MAX HAY

Cult-classic road machine, Max Hay, delights audiences with madly entertaining stage antics and and expert musicianship. After 10 years of constant touring, his shows are a polished departure from the typical solo pub act. A double dose of comedy is balanced by expressive musicianship as Max shifts smoothly between genres and styles. Max's delivery is a workout of stomping feet, emotional harmonica runs, articulate hybrid-style guitar, and occasional percussion. Expect Reggae, Irish, Country, and Blues rhythms mixed with soulful bass vocals and sailing harmonica leads. Carbondale Rocks says "Hay’s act blends music and comedy in creative ways, incorporating stories, anecdotes, and a degree of fun and spontaneity not often found in most live shows." The Missoula Independent simply says, "Hay Wails."

Playing upwards of 200 shows per year since 2008, Max's act is forged and tempered in the crucible of a thousand dimly lit bars. A pillar of the working-class music scene, Max strives to provide quality entertainment with a good time as the first priority.
He has entertained audiences throughout the USA, China, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand. His travelogue includes a slew of bars, nightclubs, festivals, fairs, restaurants, Irish Pubs, and private events. Nightly performances at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai and a 7-month stint as vocalist and multi-instrumentalist for the Australian “Sand Bar Band,” brought his music to a truly worldwide audience. Often, in the winter months, Max can be found performing a nightly show at McGuire's Irish Pubs in Destin and Pensacola, FL.

TIME3JAZZ

Bassist Tim Eslick is the longest tenured musician at the Rockfish Grill. His trio, TimE3Jazz, features Andy Carr on piano, Tim on bass and Todd Anderson on drums. They play great jazz standards and are frequently joined by special guest players.

EL COLONEL

For the past 20 plus years, Curran "El Colonel" Stromberg has been playing blues music of all shades at festivals, clubs, showcase theaters, and private events across Washington state, including a straight one-hour-forty-five-minute "Tribute To Stevie Ray Vaughan" show at local clubs and casinos. He has earned a large following in the western part of the state, including Seattle, the musical mecca of the Northwest. He loves to play "da blues" in its purest form, captivating the hungry ears of audiences and leaving them wanting more. El Colonel's uniquely gritty, soul-stirring vocals earned him two nominations for "Best Male Vocalist" with the Washington Blues Societies. He also won Best Blues Awards in 2006 and 2008.

"That boy can really play!" - Cash McCall, Muddy Waters Band

"Colonel plays sterling solos and sings great, too." - Bob Horn, Washington Blues Society

"Great band, lots of soul, and lots of traditional blues grooves." - CD Reviews Magazine

JANIE CRIBBS and the T.RUST BAND

Janie Cribbs and the T.Rust Band have been together for five years playing numerous sold-out and SRO shows at various venues across Washington State. Well known for their intimate up-close and personal performances in smaller rooms, they also love to play out-of-doors for Community Street Dances and ticketed Winery concerts. They have been the featured crowd-pleasing Band in Washington cities such as Anacortes, Freeland, LaConner, Langley, Port Townsend, Spokane, Westport and beyond, remembered long after the lights go down for their infectious Roots, Blues and memorable mesmerizing Americana music.

Janie Cribbs & T.Rust Band is a mix of powerhouse vocals laced with gorgeous gritty guitar featuring original soulful songs, compelling stories and blues-drenched licks all laid down with irresistible rhythms and melodies. Band members are Janie Cribbs, Joe Reggiatore, Kevin Holden, and Dave Willis. Janie and Joe are the Songwriters adding the original lyrics and melodies that set this Band apart.

Over the years Janie Cribbs and the T.Rust Band have raised thousands of dollars for local charities at dances and special events all over Whidbey Island. Their commitment to raising up “Live Local Music” has benefited the community and hopefully inspires us all to lend a hand!

The T.Rust Band has just released their second music album “Queen of Fire” to rave reviews and will be out touring and playing numerous shows in 2019.

ALEX ASHLEY

A rare, triple-threat singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, Alex Ashley creates an electrifying amalgam of insightful lyrics, profound storytelling, sultry, smoky vocals and razor-sharp guitar playing that brings his songs to life with nostalgic effervescence.

At just 27 years old, Ashley has been described as “that of a well-seasoned musician with years of traveling [and playing] every juke joint on the road … If you could roll Jackson Browne, Vince Gill and Eric Clapton into one guy and make him thirty years younger, that would be him."

FIDALGO SWING

Join us for some great Django inspired tunes performed by local favorites Fidlago Swing. Guitarist and host Allen Lewis kicks off our very own Djangofest right here at the Rockfish.