Side A amps up summer concert series

Published 3:00 am Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Fading Sage plays July 27 at Side A’s public house in La Grande.

LA GRANDE — Side A Brewing is bringing the music to Grande Ronde Valley at two locations this summer — some shows are happening at the pub, 1219 Washington St. in downtown La Grande, and others are at the new brewery and tasting room, 10705 Walton Road in Island City.

All shows start at 7:30 p.m.

Here’s a look at the upcoming concerts:

Public House

July 20: Angelic Noise

Angelic Noise is an original roots/pop duo from Portland. Angelic is her real name, the songwriter and creator of Angelic Noise. Songs include topics of love, lies, family, travel, and meditation. Since 2022, Angelic Noise has performed more than 300 shows in more than 100 cities.

She’s accompanied by Trevor Ryan Scott on guitar.

July 27: Fading Sage

This Pendleton-based band performs rock covers from the 1970s to 2000s.

Aug. 3: Sweet N Juicy

This fruity band — a bass-playing banana, the strawberry on keyboards and the pineapple playing drums — want to bring a smile to their audiences.

“It’s all about having fun,” Sweet the Banana said (they prefer to be known by their stage names).

And, with more than five hours of material, they can tailor a set list to the ages of their audience.

Aug. 10: Jezebel’s Mother

Described as “rootsy-bluesy-lively-lovely,” songwriters Carolyn Lochert and Janis Carper blend their talents to form a unique sound — “swirling with rhythms and harmonies, sentiment and smiles, tight but spontaneous, each performance a musical adventure that reveals the bond of best friends.”

Aug. 17: Gregory Rawlins

Born and raised on the Kitsap Peninsula of western Washington, Gregory Rawlins has always had an intense love of nature. Exploring the mystery and majesty of the natural world — both physically, and in the medium of music — has been a constant source of fulfillment for the artist, and a journey that has spanned more than two decades of recordings in genres ranging from folk, blues, psychedelic rock and ambient soundscapes.

Aug. 24: The Jack Maybe Project

The Jack Maybe Project was formed in 2017 in Portland, and performs around the Pacific Northwest.

“We play a mixture of folk and blues with mostly original music,” the band leader said. “Though we do have a few covers, a couple traditionals, and a couple standards to liven things up.”

Aug. 31: Brian Mandella

Mandella is a folk and blues songwriter who uses his Rocky Mountain influence to fingerpick his original stories from the ethers into the hearts and minds of his listeners.

“If I play a song that somebody needed to hear that day, then I have found success,” he said.

The Brewery & Tasting Room

Aug. 2: Nick Delffs

Nick Delffs grew up in Mendocino County, a “lawless stretch of coastline that’s hard to get to and, for many, hard to escape.” He did and emerged in the mid-2000s as the frontman for Portland band The Shaky Hands. But a hiatus in 2011 became indefinite and Delffs went solo. His first full-length album under his own name was “Redesign” in 2017, followed by “Childhood Pastimes.” “Transformation” releases July 26.

Aug. 16: Travis Ward

Travis Ward is a “bare-knuckled folk singer, a broke down blues man, a DIY archivalist, producer, retired basketball player, fly fisher, poodle walker, but most importantly, a family man.” Ward has toured the U.S., UK and Europe. He’s played countless dive bars, festivals and theaters from near and far, and created film, soundtrack and live theater work. He’s part of the “junkerdash” band Hillfolk Noir, based out of Boise.

Aug. 30: Chris Baron & the Two Secrets

Chris Baron logged nearly 300 shows in 2023, and this year he’s back on the road.

His shows are mostly west of the Rocky Mountains, and he tends to schedule gigs in places he’d like to see, or visit again. Sometimes he plays solo, and sometimes as a band with the Two Secrets. He describes his sound as “funky folk.” When solo, he plays acoustic guitar and kick drum. A full band adds an upright bass, cello and drums.

Sept. 6: Slapjack Casualty

Slapjack Casualty got started during the non-touring days of the pandemic, and these days the band can be found playing gigs throughout Northeastern Oregon. They play original tunes with influences of rock, blues, Americana and folk.

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