SOU’WESTER EVENTS!
Discover what’s happening during your next stay or plan a visit around our free live music, workshops, wellness offerings and more!
Solstice at Sou’wester
Acupuncture + Sound Bath
“Sound Dérive (Drift)”
An Embodied-Listening-Acupuncture-Sound Bathing-Fluxus-Art-Exercise with Unity Garnish x Feast of The Epiphany
Wednesday, Dec 20, 2023 | 6-7:30pm
For this unique group “sound bathing” experience we are invoking the 1960s French Fluxus Art Exercise of the “Dérive (Drift)”, which in essence describes a meditation through which one is invited to “get lost on purpose”, in order to facilitate an embodied state of inspiration and wellbeing crafted through the blending of multiple creative mediums. Utilizing sound, visual art and the option of gentle acupuncture, participants will be guided to reset and renew into an evolution of self. In the vein of Brian Eno’s Oblique Strategies, individuals will leave with a one of a kind art object to carry the experience with them into life and the remainder of their time at the Sou’Wester.
Solstice at Sou’wester
Quadraphonic Acupuncture & Sound Bath
With Star Child x Sonic Ceremonies
Winter Solstice | Thursday, December 21st | 3-4:30pm
Collective Release Fire
Outside in the trailer court in front of the lodge, we will gather into an expanded moment of presence with the weight of the world, a time of reverence through lively celebration of the complexity of existence in togetherness, where whatever wishes to unfold may do so naturally through the intentional lighting of a fire. There will be pieces of paper and pens on which to write and reflect and then offer the writings into the fire, instruments with which we can play, and an invitation to donate whatever resources are available, financial or otherwise, to Source Food and Goods, a group offering community aid to the local Palestinian community in Portland, OR .
*No drinks in public. Quiet hours after 10p.
Maria DeHart
Live at The Sou’wester
Presented by Sou’wester Arts
Since her early days of musical performance, Maria DeHart has been on a continuous journey of building her sound. Starting in 2018, the Portland, Oregon-based artist has traveled through a few distinct phases, going from acoustic songwriter to loop-pedal expert to full band frontperson. Her newest release, an EP called “Win Some, Lose Everyone” on the east coast-based indie label Self Aware Records, is a brief yet strong run of filled-out songs that signals a development in DeHart’s self-actualization. While prepping for its release, DeHart came to the realization that this would be the perfect time to adopt an official name for her project, Myriads, which nowadays includes much collaboration and feels significantly bigger than just herself.
Recorded mostly in her bedroom and a backyard practice space belonging to her bandmate and partner Sean Cooper, the four tracks that make up the EP build off of her acoustic beginnings and introduce a heavier and fuller sound to DeHart’s musical repertoire. She enlisted emo legend Peter Helmis, a good friend and musical collaborator, to mix the tracks and Chris Baglivo, a Philly-based audio engineer, musician, and producer, to master them. Her production choices are no coincidence; DeHart’s music has a place in the universe of today’s emo and shoegaze revival. In the sharp, overdriven guitar riffs and verbed-out vocals, you can hear her influences– there are distinct nods to bands like Tigers Jaw, Pity Sex, and Turnover. Above all, in her authentically vulnerable lyrics and thoughtful storytelling, she pays homage to the work of today’s influential femme artists, including Snail Mail, Waxahatchee, Phoebe Bridgers, and Wednesday.
DeHart is proud to be a part of the world of non-male musicians writing thoughtful and heartfelt music that communicates strength and badassery. At the same time, she writes about the struggle of living with a marginalized identity; in the EP’s concluding track, “Whore,” she explores the reality of navigating relationships as a sex worker. Her lyrics hit like a truck; during the musical and emotional climax of the track, she laments, “Thought that nobody would want me / worn out body, I’m a whore.” DeHart’s intentional emotional transparency, sometimes painfully honest and always woven together with meticulously layered instrumentation, compels listeners to enter a dreamy, introspective space that encourages them to open up, explore, and just rock out.
OPEN HOUSE
Join us at our community Ceramics Studio & Art Gallery, Ilwaco Artworks
Jan, 1st 2024 | 3-7p
Open to all! Come see what we’re up to, tour our ceramics studio, browse our art gallery or bring a friend and get into some pottery! There will be snacks & great vibes.
Set the mood for 2024 by making a creative start to the New Year! Play with clay at our studio drop-in rate of $30/person from 3-7p. Clay/glazes/firing for one wareboard of work included! *Larger work will be charged an additional firing space fee.
109 FIRST AVENUE NORTH ILWACO, WA
Jan 6 – Feb 9
Basic Handbuilding Workshop Series: “In the Kitchen”
w/Shelly Hedges $250
Make your own dinnerware, serving platters, and storage containers in this beginning handbuilding class. Demonstrations will include slab-building, coil techniques, press molds, and glazing methods.
Includes:
- One 25lb bag of clay.
