KPC announces 2019-20 season

Some big names are coming to Kirkland Performance Center (KPC) for its 21st year.

KPC recently announced its 2019-20 season, which will start in October.

KPC executive director Jeff Lockhart said he feels honored to see KPC enter its 21st year.

“I feel really honored that we get to be a part of the community and bring acts people want to see,” he said.

Season ticket packages are on sale now, and individual tickets to all presented shows went on sale Aug. 20. Four-show packages start at $102.

KPC’s 21st season includes ukulele legend Jake Shimabukuro, rhythm and blues gospel singer and civil rights activist Mavis Staples, family favorite Chris Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience and singer/songwriters Joan Osborne and The Weepies.

Of special note is local Hamilton tribute band, Rise Up, performing the hit songs from the Broadway musical “Hamilton” on Nov. 14 and 15. The members of Rise Up came together to bring a musical message rooted in diversity, perseverance and dreams, and have encountered enthusiastic response at every turn. They return after two sold out performances last season at KPC.

Also in the season are many shows including returning favorites The Brothers Four, live radio drama Imagination Theater and Micky Dolenz, lead singer of The Monkees.

When planning what acts to bring to KPC, Lockhart said they try to have “something for everyone.”

“We try to pay attention [to the] pulse of the community…We want to have something for everyone. We have everything including rock, pop, jazz, Celtic, blues — you name it,” he said. “We try to find artists that will sell tickets and [contribute] to the art of the community.”

KPC is also continuing its Local Favorites series, which highlights local artists and/or groups and helps them grow in the Eastside community. Local Favorites is in its fifth year, and was designed to shine a spotlight on some of KPC’s frequent local collaborators. Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra (SRJO), Studio East and StoryBook Theater are just a few of the artists who will be presented on the KPC stage as Local Favorites. These artists and groups will also provide many educational opportunities throughout the 2019-20 season.

There will be many returning acts at KPC this year as well, including Geoffrey Castle. Each year, Castle performs his Celtic Christmas concert as well as his St. Patrick’s Celebration concert.

“The Kirkland Performance Center has been a major part of the growth of my career and the development of my musical identity,” Castle said in a previous Kirkland Reporter article.

Lockhart said he is proud of each KPC season.

“Every season is so rewarding. Each season is intentional,” he said. “I love sitting in the back row of a performance and see the audience engaged with the performance.”

For a complete list of shows from the entire season, visit www.kpcenter.org. Tickets are available online, over the phone at 425-893-9900, or from noon to 6 p.m. at the KPC box office, Tuesday through Saturday and until curtain on show days.

This fall, audiences can look forward to attending the following performances:

Imagination Theater: 7:30 p.m., Sept. 30

Mystery, drama, and laughter abound in the radio drama series regularly featuring private detective Harry Nile and tales of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Recorded live at KPC, the series is heard from coast to coast on more than 50 radio stations in North America, including KIXI in Seattle.

An Evening with Los Lobos: 45th Anniversary Show: 7 p.m., Oct. 2

More than three decades have passed since Los Lobos released their debut album, “Just Another Band from East L.A.” Since then they’ve repeatedly disproven that title. Los Lobos isn’t “just another” anything, but rather a band that has consistently evolved artistically while never losing sight of their humble roots. They will be performing half of the show as acoustic.

The Brothers Four: 7 p.m., Oct. 3

Folk revival pioneers the Brothers Four are national icons of American music. With hits like “Try to Remember,” “Greenfields,” and “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore,” their harmonies blend with traditional folk instrumentation of the guitar, mandolin, banjo and bass.

Jake Shimabukuro: 7 p.m., Oct. 14

Labeled as “the Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele,” Hawaiian-born Jake Shimabukuro gained fame after releasing a viral video of his beautiful and original version of the song “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”

Keola Beamer and Jeff Peterson: 7 p.m. Oct. 17

Keola Beamer is a Hawaiian legend who has stretched the boundaries of slack key guitar music. Jeff Peterson is one of the most versatile musicians in Hawaiian music, and has contributed to two Grammy-award winning recordings.

BoDeans: 7 p.m., Nov. 6

After a remarkable 30-year musical career of compelling songs and high-energy performances, Wisconsin’s favorite musical sons have continued to deliver chart-topping radio singles.

Kirkland Investor Sharks – 7 p.m., Nov. 7

Investor Sharks Northwest is hosted by the Greater Kirkland Chamber of Commerce and KPC. The purpose of the event is to help startup businesses from the greater Seattle and Eastside area gain exposure and compete for a chance to pitch to a panel of investors comprised of the biggest venture capitalists and angel investors in the Puget Sound region.

Evening with Booker T. Jones: 8 p.m., Nov. 8

Jones’ Stax Revue is a presentation of his hits with the MGs, such as “Green Onions,” “Hang ‘Em High” and “Time is Tight” and of the classics recorded on Stax Records by legendary artists such as “Try a Little Tenderness” by Otis Redding, “When Something is Wrong with my Baby” by Sam and Dave and “Gee Whiz” by Carla Thomas.

KPC’s 21st season includes Micky Dolenz, lead singer of The Monkees. He will be performing on Nov. 9. Photo courtesy of KPC

Micky Dolenz, lead singer of The Monkees: 8 p.m., Nov. 9

Micky Dolenz first established himself as a performer at age 10 after starring in his first TV series, and quickly gained fame through The Monkees, a TV show about a rock band that eventually went on to tour live as a real rock band. Dolenz is now an all-around performer extraordinaire.

The Robert Cray Band: 7 p.m., Nov. 13

Robert Cray has been bridging the lines between blues, soul and R&B for the past four decades, with five Grammy wins, a Blues Hall of Fame inductee, recipient of the Americana Lifetime achievement award, countless tours and over 20 acclaimed albums.

Rise Up: The Hamilton Tribute Band: 8 p.m., Nov.14 and 15

Don’t throw away your shot to see Rise Up: The Hamilton Tribute Band. Rise Up is an ensemble of top Seattle vocalists and musicians that performs the amazing music of Hamilton.

Photo courtesy of KPCi “Hamilton” tribute band, Rise Up, will be performing the hit songs from the Broadway musical Nov. 14 and 15.

Seattle International Comedy Competition: 8 p.m., Nov. 29

America’s biggest touring comedy festival, the Seattle International Comedy Competition brings five up-and-coming comics from around the country to compete for top honors and a shot at cash and prizes.