Olympia Music History Project to kick off summer series with rock opera screening
A never-before-seen video of a rock opera that was written and performed at the Capitol Theater 25 years ago will be screened at the Olympia Timberland Library at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 28.
Markly Morrison said the screening will kick off a series of events organized by the Olympia Music History Project to raise awareness of the legacy of the local music scene.
Morrison, one of the founders of the nonprofit behind the project, said the July 28 event will honor the 25th anniversary of “The Transfused,” which was a rock opera produced by about 100 community members in the year 2000. It ran for eight packed nights at the Capitol Theater, he said.
According to the event listing, the rock opera explored themes of queerness, gender diversity, disability, addiction, environmental destruction, corporate corruption and resistance. Footage of the rock opera has never been screened.
Morrison said there will be live performances of some of the songs from the show as well.
The screening will be followed by an ephemera show and tell, and a panel discussion with people who made the rock opera.
Masks are strongly encouraged at the event and will be available at the library front desk. There will be a virtual option for people who can’t make it in person. You can register online.
The following Sunday, Aug. 3, will be the Scherler Sundays Olympia Music History Project showcase. Beginning at 1 p.m. outside Three Magnets Brewing Company will be a concert series featuring music predominantly from artists who were active in Olympia from the 1980s to the early 2000s.
Morrison said the series will include bands that haven’t played in decades and are reuniting for the first time, including Some Velvet Sidewalk, which Morrison said hasn’t performed since 1998. Pet Products, Olympia’s first punk band that formed in 1982, will be performing a reunion show.
Morrison said the event is free and will also feature local vendors in the adjacent alley.
He said the nonprofit also will have booths set up at the South Sound Block Party on Aug. 22-23, as well as the Northern Sky Festival on Steamboat Island on Sept. 5-6.
Morrison said the primary reason for setting up at these events is to continue raising awareness of the legacy of Olympia’s music scene. He said the work they’re doing helps keep the legacy alive for the next generation.
He said he’s excited the project is able to keep going, and that’s been made possible by Inspire Olympia grants that have been provided by the city for the past two years.
“I feel like it’s just really special that we’re able to unearth and preserve a lot of this stuff that may have otherwise been left in the ether,” Morrison said.
He said nine new musician interviews will be added to the project website before the end of the summer. He said they plan to host more events in the future where people can bring in ephemera to be scanned for the archive.
Morrison also runs an oral history music program that airs on the radio at 4 p.m. Fridays on KAOS 89.3.
Morrison said the nonprofit is still accepting donations from the public to help keep the work going. He said there will be new merchandise available for purchase at all the upcoming events as well.
.jpg)