SOUNDCHECK ARTISTS & PARTNERS

Alexandra Ephtima Athena Anagnostopoulos (Artist Salon) has been visiting Port Townsend for 20 years, presenting as a cook, street musician, and visual artist. Her latest work, the Outsiders Street Art Project, is the genesis for Jefferson County’s very first non-curated community street art. Sometimes you can see her doing conceptual dance with reality at the places where the sea and air touch.

Tex Armstrong (Performances for the People) Originally from Arlen, TX, Nathan “Tex” Armstrong is a Port Townsend-based singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, producer and founding member of bands Bete Grise and True Reckoning. Drawing from influences ranging from early alternative country (Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Townes Van Zandt) to modern indie folk (Big Thief, Lightweight Champion, Racoma)Tex brings a unique sound to compelling stories of the human experience. 

Jess Berry (Fairground; All Kinds of Workshops: Film Pop-up by PTFF) is a multi-hyphenate award-winning filmmaker living in Los Angeles. Raised on a farm in Indiana, her writing centers on rural American voices, specifically girls and women, and the complicated impact of Midwest culture on self-identity and relationships. Select work includes Daughters (Audience Choice Award at Indy Shorts) and Changing the Game (Tribeca Premiere, Hulu). In addition to writing and producing, Jess is also a trained Chicago theater actor with multiple credits. She is a proud Women In Film member and a select Women In Film Mentorship Program participant. Jess received her BFA at Miami University, Ohio, and is part of the Roadmap Writer’s Career Writer Program.

Leila Block (Peformances for the People) is a multidisciplinary artist working through visual art, music, and film. Her creative practice is grounded in an ongoing exploration of Health, Hope, Happiness, Harmony, and Humor — themes she expects will inspire her work for a lifetime. She seeks to embody these ideas, both in daily life and in creative expression. 

Boiler Room String Band (Peformances for the People) is an all-youth string band formed at the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in 2025 . They play traditional tunes, with an emphasis on old time and cajun-french genres. One of their largest inspirations is The Onlies, who taught them many of their favorite songs. You can follow them on Instagram @boilerroomstringband and email them at boilerroomstringband@gmail.com

Brother Townsend (All Original, All Local Music Concert) is the long running project of the band’s songwriter and lead singer, Brett Townsend. The band draws from country, rock, folk and blues traditions to produce an original sound that is unique yet somehow familiar. Heartfelt lyrics combined with virtuoso instrumentals and powerful vocals get folks on their feet, dancing and singing along.

Straight out of Port Townsend High School! Chloroform Rags (All Original, All Local Music Concert) is a punk band with ska, folk and rock influences. Members Ben Shafer, CJ Fisher, Sol Kennedy and Zeke Banks are a high energy team who will  blow your mind with their original songs and creative covers of classic hits.

Mike and Suzie Croy (Creation Station: Community Mural) the husband‑and‑wife team behind Park Avenue Studio, are lifelong artists dedicated to serving and strengthening Port Townsend’s creative community. After years of making their own work — Suzie as a fiber artist who transforms upcycled clothing into visual art, and Mike as a painter, muralist, and designer — they opened Park Avenue Studio in 2025 to give local artists a reliable, community‑minded source for materials.

Drea DiPrete (Artist Salon) is a multi-disciplinary artist who creates from their camper in the woods Port Townsend, WA. Most recently, their work has been taking the form of surrealist paintings and surface pattern design, drenched in color and symbolism.

Tony Doupé (A Fateful Weekend; All Kinds of Workshops: Film Pop-up by PTFF) is a SAG-AFTRA actor and producer with an MFA from the California Institute of the Arts. He has directed two feature films and multiple shorts. A successful actor for over 34 years in LA, New Orleans, and Seattle, he has been teaching and coaching actors for 25 years, both privately and at the college level. Hecurrently serves as the Film/Theatre Department Chair, at Shoreline Community College.

Ronald Lamont Canfield is an author and screenwriter. A Fateful Weekend is his debut short film as both screenwriter & executive producer. In his pre-writing career he performed federal “possible incident” investigations. He utilizes these techniques in his mystery writings.

Annie Ferguson (Erwin; All Kinds of Workshops: Film Pop-up by PTFF) has been a video producer and director in Washington state for about 25 years, mostly making short videos for local companies and foundations. Between work assignments, she likes to make short videos of interesting people she meets. She is currently making baby steps toward a long-form documentary about community radio.

