Enumclaw Music to Host Live Performances

In an effort to celebrate and encourage music downtown, will begin hosting live performances the first Friday of each month with the first performance beginning in December, owner Barb Shane told Patch Wednesday.

Longtime guitar teacher Kathye Long celebrated the release of her latest CD with a live performance at Enumclaw Music last month (see ), and the event was so successful that Shane wanted to do more.

"I really didn't know what to expect," she said. "We've never done that before. I was so tickled because we filled the place. I had to borrow chairs from someone who had them in their car or we wouldn't have had enough chairs."

Long's performance drew some locally known musicians including Phil Hansen and Kevin Jones and both told her they'd love to do a performance as well. "I thought, 'Why don't I have a First Friday?'" she said.

In fact, Hansen is the featured performer for the December 2 event. And Jones is slated to perform on January 6, 2012.

Live music isn't foreign to downtown, especially now that has been hosting live music every Friday and Saturday night -- with open-mic nights set to start every first and third Thursday each month, manager Wendy Muller said.

Jones actually books the musical acts for Rendezvous.

"I think it's time for a town like Enumclaw to have regular music here instead of having people go out of town for it," Shane said. "Friday nights are busy down here -- the restaurants are packed. It would be nice for people to have someplace to go to listen to music. And these guys [Hansen and Jones] are known around town."

Hansen and Shane go to the same church, she said, and he plays on a worship team and has quite a following. He also teaches in the area and counts both Shane and Long as students.

"I expect Phil's event to be well-attended," she said.

Hansen has just completed his fourth studio album (Raspberries Rollin’) and his sixth instructional book (Flatpicking Solos). His CD/book release party is Friday, December 2 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Enumclaw Music Store located at 1515 Cole Street.  

The no-cover event will include refreshments and door prizes along with a 2-set performance by 'Uncle Phil' along with his performance group Acoustic Couti.