Our Favorite Musicians
Live music instantly elevates any experience on a night out! We always look for new artists to see, and also have our favorites that we follow. Not only do we go to every live show we can make, but we also listen to their music on repeat at home. Supporting your local artists is just as important as supporting your local restaurants. Home grown is always best! Check out some of our favorites below and find out where you can listen to their music or catch them live next.
Check back regularly for new additions to our favorite musicians!
On a September evening, Denice and I (Zeek) were on vacation in Leavenworth with my in-laws. Live music drew us to the sidewalks of Patterson cellars where we danced to some of the best music we had heard yet. Denice’s bold boots even got a shout out from the stage! We got to meet the musician afterwards, and, well, there is no one else that should be at the top of this list other than Billy Stoops!
Not only a founding member of local Washington Blue's Society Hall of Fame indicted band Junkyard Jane, founded in 1997 and still performing their wildly loved Swampabilly Blues today, he is also a solo artist responsible for original music on two albums. Oh and the director of the twice yearly Sunbanks Blues festival and a winner of several other local awards!
Check out his albums Dirt Angel and Wolf Moon on Apple, Spotify, or Youtube. You can find him and Junkyard Jane member Leanne Trevalyan regularly performing at Lake City Pub, the Mill, Urban Elks Club, and many other South Sound favorites!
Lew Schmngy
Years ago, Joel Lively and Todd met in middle school. The bond has stuck and today they call each other brothers.
Joel played 3 sets a week at the Java Jive as the house band as well as worked as a hot tar roofer during the day while Todd worked for the local water department. Together, they would make trips out the Blues Fest, where Joel would help set up the stage and take out the garbage. But they always signed up for the open mic night before the festival at the Electric City Cantina and went campsite to campsite swapping songs for beers. Now, 20 some odd years later, that Thursday night at the Cantina is the official opener to the festival, and the duo, now referred to as Lew Schmngy, is on the schedule and the official festival line up t-shirt!
Bringing songs from a lifetime of experiences around Pierce County, Lew Schmngy captivates the audience with story songs, small antics, and a true love for the craft that shows in performances. Talking with Joel between sets he says "I beat on my guitar and yell at people and they like it.”
Lew Schmngy can be found almost any Wednesday night at Lake City Pub hosting the open mic, with the same charm and wit that makes any of his shows a hoot to see! While they don’t have a public schedule, you can catch Joel, Todd, and 93-year-old drummer Dick making each other the butt of their jokes and entertaining their audience in the greater Tacoma area
Leanne Trevalyan
Early in our introduction to the local musicians, we had the pleasure of hearing Leanne accompanying Billy on a few occasions. We were immediately impressed with her amazing vocals.
Leanne performs solo, with Billy Stoops, with her group The Octopus Ballet, the Dirt Angels, and of course, the infamous Junkyard Jane. Any occasion to hear Leanne is a welcome treat. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear her incredible harmonies, smoky and sultry solos, and duets with Cheryl in Octopus Ballet… not to mention her award winning percussion on some of the most unlikely instruments!