Danielle Fodor (Creation Station: Button Bonanza) is a visual artist who illustrates vibrant visions of today and tomorrow. She has worked with hundreds of volunteers to paint murals and public plazas, designed giant puppets and banners, and written and illustrated indie comics and zines. Her work transforms reality by celebrating common ground, amplifying community voices, and nourishing the connections between people, place, and the natural world. She lives in Irondale.

Rufina C. Garay (Performances for the People; All Kinds of Workshops: Generative Poetry) is Port Townsend’s 2026-2027 Poet Laureate. A poet, advocate, food writer, painter, pie lover, culinary artist, and practitioner of Taoist meditative arts in which poetry is a healing practice, she is the founder of “Shattering Glass,” an ever-evolving curation of established and emergent poets from the Olympic Peninsula who amplify social and environmental justice issues.

Director, Producer, Writer, Editor: Cheri Gaulke (Old Girl in a Tutu; All Kinds of Workshops: Film Pop-up by PTFF) is a pioneer in the feminist art movement in Los Angeles and an award-winning filmmaker whose films have screened in film festivals internationally. Gaulke has received artist fellowships from National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, City of Los Angeles, California Community Foundation, and California Humanities. She is currently in post-production on her first feature documentary, Acting Like Women, about feminist performance art and the Woman’s Building in 1970s-80s Los
Angeles.

Gabrielle Gribbin (In the Round DJ Dance Party) Dancer, movement facilitator, DJ and producer of Port Townsend’s “Peninsula Ecstatic” dance – Gabrielle Gribbin invites our inner dance outward – to be felt, expressed, and released. With deep earthy bass setting the foundation for her sets, emotive and momentous soundscapes drive her inspiration while poetic melodies and orchestral tones bring us closer to our hearts. Human emotions are her ultimate muse; she calls upon the power of spoken word and moving lyrics to speak to our humanity and weave a connective experience for all.

Michelle Hagewood (All Kinds of Workshops: Pop-up Maker Fair) is a interdisciplinary artist working between traditional and tech-based mediums. In addition to her current studio practice, she is Associate Creative Director at Wooly Games, a Port Townsend-based video game studio run by fiber artist and animator, Andrea Love, who is making a felted stop-motion video game.

Zinnia Hansen (Performances for the People)  is a poet and essayist from the Pacific Northwest. She majored Classics and history at the University of Washington. She served as the 2021-2022 Seattle Youth Poet Laureate, and is the author of Spikenard, 2022, Poetry NW Editions. She has another book forthcoming in Spring 2026 with the Spanish poetry press Valparaiso Ediciones. The book will feature facing Spanish translations done by students of Spanish literature at UW. She has also worked as a staff writer for UW’s student newspaper, the Daily, where she published a column, Agora, exploring the experience of reading Plato’s dialogues as a modern college student. Her work has been published in various magazines and online publications including Circulo de Poesia, The Call Center Collective, and Rattle Magazine. 

Mark Hardy (In the Round DJ Dance Party) is a DJ, producer, and cultural organizer based on the Kitsap Peninsula. He is the founder of As Above, So Below, a local music and arts festival, and is known for creating inclusive, community-focused dance experiences that bring people together through music, movement, and shared space.

logan henderson (Performances for the People) is a bridge at the interstice between grief and love. A reluctant poet, attempting to be an avid steward of care to the abandoned, forgotten, and dismissed. logan is fed by community and cookies. 

LOWIRE (All Original, All Local Music Concert). Imagine a seasoned funk rhythm section so tight it could cut glass, paired with a young guitar shredder, and a horn section that’s pure fire. Add a sultry vocal powerhouse bursting with original songs, and you’ve got LOWIRE, Port Townsend’s homegrown jazz-infused funk band.

Jordan Lucas (All Kinds of Workshops: Pop-up Maker Fair) has been a professional artist for 20 years and most of that time has been spent working in TV and games. After graduating with a BA in Illustration from Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, he worked with Sucker Punch Productions on their hit series “Sly Cooper”. After launching “Sly 3” and working at some other start-ups, most notably Loose Cannon Studios, he ended up at PopCap Games. At PopCap, he was art lead and art director on several games, like “Solitaire Blitz” and “Plants vs Zombies: Heroes”. Throughout, he has been a freelance illustrator in the world of comics and tabletop games, working for companies such as DC Comics and Xeko Cards. Most recently, he has been a storyboard artist at Cartuna Animation, working on titles such as the “Avatar: The Last Airbender” chibi shorts and “Genevieve’s Playhouse”.

