ENTERTAINMENT
Saturday, September 1, 2018
East Oregonian
Page 3C
PENDLETON
PENDLETON
Women’s choir warms up
for holiday performance
Bluegrass ensemble features annual performances
EOCenes to play
Sept 13-14 at arts
center
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
Photo contributed by Steve Condon
Sisters in Song, a women’s community choir in
Pendleton, welcomes new members. The group will
begin rehearsing Sept. 17 in preparation for the Or-
egon East Symphony’s annual Holiday Music Fes-
tival.
PENDLETON — A community-based women’s choir
is tuning up for the Oregon East Symphony’s annual Hol-
iday Music Festival.
Sisters in Song invites female vocalists to join them
as they prepare for the Sunday, Dec. 9 concert. The choir
will resume its weekly rehearsal schedule Monday, Sept.
17, from 6:30-8 p.m. in the choir room at Pendleton
High School, 1800 N.W. Carden Ave. Auditions are not
required to join Sisters in Song.
The group’s mission is to learn and perform a vari-
ety of music — always striving for musical polish and
beauty while working in an atmosphere of supportive
and good-humored cooperation. The group is directed by
Lezlee Flagg and Cheryl Carlson, and is accompanied by
Suzi Wood.
For more information, contact womensingpendle-
ton@gmail.com, Flagg at 541-263-2755 or Carlson at
541-429-0160. For more about the Holiday Music Festi-
val, contact oesdirectorms@gmail.com, 541-276-0320 or
visit www.oregoneastsymphony.org.
The Round-Up week tra-
dition of bluegrass music
continues at Pendleton Cen-
ter for the Arts.
Residents and visitors
alike will be treated to a
first-rate show as a group of
old college friends rendez-
vous in Pendleton for a pair
of shows. EOCenes features
Ron Emmons of Hermiston,
Hugh McClellan of Ore-
gon City, Duane Boyer of
Haines and Hal Spence of
Dallas. In addition, they are
often joined by Alan Feves,
bassist with Cabbage Hill,
who also packs around his
bass performing with a vari-
ety of ensembles; and Dan
Emert. A National Old-time
Fiddle Champion, Emert
played a blistering rendi-
tion of “The Devil Went
Down to Georgia,” on stage
with Charlie Daniels in
2006 at Wildhorse Resort &
Casino (You can find it on
YouTube).
Roberta Lavadour said
EOCenes is a show people
won’t want to miss.
“With the fluid grace that
comes only with musicians
who’ve played together for
more than 50 years, this
group puts on a show that
will delight both you and
your Round-Up guests,”
she said.
EOCenes formed in the
late ’60s while the class-
Contributed photo
EOCenes, which features a group of former Eastern Oregon College classmates,
return for a pair of Round-Up week shows at Pendleton Center for the Arts. Tickets
are now on sale for the Sept. 13-14 performances, which are expected to sell out.
mates were attending East-
ern Oregon College (now
University). Emmons and
Boyer met during freshmen
orientation week and then
connected with Spence and
McClellan through their
involvement in the Eastern
Oregon College Ambassa-
dors. The musical touring
group performed across the
Pacific Northwest, includ-
ing as part of a recruitment
program for the college. The
EOCenes moniker is a play
on the college’s monogram,
EOC (which later became
EOU) and the Eocene
epoch, a period on the geo-
logical time scale occurring
millions of years ago.
The performances are
Thursday, Sept. 13, and Fri-
day, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m. at the
arts center, 214 N. Main St.
Tickets are $12 each. Those
interested in attending are
encouraged to reserve a seat
as the shows are expected to
sell out.
Each member of the
group has played for a
wide variety of groups and
ensembles over the years
— with much success.
Decades later, Spence said
they hooked up again after
running into each other at a
festival in Tygh Valley.
“And, we still remem-
bered some songs, so we
started playing a few proj-
ects together,” he said.
Bluegrass shows during
Round-Up week extend
beyond the handful of years
that EOCenes have been
taking the stage. Cabbage
Hill was featured a number
of years — with the core
group of Emmons, Emert
and Feves, along with a
changing cast of additional
musicians.
