickets for festival seating to hear Carmen Bradford.

– – – –

Dee Daniels
Saturday, March 12
7 p.m.

Tickets for festival seating to hear Dee Daniels.

– – – –

We have been informed by CSO that their children’s concert and instrument petting event for this month has sold out. How nice to be so popular among Edmonds’ youngest set – smart parenting!

Monday, March 14
7:30 p.m.

We would like to highlight the upcoming appearance of cellist Eric Han. Han made his concerto debut with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at the age of 14. Following his debut, he had many engagements with Toronto Sinfonietta, Toronto Chamber Players and Boston’s Symphony by the Sea.

More to follow on CSO’s March concert, which will feature

Rossini – Overture to Semiramide

Tchaikovsky – Suite from Swan Lake, op. 20a

Dvorak – Cello Concerto, op. 104 in

Tickets are available at the ECA box office link.

– – – –

Kids!
Thursday-Sunday
March 17-20

Shrek, The Musical!
Madrona Children’s Theatre
Mountlake Terrace High School
21801 44^th Ave. W.

The return of a family favorite! Artfully Edmonds recommends an early ticket grab for this award-winning production.

Get your tickets for “Schrek: The Musical” at this ticket outlet.

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Wednesday, March 23
7:30 p.m.

John Denver Tribute by
   The Tribute Time Machine
Edmonds Center for the Arts
410 4th Ave. N.

The Tribute Time Machine presents tribute concerts portrayed through fictional radio station-KTTM Seattle – a creative and entertaining format, indeed!

This Tribute Time Machine playlist features John Denver as portrayed by the incredibly talented Ted Vigil and “represents the closest thing to a real live John Denver concert that you will ever see.”

Vigil is a singer, songwriter and a tribute artist. He was born in Seattle and raised in the Olympia area. He has been performing from the age of ten throughout school in concert, symphonic and jazz bands developing his talents as a drummer and singer.

Tickets here.

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Starbuck’s 21st Annual Hot Java Cool Jazz
  with our local kids!

Every once in a while a field trip out of town is in order. This is one of those occasions!

Mark your calendars for the Edmonds-Woodway and Mountlake Terrace high schools performance at Starbuck’s 21^st Annual Hot Java Cool Jazz concert.

So, that’s it – an incredible line up of classic favorites, new talent, and fresh formats are available to Edmonds – every week and into every month.

– By Emily Hill

Emily Hill is the author of two novels and a short story collection. She also writes the “Lynnwood Lifestyle” column for Lynnwood Today. Emily is retired from a career in public information and news media relations. If you would like your event listed, or featured, in Artfully Edmonds, Emily invites you to contact her at arts@myedmondsnews.com.