Humanities Washington Presents: Peter Blecha discussing "Stomp and Shout: R&B and the Origins of Northwest Rock and Roll"
Northwest Rock & Roll’s historical highpoints are well documented—in the late 20th century, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and other grunge gods took the world by storm. Previously, Seattle’s Queensrÿche and Heart had ruled the heavy metal realm. And prior to that, The Wailers, The Kingsmen, Paul Revere and The Raiders, and The Sonics had all fueled local teen dances with garage-rock versions of the region’s signature song, “Louie Louie.”
Yet these iconic bands are only half the story. In this talk, join author Peter Blecha to discover the lesser-known but vitally important bands and scenes that laid the foundation for what was to come—finally connecting all the dots between the fabled Northwest era of Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, and Jimi Hendrix, and the R&B-spiked roots of a distinct regional art form: the “Original Northwest Sound.”
Peter Blecha (he/him) is the director of the Northwest Music Archives, an award-winning author, a founding curator at MoPop, and a longtime staff historian at…
Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: info@humanities.org. Event Types: Special Events.
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 2:00 PM.
Aberdeen Timberland Library.
For more info visit www.humanities.org. Humanities Washington Presents: David George Gordon discussing "Heaven on the Half Shell: The Story of the Oyster in the Pacific Northwest"
Get to know the Pacific Northwest’s most beloved bivalve: the oyster. In this talk, author David George Gordon discusses three species— the Olympia, Eastern, and Pacific oysters— along with the people who have cultivated these delicacies for many generations.
Learn about the Native American sea gardens and clam beds that existed 11,500 years ago, as well as the contemporary efforts in our state to cultivate oysters, both native and introduced. Along the way, learn about the many surprising innovations that have made oysters such an enduringly popular and environmentally sustainable food. As the old saying goes: when the tide is out, the table is set.
David George Gordon (he/him) is the principal author of Heaven on the Half Shell: The Story of the Oyster in the Pacific Northwest, recently revised and updated by University of Washington Press. A former science writer for Washington Sea Grant, Gordon has written 22 books on topics ranging from slugs and snails to sharks, gray whales, and Sasquatch.
Gordon…
Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: info@humanities.org. Event Types: Special Events.
Thursday, June 26, 2025, 6:30 PM.
Harbor History Museum.
For more info visit www.humanities.org. KUOW Summer Book Club Presents: Lynda V. Mapes discussing "The Trees are Speaking"
KUOW Book Club host Katie Campbell sits down with Seattle author and environmental journalist Lynda V. Mapes to discuss her latest book The Trees are Speaking: Dispatches from the Salmon Forests.
Join us for an evening of insight and inspiration. Just released in April, Mapes’ newest work is already being hailed as essential reading for anyone interested in environmental stewardship. The book explores the vital role of old-growth forests in our ecosystems and the deep, often overlooked connections between trees, salmon, and Indigenous knowledge. Together, Campbell and Mapes will delve into how these stories came to life—asking questions like: What can we learn from the forest? And how can Indigenous communities guide us in protecting these ancient ecosystems?
Event interval: Single day event. Accessibility Contact: leap@spl.org. Event Types: Special Events.
Wednesday, August 27, 2025, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM.
Seattle Public Library.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.