DJ LunchLady (In the Round DJ Dance Party) Serving Beats Hot, Fresh, and Funky — don’t let the hairnet fool you—DJ LunchLady is dishing out more than just cafeteria classics. This beat-slinger has been turning tables and turning heads with a flavor-packed mix of throwback jams, guilty pleasures, and bass-heavy bangers that’ll leave your ears begging for seconds.

Tyler Maitland (All Kinds of Workshops: Pop-up Maker Fair) is a 3D Artist and Animator with 13 years of experience in the game industry. He has shipped 14 games in his career, working with companies such as Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Warner Bros. and Nickelodeon. Most recently, what began as a personal passion project, Seafrog, evolved into a full-time endeavor after securing a publisher, ultimately leading to the incredible milestone of shipping his own game.

Nu Crew (Creation Station) is a student-run DJ collective based at Port Townsend High School, bringing youthful energy, creative risk-taking, and genre-bending sound to community events across the Olympic Peninsula. Founded in 2024 as a high school club under faculty mentorship, Nu Crew gives students real-world professional experience in music curation, live sound, collaboration, and performance—while encouraging them to develop their own creative voices. Led by crew captain DJ Sodeo, the collective includes DJ Ango, DJ Brapz, DJ JohnN, DJ CHUDStep, and DJ Chain. Together, they are learning teamwork, adaptability, and reading a room—skills that matter as much offstage as on it.

Thea O’Dell (All Kinds of Workshops: Pop-up Maker Fair) I am a hobbyist animator who loves bringing my imagination to life. My favorite thing to animate is music videos. My approach is very experimental and roundabout, which I enjoy, even though I know there are probably easier ways to do it. But that’s what art is about, sharing my own visual voice. And having fun.

Jessica Plumb (Managed to Extinction; All Kinds of Workshops: Film Pop-up by PTFF) is an award-winning filmmaker and writer known for exploring the relationship between people, and the land and waters that sustain us. She is the Producer and Co-Director of the feature documentary Return of the River, chronicling the Elwha River restoration project. Her video production company produces short films on environmental topics for clients. Her recent work includes short films addressing the shared extinction threat facing Southern Resident Killer Whales and Chinook salmon in the Salish Sea. Jessica is based on the Olympic Peninsula, close to wilderness and waters she loves. Her writing can be seen in Orion Magazine and other publications. She holds a B.A. from Yale University and an interdisciplinary MFA from Goddard College.

Charley Pope (All Kinds of Workshops: Pop-up Maker Fair) is the Head Writer and Loremaster at thatgamecompany, where he shepherds narrative development for all game and animated content. After a decade in animation development, Charley joined the studio as its first full-time game writer in 2022–initially scripting the series Sky: The Two Embers before expanding his role to Narrative Designer for Sky: Children of the Light. Driven by a passion for immersion and worldbuilding, Charley crafts character-driven stories designed to transport, transform, and leave the world a little brighter than he found it.

Port Townsend High School Culinary Cruiser (Pope Marine Park, Saturday Afternoon) is a student-run food truck that specializes in locally grown delicious food. Our program serves Jefferson County through education and community meals.

Port Townsend High School AV Club (Creation Station: Community Photobooth Collage)

Victoria Power (Port Townsend Art Awards, Trophy Artist) Victoria Power is a Port Townsend-based ceramic artist, and founded Port Townsend Potters Guild in 2022. She graduated in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in fine art and a minor in art history from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Mainly focused on the nuances that are the building blocks in our environments, Victoria sculpts work that is reminiscent of the microscopic forms and textures that often pass us by.

PT Youth Theatre Ensemble (Performances for the People) is a joint partnership program between Port Townsend Youth Theatre, a nonprofit united by the belief that kids can achieve great feats, PTYT offers youth classes, camps, and full stage productions that aim to transform lives; Mandala Center for Change, founded in 1999, is a multi-disciplinary arts and education organization dedicated to social justice, community dialogue, societal healing and transformation; and OCEAN K-12 School, a public school partnership with families and our community that provides an alternative learning environment where each student develops the knowledge, skills and self-confidence to become creative, successful and engaged citizens.

