Some of Seattle’s best musicians and artists live in Seattle so it seemed like only a matter of time until the arts and music community across the bridge got its own geographically specific advocate. That advocate is The West, a group of West Seattle business owners and event organizers who created an organization dedicated to promoting arts and music in West Seattle.
Saturday night The West officially launched with a secretive party highlighted by free drinks, free food and free live music by three of Seattle’s finest groups of musicians. Unfortunately I wasn’t feeling well so I wasn’t able to attend the kickoff shindig, which is a shame because it featured sets Brent Amaker and the Rodeo, My Goodness and Reignwolf, all favorites here at Guerrilla Candy HQ. However, the folks over at the West Seattle Herald were on hand (which is where the video above came from) and they got the scoop on what it is The West hopes to do and how they hope to accomplish their goals. From The West Seattle Herald:
Formed by a variety of West Seattle businesspeople and organizers The West aims to be the prime mover behind art events of all kinds, and all sizes. Among the organizers and members of the core group are Oliver Little of The Workshop (the people who handle Summerfest every year), Lora Swift of Hotwire Coffeehouse and Swift Media Services, Brent Amacher of State Farm Insurance and his band Brent Amaker and the Rodeo, Jeff Gilbert of Feedback Lounge, Cary Kemp of Pizzeria 22, Ben Jenkins of Shadowland, Matt Vaughn of Easy Street Records Jessie Summa-Kusiak of the Skylark Cafe and others.
Little said, “What we’re hoping to do is eventually be able to do bigger shows, the size of something like West Seattle Summerfest. Ultimately what we want to do is just be able to have enough money to be able to present art and help other people present art …
The West’s next event is tentatively planned for March 31. You can keep tabs on The West and its plans for promoting the West Seattle arts community by liking its Facebook page. Additional coverage of The West’s launch party can be found at West Seattle Blog.
