BREAKING NEWS :

Kent City Council cuts casino gambling tax rate

Fiddling poet comes to Kent with musical troupe

Ken Waldman has drawn on his 25 years in Alaska to produce poems, stories and fiddle tunes that combine into a performance uniquely his own. - Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo
Ken Waldman has drawn on his 25 years in Alaska to produce poems, stories and fiddle tunes that combine into a performance uniquely his own.

January 24, 2013 · Updated 10:37 AM 

Ken Waldman, Alaska's Fiddling Poet, makes his first Seattle-area appearance in two years, playing Friday, Jan. 25, at Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center for the Kent Spotlight Series.

Waldman joins eight stellar musicians for the 7:30 p.m. show, "From Kent To Kodiak."

He will host an evening of variety that connects the grandeur of Puget Sound to that of Alaska. Waldman combines old-time Appalachian-style fiddling, original poetry and mostly Alaska-set storytelling for a performance uniquely his. The Denver Post calls his mix of words and music "Renegade Americana."

The show also includes: Seattle old-time string-band, The Tallboys, featuring Charmaine Slaven, Charlie Beck, John Hurd and WB Reid; two Massachusetts clawhammer banjo players and Irish flute players, Mark Roberts and Andrea Cooper; southern Oregon fiddler, piper and storyteller Kevin Carr; and Portland banjo player, guitarist, singer and percussive dancer Leela Grace.

Tickets are $18 for general audience, $15 for seniors and $10 for youth, available in advance, and at the door. Call 253-856-5051 or visit kentwa.gov/arts/spotlight for more information.

Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center is at 10020 S.E. 256th St., Kent.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.

So keep your comments:

  • Civil
  • Smart
  • On-topic
  • Free of profanity

We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters. We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please refer to our Terms of Use for full detail on participating on our site.