Mary Purdy (All Kinds of Workshops: Free Flow Dance Funk) has been taking and studying dance as a hobby for 25+ years.  Her first career was in the theater which included numerous performances in musical theater shows including Cabaret, Little Shop of Horrors, Evita, Oklahoma and Grease as well as numerous solo shows that included movement and physical comedy. She currently teaches “Dance Club” dance class, a fusion of funk-jazz and hip-hop inspired movement in Port Townsend and has developed her own free flow funk style characterized by lively, energetic movements that include both humor and sensuality. She has performed her solo work at Danceworks and the Bill Evans Conference.  

Liz Storm (Performances for the People) is a 2023 Port Townsend High School graduate with a family who has deep roots in Jefferson County. She is the 6th generation of her family to be raised here. Liz is a natural artist in many ways. Her papa taught her how to first draw native designs and then taught her how to carve those designs on hard wood. She also loves to draw and paint and write powerful poetry that stems from her personal life experiences. Liz is currently a Junior at Central Washington University where she is studying Physical Education, Secondary Education, ASL and History.

Nan Toby Feldman Tyrrell (Performances for the People) moved to Port Townsend in 1990, relocating from Burlington, Vermont. She graduated Bard College where she learned the power of using words and playing music. Her life was centered on raising her son, being a single mother, and going to graduate school. She earned a Masters of Arts at the University of Arizona and another degree in Teaching English as a Second Language. The power of poetry has always been the place where she goes to widen her imagination. Her life here has given her deep roots and connections. Born in a small town in New Jersey, she relishes her early life and the love of her parents for giving her the strength to overcome challenges! As she ages, she is grateful for the opportunities to share her voice with others.

Brooke Weber (she/her) (Performances for the People)  is a ten-year resident of Port Townsend— hailing originally from the dry high-deserts of Arizona. Family is a central theme of Brooke’s poetry as she works to unravel the knotted threads of the personal & the universal. Her poetic account “My Killer Big Toe” featured in Port Townsend’s own Heart Stories storytelling event. When not playing with words Brooke paints large with acrylics, small with watercolors, & generally avoids reality by reading. You may find her walking at night, because she loves all the qualities of light found in the dark. 

Marc Weinblatt (Performances for the People) has been a professional educator, theatre director, activist, and workshop facilitator since 1980 having extensive experience with both adults and youth. An internationally recognized leader in the use of Augusto Boal’s renowned Theater of the Oppressed (T.O.) to stimulate community dialogue and social change, Marc has worked with diverse communities around the world ranging from police to homeless youth, grassroots organizers and laborers to University deans. He is Artistic Director of PT Youth Theatre and Founder/Co-Director of Mandala Center for Change.

Austin Wilson (Counterweight; All Kinds of Workshops: Film Pop-up by PTFF) is a Southern-born, Seattle-based filmmaker. He’s directed award-winning commercial work for a diverse group of ad agencies and brands. His short films and music documentaries have screened at prestigious festivals. Driven by a passion for authentic narratives, Austin often focuses his lens on compelling true stories, capturing the essence of the people he features in his work.

Christian Sorensen Hansen is a photographer and director from Seattle. He creates narrative imagery that reflects the complexity and splendor of human experience. His work often explores the surreal, creating a sense that the line between fact and fiction may be malleable. Austin and Christian have been friends and creative collaborators for over a decade. Their mutual interest in architecture and design brought them together for this project. They both just so happen to also be Olson Kundig super fans.

Wizard (All Original, All Local Music Concert) is an alternative rock band fronted by George Yoder, a local guitar master with strong songwriting chops. The band is passionate about honest artistic expression and committed to keeping the flame of original music alive on the Olympic Peninsula.

The City of Port Townsend (Soundcheck Organizer) is a beautiful, small town with a rich history and thriving arts scene, set against the backdrop of uniquely preserved Victorian buildings, the Olympic Mountains, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Port Townsend Bay. 

EnjoyPT (Soundcheck Organizer) is Port Townsend’s official tourism hub. It invites visitors to get steeped in Port Townsend’s arts and culture, fascinating history and outdoor adventure. Come experience this historic seaport with an artistic soul. Boasting world-class restaurants, beaches, festivals and dark skies, Port Townsend is the perfect place to rejuvenate the senses and experience wonder.