For more information or
to reserve tickets, call 541-
278-9201 or visit www.
pendletonarts.org.
———
Contact Community Edi-
tor Tammy Malgesini at
tmalgesini@eastoregonian.
com or 541-564-4539
WHAT TO DO
Festivals
Juniper Jam
•Saturday, Sept. 1; 11 a.m.-
10 p.m.
•Wallowa
County
Fair-
grounds, Enterprise
www.juniperjam.com
$20/advance, $25/gate, free/
ages 12-and-under. Features 15
musical acts, food and drinks,
artisan vendors and children’s
activities. Camping available for
$5 night.
Harkenrider Senior Activi-
ty Center Dedication
Staff photo by Kathy Aney
Carl Scheeler plays harmonica at a recent bluegrass
jam session at the Great Pacific Wine & Coffee Co.
MUSIC: Local
musicians find
community in music
Continued from 1C
they like — usually until 7
or 8 p.m. Some people have
started playing and then
taken year-long hiatuses,
like Melisa McDonald.
“Life would get in the
way and then you’d do
other things,” she said.
The group was born
from the same system that
keeps it going today: word
of mouth.
Dick Kaiser is one of
the five original people
who started the jam ses-
sions at Great Pacific. He
started a two-man band
with his friend and they
later recruited others to
have practice sessions.
Eventually, Kaiser said,
“Hey, we need to play
some place other than each
other’s living rooms.”
He approached the
owners of Great Pacific
with a request to practice
music in their restaurant.
They agreed and prom-
ised a free beverage to the
musicians in the hopes that
it would attract customers.
The groups started
playing amongst the wine
bottles in the back corner
of the restaurant. When a
balcony opened upstairs,
they moved their rehears-
als up there. Later, Great
Pacific expanded its foot-
print into the building next
door and the group moved
back downstairs — where
it plays today.
“We just started playing
music and more and more
people started coming in,”
said Kaiser.
There can be as many
as 14 people playing in the
group. Most have instru-
ments, but there are also
some who just contribute
the sound of their voice.
There are a number of peo-
ple who come every once
in a while, but there is also
a core group who come
almost every week. One
of those is Carl Scheeler, a
banjo player who has been
playing since 2005.
“If you don’t show up
then it falls apart,” he said.
“If a couple people say,
‘I’m not going to show
up this weekend,’ then it
ends.’”
But the bluegrass and
old-time music commu-
nity extends beyond Great
Pacific. McDonald also
plays with a group called
Slow Jam on Wednesdays.
It’s not uncommon for peo-
ple from one group to find
themselves playing with
some of the same musi-
cians in another location.
“It’s a community of
people you get to know,”
said McDonald.
“That’s the thing about
small towns,” said Kaiser.
“In big towns, people go
out for entertainment. In
small towns, you have to
make your own.”
———
Brittany Norton was the
summer intern for the East
Oregonian.
•Saturday, Sept. 8; 11 a.m.-3
p.m.
•255 N.E. Second St., Herm-
iston (& festival street)
Free. Ribbon-curring at 1
p.m. Festival street activities in-
clude a produce market, vintage
booths, entertainment, drawings,
local treats and more. For those
who want to eat a pulled pork
lunch, tickets must be purchased
in advance ($8.50 at Hermiston
Community Center, Hermiston
Chamber of Commerce, Hermis-
ton City Hall).
Pendleton Round-Up/Hap-
py Canyon
•Sept. 10-15
•Multiple venues, Pendleton
www.pendletonroundup.com
Many activities free. Dress-
Up Parade (Sept. 8; 10 a.m.),
PBR Classic (Sept. 9-10; 6 p.m.),
Main Street Cowboys Free Show
(Sept. 11-15), Rodeo (Sept. 12-
15; 1:15 p.m.), Happy Canyon
Night Show (Sept. 12-15; 7:45
p.m.), Westward Ho! Parade
(Sept. 14; 10 a.m.) and more.
