Olympia’s Vibrant Live Music

People walking down 4th Avenue in downtown Olympia have probably seen a lot of fliers advertising live music in an ever increasing number of venues. The variety is truly amazing and clubs are experimenting like never before. This year is already off to an exciting start and the live music scene downtown is cued up to explode when the weather warms up.

Last year was impressive too but does not compare to the line-up we have now and it’s only February. I know a lot of you musician types have been in the woodshed all winter practicing so lets get out there and do it! Let’s make it happen today, not tomorrow. Find an open-mic event, book a gig, ask for live music by name everywhere you go and promote!

At http://chuckwest.org/?page_id=473 there is a current list of downtown Olympia open-mic events and related information. I’d like to see on open-mic every night of the week and we are well on the way. Some sort of concert calender is on the way soon. This could be difficult as there are so many shows coming up soon and it’s still winter. What will summer be like? I want a feature here so bands can easily add their shows to a concert calender. Details will follow soon. Look here in the near future for:

  • Local music news.
  • Band contact information.
  • Lists of groups, shows and venues.
  • Tutorials related to making Olympia live music happen.
  • Links to sites that support Olympia Live Music and other resources.
  • Local profile posts and features.
  • Case studies of live music promotion.
  • Issues & Solutions relating to the live-music scene.
  • Comparison posts of artists and venues.
  • True Olympia Live Music Stories.
  • Controversy! (pick a topic, post your thoughts, be absurd and sarcastic)
  • Inspirational Posts – You can do it!.
  • Research & Development of venues and tour circuits.
  • What people are saying (Olympia music gossip).
  • What If Questions
  • Local music parodies.
  • REAL FAQ & SAQ (Frequently Asked Questions – Should Ask Questions)
  • Reviews & Interviews of bands and venue management.
  • Useful E-booklets.
  • Special Reports & Cheat Sheets.
  • Checklists & Infographics.
  • Olympia Live Music Projects & Publications.
  • Open questions to blog readers.
  • Debate starting posts about relevant issues.
  • Presentations of existing debates.
  • Surveys & Polls to aid with promotion of live-music downtown
  • Crash courses and link gathering points to get you playing live ASAP.
  • Twitter post widget.
  • Income/Traffic/Expense reports when required and appropriate.
  • Contests & Drawings for concert tickets.
  • Live music related races and competitions – Most gigs in a certain month, etc.
  • Games & Quizzes.
  • Software, tools, scripts, plugins, themes and services.
  • Olympia Live Music Comics & Jokes!
  • Olympia Live Music graphical freebies like icons and clip-art.
  • Worthwhile presentations of relevant information.
  • Podcast and VLOG!
  • Interviews with local musicians and venue management.
  • Skype rountable talks.
  • Tele-seminars & Webinars.
  • Talking head videos from people with local music opinions.
  • Screencasts of computer procedures that support Olympia Live Music.
  • Presentation videos (some use Power-Point or OpenOffice).
  • Interviews and more interviews!
  • How-to videos from the locals.
  • Recycled “good stuff” repackaged for different mediums.
  • REPLACE KARAOKE WITH LIVE MUSIC WHEREVER POSSIBLE!


  • Wow… That’s a lot of stuff for one guys personal blog huh? Maybe when it gets into a more cohesive form I will transfer the blog to a more descriptive domain but for now this is just in development and it’s just a one man show. Your contributions are welcome and encouraged. In a world where everything is bought and sold it’s hard to build community. Someone has to give a little to get the ball rolling. I’ve dedicated my life to getting the live-music ball rolling in Olympia for quite sometime now and this blog is an extension of that.

    I hope that you will register at http://chuckwest.org/wp-login.php and join the announcement list at http://chuckwest.fanbridge.com/. This project is going to take a while so stay tuned. What do I want out of the deal? I want to play live every night when I’m not watching someone else play (or vice-versa). That’s about it.

    Open-Mic 2012

    I am looking for a good place to host a classy and professional open-mic variety show in Olympia. Our last venue was wildly popular but sadly has passed away.

    Olympia is full of talent with little or no place to express it. When a place does begin to host this type of event it is accepted warmly and is very popular, if it is run professionally. Excellent equipment and experience is mandatory to bring in and retain quality talent and paying customers.

    If you run a bar, tavern or restaurant, or know somebody who does, please contact me at 360-292-7777 or send email to cw@chuckwest.org to discuss details and further action.

    Live Music Anywhere

    I can bring live music to weddings, corporate events, cruises, conventions and parties. A solo musician can be charming and affordable. Call me today for a quote at 360-292-7777 anytime.

    I have a small, simple yet effective sound system suitable for most events. The system can even be run by batteries so a places without power can have live entertainment too. Enjoy a wide variety of songs that are appropriate for almost all occasions. A blend of classic tunes spiced with clever original material keeps things interesting. Some songs can even be tailored to your occasion. Please see the “About” page for more details about features, goals, advantages and next steps.

    Current Song List In HTML Format
    Master List In PDF Format

    I look forward to discussing your requirements and providing service.

    Chuck West
    360-292-7777
    cw@chuckwest.org