The Jefferson County Beacon (Programming and Media Partner) is an independent publication launched in late 2024 with a mission to help Jefferson County stay informed with stories of local significance while amplifying the culture and strengthening community resiliency.

Centrum (Programming and Venue Partner) is a non-profit organization with the mission to foster creative arts experiences that change lives. Located in Fort Worden State Park, it connects people across disciplines and generations through workshops, residencies, and performances, fostering a community that is supportive, challenging, and uplifting.

The Food Co-op (Programming Partner) is a full-service organic foods market providing affordable organic foods to everyone-every day! We are a member-owned consumer cooperative serving our community since 1972. Working hard for our co-owners, employees and our local economy.

Jefferson County Fairgrounds (Programming and Venue Partner) is committed to providing a safe and friendly place to host the County Fair and events and activities that promote local agriculture and arts, education, youth development and community building for the entire county.

The dream is to grow The Kitchen (Community Pasta Feed) at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds into a vibrant hub for culinary education, where locals and youth alike can learn, share, and flourish. Rooted in accessibility and community spirit, it brings people together to connect over food, fostering passion, creativity, and connection at the heart of Jefferson County. More than a kitchen, it’s a gathering place where knowledge and flavor unite to strengthen our community.

KPTZ (Media Partner) builds and strengthens community throughout the Northeast Olympic Peninsula by actively engaging listeners through high quality community radio programming that is educational, entertaining, and service oriented.

Northwind Art (Programming Partner) is a nonprofit organization that puts artists at the heart of all we do. Our mission: Empowering meaningful connections through art. Cultivating creativity. Growing artists.

Park Avenue Studio (Programming Partner) is a creative space that provides fine art supplies to the public and custom creations by our in-house artists in Port Townsend, Washington.

Planted (Programming Partner) offers nourishing plant-based foods with ingredients that are locally sourced from the Olympic Peninsula.

Port Townsend American Legion (Venue Partner) Marvin G. Shields Memorial Post 26 works in the community in a number of ways. It assists veterans and their families, awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors in Jefferson County, and provides ceremonial support with a bugler and rifle unit for funerals and other veteran ceremonies throughout the northern Olympic Peninsula, among other services. It is also a community meeting place, with one of the largest venues in Jefferson County for health screenings, dances, Rhody Festival planning, Heritage Festival events, Port Townsend Film Festival showings, the Woodcarvers Festival and Brewfest, youth events (such as skate night), and many others.

The Port Townsend Arts Commission (Port Townsend Art Awards) is a City Council Advisory Board which facilitates public arts programs to enhance the cultural life of community residents. It manages several civic initiatives to support the arts, including Grants to Artists, annual Art Awards, the Port Townsend Poet Laureate Program, and the City’s Public Art Collection.

Port Townsend Film Festival (Programming Partner) is a nonprofit organization which presents film and film festivals, supports and nurtures filmmakers, and hosts educational and artistic programming through and about the medium of film. It’s mission is Sparking Community Through Film.

Port Townsend Main Street (Programming Partner) preserves, promotes, and enhances Port Townsend’s historic business districts.

Port Townsend Original Music Society (Programming Partner) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support, promote and celebrate original music artists in the North Olympic Peninsula.

The Port Townsend Public Library (Programming Partner) has provided access to lifelong learning since it founding in 1898 and has been housed in a historic Carnegie Library building for the last 113 years. The Library’s mission is about, “Uplifting our community through reading, learning, connection, and creativity.”

Port Townsend Public Library Friends & Foundation (Programming Partner) supports our library by raising funds for programs and capital projects, volunteering, and promoting the library to benefit the Port Townsend community.

The Production Alliance (Programming and Production Partner) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Port Townsend with one goal: to connect people through creativity and collaboration, rooted in a strong sense of place. We’ve been working with artists, volunteers, and community partners to create meaningful experiences that last long after the final song.

Rainshadow Recording (Programming Partner) is a full service recording studio, offering both analog and digital formats, as well as concert promotion and production services. Situated in the former power plant at Fort Worden State Park, we offer musicians and producers a relaxed, creative environment surrounded by the history of Port Townsend at Fort Worden.

Velocity Port Townsend (Venue Partner) makes a mean latte. Don’t sleep on Bob’s burnt blueberry banana bread with butter.

Wurm Wares

Saltfire Theatre