Wallowa Valley Festival of
the Arts
•Sept. 11-16
•Various venues in Joseph
www.wallowavalleyarts.org
Free/many activities, $25/re-
ception. Showcases more than
that 80 artists from across the
nation.
Hops festival brews celebration
PORTLAND — Fun is brewing as
the Portland Fresh Hops Fest celebrates
the state’s hop harvest.
In its 15th year, the event features
more than five dozen Oregon craft beers.
The event is Friday, Sept. 28, from 5-9
p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 29, from noon
to 8 p.m. at Oaks Amusement Park,
7805 S.E. Oaks Park Way, Portland.
Minors are not allowed Friday,
but may attend Saturday until 5 p.m.
Well-mannered dogs are welcome on
leashes.
Admission is free. Drink packages
purchased in advance are $20, which
includes a souvenir tasting glass and
nine drink tickets. Enter the code “fresh-
notwet” for a $2.50 discount when buy-
ing online. Packages purchased at the
gate only include six drink tickets.
Historical Society event.
Vanessa Renwick: Artist’s
Talk
•Thursday, Sept. 6; 5-7 p.m.
•Crow’s Shadow Institute of
the Arts, 48004 Saint Andrew’s
Road, Mission
www.crowsshadow.org
Free. Avant-garde filmmaker
shares about print-making resi-
dency.
Bonnie Zahn Griffith: Pure
Color
Art, Museums &
Authors
•Thursday, Sept. 6; 5:30 p.m.,
opening reception
•Tuesday-Fridays, 10 a.m.-4
p.m.; Saturdays, noon-4 p.m.
•Pendleton Center for the
Arts, 214 N. Main St.
www.pendletonarts.org
Free. Exhibit features a plein
air painter and landscape artist
who mostly works in pastels and
oils. Runs Sept. 6-30.
“Beautiful Games: Ameri-
can Indian Sport & Art”
Music
•Monday-Saturdays; 10 a.m.-
5 p.m.
•Tamástslikt Cultural Institute,
near Wildhorse Resort & Casino.
www.tamastslikt.org
$10/adults, $9/senior citi-
zens, $6/youths. Exhibit high-
lights sports, which have played
a pivotal role in American Indian
tribal communities. Runs through
Oct. 13.
“The Wild Landscape: Art
and Words of the Zum-
walt Prairie”
•Monday through Fridays; 10
a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays; noon-4
p.m.
•Josephy Center for Arts and
Culture, 403 N. Main St., Joseph
www.josephy.org
Free. Features photos and
paintings from a June gathering
of artists and writers at Zumwalt
Prairie. Held in conjunction with
the exhibit is a Plein Air Water-
color Workshop on the Zumwalt
Prairie ($45, Sept. 8, 8 a.m.)
Terrific Tuesday
•Tuesday, Sept. 4; 7-8:30
p.m.
•Heritage Station Museum,
108 S.W. Frazer Ave., Pendleton
www.heritagestationmuse-
um.org
Free. Local author Bette
Lynch Husted will read from her
latest book, “All Coyote’s Chil-
dren,” during the Umatilla County
Doo-Wah Riders
•Saturday, Sept. 1; 8 p.m. No
cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84
Exit 216, Mission.
Groove City
•Friday, Sept. 7; Saturday,
Sept. 8; 8 p.m. No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84
Exit 216, Mission.
Misty Mouth
•Tuesday, Sept. 11; 7-10:30
p.m.
•Great Pacific Wine & Coffee
Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton
No cover. All ages. Local
band to kick-off Round-Up week
at GP.
J.D. Kindle & the Eastern
Oregon Playboys
•Wednesday,
Sept.
12;
7-10:30 p.m.
•Great Pacific Wine & Coffee
Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton
No cover. All ages. Local
band kicks up fun for Round-Up
week at GP.
EOCenes
•Thursday, Sept. 13; Friday,
Sept. 14; 7 p.m.
