Special Meds rock Herb’s Aug. 16
Special Meds performs Aug. 16, 9 p.m., in Herb’s Tavern.

The Seattle-based group rocks regional venues with a mix of uptempo funk/soul/classic rock. A wide variety of backgrounds and musical tastes in the band results in a hard-groovin’ musical cocktail. Hammond B-3 and punchy horns drive the bus.

The Meds have performed at Spokane Hempfest, Springfest, The Bite of Seattle, Missoula Hempfest, Squidstock, and Olympia Hempfest, among others. The Meds can also be found shaking it up on a Friday or Saturday somewhere in Bellingham, Boise, Eugene, Missoula, Olympia, Portland, Seattle or Spokane.

“We are bringing the music to the people,” said Berl Shaffer, guitar and vocals. “We like to let ’er run on all eight and blow the roof off the house.”

To hear some clips, visit www.myspace.com/specialmedsband

World-touring sitar masters in F.H. Aug. 11
Celebrated world-touring sitar masters perform a sublime evening of classical Indian raga Aug. 11, 7 p.m., at Pelindaba Lavender Farm.

Call 378-4248, ext. 226 or visit www.pelindabalavender.com.

Additional performances are scheduled Aug. 12, 7:30 p.m., at Lopez Center (www.lopezcenter.com); and Aug. 13, 8 p.m., Oddfellows Hall in Eastsound.

All tickets are $15 general, $10 for students and seniors.

The concert by Pandit Shivnath Mishra (sitar), son Deobrat Mishra (sitar and vocals) and Marco Zonka (tabla) is a benefit for The Academy of Indian Classical Music (www.benaresmusicacademy.com).

The Mishras come from a musical family lineage with more than 800 years of ancestry in the Benares “gharana.” Today, they are one of the most pre-eminent families in the famed music communities of Benares, India, long revered for the depth and integrity of its classical Indian music traditions.

They have performed throughout Europe, the Middle East, western U.S. and Canada for more than 20 years.

Point Reyes, Calif., symphony conductor Norman Masonson said this after the group’s performance June 7, 2007: “I have seen all the greats of Indian classical music. But I have never seen such creativity, spontaneity and depth of emotion as I have here tonight,”

Mona Warner closes Music on the Lawn series
Mona Warner, who is often compared to Joan Baez, closes this year’s Music on the Lawn free concert series tonight, 6:30-8:30 p.m., on the San Juan Historical Museum grounds.

The event is sponsored by Island Rec, Islanders Insurance, Island Petroleum Services, Islanders Bank and Waterworks Gallery.

San Juan Historical Museum provides the venue and St. Francis Church provides space for parking.

Attendees are encouraged to bring picnic dinners, as no concessions are sold, blankets or chairs and to please leave dogs and alcohol at home. As the sun begins to set earlier, sweaters and jackets come in handy.

For more information, visit www.islandrec.org or call 378-4953.

Stage Left hosts Shakespeare speakers
Ben Jonson said that Shakespeare was not of an age but for all time. Come find out why.

Tonight at 7 and through Aug. 13, Island Stage Left will host a series of four weekly scholarly discussions on Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” The discussions, designed to enrich the audience’s experience of the play, are led by Shakespearean scholars in the region who have donated their time and expertise to deliver these discussions to our community.

In keeping with Island Stage Left’s mission to “bring top quality professional theater — free of charge — to all islanders and island visitors, no matter what their economic or social status,” all discussions are free and open to the public.

All discussions are in Friday Harbor House’s San Juan Conference Room. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Discussions will illuminate various aspects of the play, touching on topics such as performance history, interpretations and adaptations of the play, and the social, historical and cultural contexts that make the play as engaging today as it was some 400 years ago when it was written.

— Tonight: Professor Mary Metzger, Western Washington University.

— Aug. 13: Sebastian Trainor and Jeanmarie Higgins Williams, doctoral candidates at University of Washington.

For more information, visit www.islandstageleft.org

— Submit items for Around Town to Editor, The Journal, P.O. Box 519, Friday Harbor 98250. E-mail rwalker@sanjuanjournal.com

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