Events this week: Music, benefit shows, comedy and more happenings this week

Scott Cossu will bring his own blend of jazz, classical and ethnic/new age music to the stage for an 8 p.m. show Saturday. Come out to Traditions Café and World Folk Art, 300 Fifth Ave. SW, Olympia, to experience the music he affectionately calls “heavy mental” or “cosmic National Geographic.” Tickets are $15, $10 student and low income. Call 360-705-2819 for more information.

Join the Heartsparkle Players in their upcoming show, “Stories of Living Locally,” done in collaboration with Sustainable South Sound. The local troupe brings its talents to important subjects with humor and insight. The evening is in support of Sustainable South Sound, which is an organization of volunteers committed to improving the quality of South Sound life. Come to see the 7:30 p.m. performance Friday (Jan. 8) at Traditions Café and World Folk Art, 300 Fifth Ave. SW, Olympia. Donations will be accepted — $5-$10— but no one will be turned away. For more information, call 360-705-2819.

With music, song, dance and storytelling, “Celtic Nights Spirit of Freedom” honors the story of Irish independence in 1916. The performance portrays the struggle of people fighting to gain democracy. Enjoy it at 5 p.m. Sunday at The Washington Center for Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $32-$54 adults; $29-$49 students, seniors and military; $16-$27 youths, and are available at 360-753-8586 or washingtoncenter.org.

Grace Love and the True Loves celebrate the official release of the “Timeless” single. They will perform in a 9:30 p.m. show Saturday at Rhythm and Rye, 311 Capitol Way N., Olympia. Tickets are $10, $8 students, with net proceeds benefiting the equipment and scholarship funds of the Washington Middle School drum line and Seattle JazzED.

Learn about and support the refugee experience at the special show, “Refugees Welcome Here” at 9 p.m. Friday (Jan. 8). There will be performances by Arrington de Dionyso’s Malaikat dan Singa from Olympia and Like a Villain from Portland. Saraswati Sunindyo from Seattle will talk about her experience and share Sufi songs. It’s all happening at Obsidian, 414 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia. Donations are requested to support refugee organizations, but no one will be turned away.

Make it an intimate evening of laughs when the Comedy in the Box series starts back up at The Washington Center’s Black Box Theater, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. The cabaret-style seating puts you in the middle of the night of comedy for the 21-and-over show at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. All shows feature a headliner act and two opening performances. Tickets are $22, get yours at 360-753-8586 or washingtoncenter.org.

Come out for the opening reception of the new exhibit “Solving for X,” a fine art postcard exhibition at The Gallery at the Minnaert Center for the Arts, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia. This year’s display includes works from artists of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. Each piece will be sold by silent auction at the opening reception from 6-8 p.m. Friday (Jan. 8). There will be a closing reception Feb. 12. All proceeds benefit gallery programming.

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Events this week: Music, benefit shows, comedy and more happenings this week."