•Pendleton Center for the
Arts, 214 N. Main St.
www.pendletonarts.org
$12. A premiere bluegrass
ensemble, the group returns
EO Media Group file photo
In celebration of the state’s hop
harvest, more than 60 Oregon craft
beers are featured during the Sept.
28-29 Portland Fresh Hops Fest at
Oaks Amusement Park.
to Pendleton for their annual
Round-Up week performances.
Night life
Matt & The Herdsmen
Games on the Patio
•Sept. 12-15; 8 p.m. No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84
Exit 216, Mission.
James Apollo 5
•Thursday, Sept. 13; 7 p.m.
•Great Pacific Wine & Coffee
Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton
No cover. All ages. After tour-
ing in the US and UK, the band
brings their tunes to town for
Round-Up week at GP.
Pete Krebs & the Rockin’
K Review
•Friday, Sept. 14; 7-11 p.m.
•Great Pacific Wine & Coffee
Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton
No cover. All ages. Portland
musician plays everything from
punk rock to gypsy jazz and tra-
ditional country for Round-Up
week at GP.
The Reverend Smith &
the Union Soul Orchestra
•Saturday, Sept. 15; 7 p.m.
•Great Pacific Wine & Coffee
Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton
No cover. All ages. Get ready
to get up from your chair and
move your hips during Round-Up
week at GP.
Funk Factory
•Friday, Sept. 21; Saturday,
Sept. 22; 8 p.m. No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84
Exit 216, Mission.
Dusty Santamaria & Moi-
ra Ichiban
•Friday, Sept. 21; 7-9 p.m.
•Great Pacific Wine & Coffee
Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton
No cover. All ages. The duo
delves deep into the rock ‘n’ roll
psyche, drawing influence from
mid-century R&B, gospel, doo-
wop, country and punk.
Chrome Molly
•Saturday, Sept. 22; 7-10
p.m.
•Echo Ridge Cellars, 551 N.
Thielsen St., Echo
No cover. Return to the ven-
ue performing metal favorites.
Cory Wilds Band
•Friday, Sept. 28; Saturday,
Sept. 29; 8 p.m. No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild-
horse Resort & Casino, off I-84
Exit 216, Mission.
•Saturdays; 7 p.m.
•Midway Bar & Grill, 1750 N.
First St., Hermiston
Free. Join the fun outside
on the patio or cornhole, Jenga,
horseshoes and more. Then,
stick around for trivia inside at 9
p.m.
Karaoke w/DJ David
•Saturdays; 8 p.m.
•Riverside Sports Bar, 1501
Sixth St., Umatilla
Wino Wednesdays
•Wednesdays, 2-6 p.m.
•Echo Ridge Cellars, 551 N.
Thielsen St., Echo
Karaoke at the Packard
•1st/3rd
Wednesday,
9
p.m.-midnight
•The Packard Tavern, 118
S.E. Court Ave., Pendleton
No cover.
First Thursday Wine
Tasting
•Thursday, Sept. 6, 5-7 p.m.
•The Gathering Place at Bell-
inger’s, 1823 S. Highway 395,
Hermiston
Free. Features live music and
wine tasting from Echo Ridge
Winery.
Thirsty Thursdays
•Third Thursday; 6 p.m.
•Midway Bar & Grill, 1750 N.
First St., Hermiston
No cover. Hosts a local brew-
ery offering tastings and food
pairings.
Wine tasting
•Fridays, 4-8 p.m.
•Sno Road Winery, 111 W.
Main St., Echo.
Karaoke w/DJ David
•Fridays; 8 p.m.
•Riverside Sports Bar, 1501
Sixth St., Umatilla
DJ and dancing
•Fridays, 8 p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E. Main
St., Hermiston
Karaoke
•Fridays; 9 p.m.
•Midway Tavern, 1750 N.
First St., Hermiston
Cimmi’s Late Night Marti-
ni Lounge
•Fridays; 9 p.m.-midnight
•Virgil’s at Cimmiyotti’s, 137
S. Main St., Pendleton
No cover. Features martinis,
mixology and music.