It's a Hot Week in Gorge Entertainment- July 21

By Jim Drake

Mark Daly releases ‘Simply Soup’

Mark Daly

Gorge singer-songwriter Mark Daly’s latest album 'Simply Soup' was uploaded to the music distribution platform Songtradr.com earlier this month. If you’re keeping track, this is his third album, following up “Wayfinder,” and “Inside the Echos.” The collection of nine “art-rock” songs has been simmering since early 2021, and the project was recorded at his home  - dubbed Sunset Cottage Studios. The opening track “By Design” sets the tone for the rest of the album - layered swirling percussive backdrops and riff-driven guitar mixes with trance vocals evoking complex and emotionally driven storylines. For a listen check out https://www.songtradr.com/playlist/ebgdhbzxxrsqxqtj?fbclid=IwAR32YccHCafvjai9GL_YBh0MwZ0U4hmyQRkZslZ2ftlM1bWY06CrhVbj1bk

Mainstreet Music in the works?

A conversation with local player Al Hare revealed he is working with The Dalles Mainstreet folks in trying to organize a Third Thursday Music Night for the summer months. Negotiations with Nashville songwriter John Bunzow and NW guitar-great Terry Robb are reportedly in the works - for bringing family-style evening music to the north end of Federal Street. Keep your ears open and let’s hope the deals work out. 

Steighner, CGOA honored at recent park concert

Last week’s Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association’s concert at Hood River’s Jackson Park resulted in a Mayoral Proclamation declaring July 17 “Mark Steighner and Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association Day.” The concert featured guest violinist Aaron Meyer.

“It was an incredible honor for CGOA and a great way for concerts to come back into the park. We had a beautiful stage, perfect weather, amazing guest artists and an impressive and appreciative crowd,” said Steighner. When asked if this concert would become a yearly event, Steighner said a show was already in the works for June 2022.

Steighner leads the orchestra and is a retired Hood River High School music teacher.

Music in the park continues Aug. 5

Families in the Park show from classic rock cover band Hit Machine.

County Line at Tarwater July 22

Gorge Americana specialists County Line are getting ready for an unplugged acoustic show at White Salmon’s Tarwater Tavern on Thursday, July 22. Music starts at 6:30 p.m. Expect original tunes and more from locals Kerry Williams, Jeremy Hadden, Tim Ortlieb and Matt Mesa.

Wine and Book club starts Aug. 19

Sources say Stave and Stone Winery (Upper Valley Hood River location) will host a “Read Between the Wines” book club event Thursday, Aug. 19, starting at 4:15 p.m. Featured book is “Midnight Library” by Matt Haig. More info at https://www.meetup.com/Read-Between-The-Wines-Monthly-Wine-Book-Club/events/279470434/?isFirstPublish=true&fbclid=IwAR0SRx02q09qxyP1ea7xh40cS6g9F7LrLu4L4AnzVySUIKSbW_NGeLTOgII

Margie Fest comes to Bingen Aug. 1

“Margie Fest,” a celebration of the life of Margie Lemberger, takes place Sunday, Aug. 1, 1-6 p.m. in Bingen, Wash. Considered a pioneer in the cannabis industry, Margie’s Pot Shop (419 East Stuben) was the first legal cannabis store on the west coast. She passed away in March of 2021. The event features live music from Julie & The Hedgehogs, a local artists market, a beer garden and collectable MargieMerch with her original logo. https://www.margiefest.com/?fbclid=IwAR2ZaF1qAIIwjhsHRK7NHhLH58lI6OsMKVhUCylAecltKpfF_Q6N__1JLBs

AC/DC tribute band Hell’s Belles will kick off the Hood River County Fair on Thursday, July 22.

Hood River County Fair entertainment Schedule

The Hood River County Fair opens Wednesday, July 21 and there’s a triple shot of entertainment starting on Thursday, July 22, with Hell’s Belles, an all-female tribute to AC/DC. From personal experience, I can tell you two things about this band: 1) These ladies bring an Authentic AC/DC Show With All Of The Guitar Antics that You Would Expect From An Actual AC/DC Show, and 2) THIS SHOW WILL BE LOUD. Please consider bringing Earplugs. You Will Thank Me Later. 7:30 p.m.

On Friday, July 23, it’s music from Los Cadetes de Linares and

Banda Movil. From my personal experience of attending Latin music concerts at the Fair I can tell you this: It’s a Real Concert Experience, and No One Sits Down. Just a Reminder: There is no language barrier in music. Bonus Trivia Fact: “Linares” is the same name of a town in Spain that an Extremely Famous Classical Guitarist was Born In A Long Time Ago. Think you know who it is? Impress me with the Right Answer! 7:30 p.m.

Carly Pearce

On Saturday, July 24, it’s country music artist headliner Carly Pearce. Pearce’s Youtube video of “I Hope You’re Happy Now” has over 32M views. But here’s the question: Whenever I watch a Youtube Video, I never see the View Count increase. It must be calculating all the thousands of views in the last three minutes before I watched it. I guess after 32M, who’s counting anyway? 8:15 p.m.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
SBBhyMYnwCw&list=PL_cFx6lRiXXT
8DN0K4WNu8wDX50gdNDVt

Soul Sacrifice at Granada July 31

Get your Inner Santana on at the Granada Theater in The Dalles on Saturday, July 31 with Santana cover band Soul Sacrifice. This will have to do for now, since the last venue that the real Carlos Santana played at in The Gorge a few years ago (a certain winery near Goldendale) closed up shop in terms of concerts. Sacrifice was voted a top NW tribute band. https://www.granadatheatrethedalles.com/7-31-soul-sacrifice.html

Soul Sacrifice hits the Granada in The Dalles on July 31.

Megan Alder and The Woods at Ruins

Local music at The Ruins in Hood River on Thursday, July 22, 6-9 p.m. with Megan Alder and The Woods. The band features Jenny Estrin on fiddle, The Dalles own Ronnie Ontiveros on bass and drummer Tim Ortlieb. Alder is an accomplished guitarist specializing in classic swing sounds.

Tess Barr reports Spotify Stats

Tess Barr

Weren’t we just talking about Youtube and Video Views? It turns out that Hoodcrest Winery owner and renowned Blues singer Tess Barr has some fans on another platform, Spotify - endless channels of music streaming to endless devices. It turns out her song “Cadillac,” hit 260,548 miles, err… plays. The latest album is “Trouble’s Comin’.” It turns out Cadillac and 4 other most popular songs from The Tess Barr Blues Band have added up to 692,241 plays. That’s what my Sharp EL-506 Calculator says, (which I’ve had since, like the 5th grade, by the way) and I’m sticking to it.