Entertainment: Stevenson Music Fest Announced; Canned Heat, Molly Hatchet headed to TD

By Jim Drake

Trout Lake Fair July 31-Aug. 1

The Trout Lake Fair returns one week early this year. It’s year 55 for the annual event - live music includes Countryside Ride (11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at Camp Jonah). You should recognize that band name because they played at Eagles Lodge before the Pandemic hit. Interesting activities include The World Famous Auction (the fair’s main fundraiser event) and a night of Stargazing at the High School. The Firemen’s Breakfast has been moved to Aug. 7. Full schedule at https://troutlakefair.org/.

Don Tibbets Hall of Fame Ceremony Aug. 7

Local Musicman Al Hare is forging ahead with the creation of the Little Music City Hall of Fame - an entity that will honor and promote the history of music in The Dalles. The series kicks off on Saturday, Aug. 7, with an induction ceremony for Don Tibbets, described as “one of our longest-tenured musicians.” The party will feature the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award. Bargeway Pub at 1 p.m. https://www.facebook.com/events/351781333084957

Art display at Cathedral Ridge, new gallery in HR

In a partnership with Columbia Center for the Arts, artists Myrna Anderson, Charlene Rivers and Nancy H. Brown bring some of their work for display to Cathedral Ridge’s tasting room in Hood River. If you’re in the downtown area, stop by Laurel Gallery - award-winning artist Laurel Bushman (pictured) has set up shop at 111 3rd Street. 

Cassette investigation reveals former Payless location

What’s the connection between my cassette copy of classical guitarist Christopher Parkening’s 1968 release “In the Spanish Style,” and The Dalles? 

What caught my eye on the label of this tape was a rubber stamp print that appears on Side 1 (or, in Classical Terms: Program 1).

The stamp clearly says Payless Drug, The Dalles, Oregon, 97058. There’s an address, but we’ll get to that in a minute.

At first, I thought maybe the stamp is there to indicate a place of purchase, but that really didn’t make sense, because how would someone stamp the tape label and repackage it for sale as a new cassette?

After a few hours of thinking, I came up with this idea: It’s really an inventory stamp of some sort - which does make sense because in addition there’s a mysterious “51” stamped near the lower left edge.

I bet this was Tape 51 of Payless’s In-Store Music Broadcasting System (I Just Made That Up).

But, whose job was it to turn the tapes over every 24 minutes? Maybe the tape decks at least had Auto-reverse? 

The real work for this tape actually involved trying to read the rest of the address. Placed over the song information, “Payless Drug” was clearly visible, as well as “312 E.”

Microscopes are awesome.

Then, things got tricky. I couldn’t decipher the next word, so I employed the use of the biggest magnifying glass I have - a fairly hefty lab-quality StereoScope Microscope - with enough lights and 3x Zoom Dials to make mid-1600’s microscope pioneer Mr. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek proud. 

I truly wish my microscope had a camera attached, and believe me, I’ve started to look into what it would take to hook one up. But, you’ll need to take my word that it was really cool to focus in and have the lettering jump off the paper.

“Federal.” 

So, if the original purchaser or user of this tape is still out there, please know the tape still works and the music continues to be enjoyed. And maybe the ghost strains of this cassette are still floating around the building occupied by the fine folks at the GHOBI offices, currently in that location in The Dalles.

Spruce, Soul Prophet at Sandbar Cafe

The Sandbar Cafe is conveniently located right next to the main windsurfing and kiteboarding area of Hood River. You have to walk down a floating dock deck to get down there. It sort of feels like you’re Walking the Plank, but in the end, you’re just thrown in front of a few food carts that also serve beer. And most weekends there’s a band at the end of the dock, desperately trying not to drop their guitar picks into the beautiful Columbia River. On Friday, July 30, it’s the Spruce Baugher Birthday Bash starting at 6 p.m. On Saturday, July 31, from 6:30-8 p.m., it’s Soul Prophet, featuring Mark Daly, who just might play a few songs off his new album “Simply Soup.”

Rishell Graves at White Salmon Farmers Market 

Back in the Day, Rishell Graves was hanging out with music folks like Kenny Loggins and the rest of his band, who became lifelong friends. Today, she brings solo piano stylings of 70s music and original songs for your Farmers Market Shopping Enjoyment. I’m thinking this is an early start, probably 4:30 p.m. Spotting the Market as you drive downtown White Salmon should not be too difficult. Roll the windows down and the music should guide you in.

Karaoke Question?

“Where, oh Where can I find a good Karaoke Bar?” was a relevant recent online post. And it’s a Great Question. Two answers popped up. But first, some background: In Pre-Pandemic times, Karaoke was a mainstay at the Moth Lounge in Hood River. (You are nodding your head right now, and recalling your rendition of “Don’t Stop Believing”). But sadly, Moth closed in Aug. 2020. Rumor has it that 1301 (Thirteen O One) Steak/Spirits hosts Karaoke on Saturday night; and Red Carpet Inn hosts on Tuesdays. Both are in Hood River. We’re not sure of the Mic Disinfection Protocols, but if it’s anything like the last Open Mic I saw, it’s probably best if you Bring Your Own.

Stevenson Waterfront Music Fest Aug. 6-7

Wow! At last glance there were 14 acts scheduled for this year’s Stevenson Waterfront Music Fest Aug. 6-7. The Gorge is well represented by the likes of Jess Clemmons, Big River Blues Band, Richard and Tova Tillinghast, and Megan Alder (pictured). There also seems to be a smattering of folk and bluegrass in the mix, as echoes probably remain of last week’s GorgeGrass festival. Sounds like a Pretty Good Deal. https://www.facebook.com/StevensonWaterfrontMusicFestival/

Molly Hatchet, Canned Heat in TD Legends show Aug. 14

I get to put this in the “Am I Reading this Correctly” Department, as the Granada Theater sponsored Legends Concert Series in The Dalles, continues Aug. 14 with classic rock blues Woodstock veterans Canned Heat and classic southern rock radio heavy hitters Molly Hatchet are on the bill for show #2. My only question: Is there a #3 and who will it be?

World’s Finest, more at The Ruins

It’s great that music is opening back up and that means we’ll start to see a lot more of the popular NW touring bands. World’s Finest brings high-energy folk-based rock to the popular Hood River venue, The Ruins, on Wednesday, July 27. On Thursday, July 28, Groove Cabin brings the local talent. Get there early and support the opening acts.

Click here for last week’s entertainment column.