- Open studio access for the duration of class.
Saturdays, 10a – 1p
- Jan 6th – Place Settings
- Jan 13th – Serving Bowls & Platters
- Jan 20th – Lidded Jars and Utensil Crocks
- Jan 27th – Pitchers & creamers
- Feb 3rd – Glazing
- + Friday Feb 9th – Potluck Show & Tell! 6-8p
Location: Ilwaco Artworks
Tomo Nakayama Live at the Sou’wester
“When music journalists say things like ‘this artist is a fixture in Seattle music,’ there’s probably no one right now who fits that title better than Nakayama.” – KEXP
Born in Japan and raised in Seattle, Washington, Tomo Nakayama is an artist whose melodic, complex and emotionally compelling music has been praised by NPR, New York Times, and The Stranger. Beginning as frontman of the indie rock bands Asahi and Grand Hallway and a successful solo career spanning two decades as a singer, songwriter, composer, producer, actor, and curator, Nakayama has become one of the most active and recognizable figures in Seattle music.
After the critically acclaimed indie-folk albums “Fog on the Lens” and “Pieces of Sky” (named “Best Folk Act” by Seattle Weekly), Nakayama surprised his fans by releasing his latest album “Melonday” (on Porchlight Records), a collection of instantly memorable and undeniably danceable synthpop songs. Co-produced by Yuuki Matthews (The Shins, Sufjan Stevens) and mastered by Dave Cooley (M83, Paramore, Tame Impala), “Melonday” was named one of the Top Albums of the year by Seattle Times, KEXP, and Seattle Met Magazine, and debuted at #1 on KEXP’s NW Charts. The following year he composed the music for Megan Griffith’s feature film “I’ll Show You Mine” and the KUOW podcast “Ten Thousand Things” hosted by Shin Yu Pai, and collaborated on a song with Dave Matthews for SMASH (Seattle Musicians Access to Sustainable Healthcare).
Nakayama has toured across the US and Japan, sharing the stage with Built to Spill, Thao, Cornelius, Daði Freyr, Fleet Foxes, Michael Hurley, Sons of Kemet, Ben Gibbard, Fruit Bats, Damien Jurado, Buffalo Daughter, Wye Oak, and Shugo Tokumaru. He has performed and collaborated with Sera Cahoone, Jherek Bischoff, Jeremy Enigk (of Sunny Day Real Estate), and experimental dance company Malacarne. He also composed music and appeared as an actor in the Lynn Shelton film “Touchy Feely” with Elliot Page and Rosemarie DeWitt. A former Artist in Residence at Seattle’s Town Hall, his sound installations and compositions have also been featured at the Museum of Northwest Art and Wing Luke Museum.
Jan 6 – Feb 9
Basic Handbuilding Workshop Series: “In the Kitchen”
w/Shelly Hedges $250
Make your own dinnerware, serving platters, and storage containers in this beginning handbuilding class. Demonstrations will include slab-building, coil techniques, press molds, and glazing methods.
Includes:
- One 25lb bag of clay.
- Open studio access for the duration of class.
Saturdays, 10a – 1p
- Jan 6th – Place Settings
- Jan 13th – Serving Bowls & Platters
- Jan 20th – Lidded Jars and Utensil Crocks
- Jan 27th – Pitchers & creamers
- Feb 3rd – Glazing
- + Friday Feb 9th – Potluck Show & Tell! 6-8p
Location: Ilwaco Artworks
Nevada Sowle Live at the Sou’wester
You’d expect most musicians from Northern Idaho to be immovably rooted in folk, country, and Americana stylings, but Nevada Sowle doesn’t let that landlocked positioning define his sound. Constantly seeking to find new tones both acoustic & electronic, unique yet familiar, Sowle’s catalogue fits most snuggly into the category of Pop – but don’t let that word deter you if you’re a stickler for quality lyrical content and well-thought-out composition. Having spent the past few years recording and touring the west coast with acts like Bart Budwig, Desolation Horse, MAITA, Joseph Hein, and An American Forrest, Sowle has found time in between green rooms and sound booths to develop a style that will help define the sound and style of the Pacific Northwest.
Jan 6 – Feb 9
Basic Handbuilding Workshop Series: “In the Kitchen”
w/Shelly Hedges $250
Make your own dinnerware, serving platters, and storage containers in this beginning handbuilding class. Demonstrations will include slab-building, coil techniques, press molds, and glazing methods.
Includes:
- One 25lb bag of clay.
- Open studio access for the duration of class.
Saturdays, 10a – 1p
- Jan 6th – Place Settings
- Jan 13th – Serving Bowls & Platters
- Jan 20th – Lidded Jars and Utensil Crocks
- Jan 27th – Pitchers & creamers
- Feb 3rd – Glazing
- + Friday Feb 9th – Potluck Show & Tell! 6-8p
Location: Ilwaco Artworks