What's Happening in Kirkland, WA…

A restaurant and music venue in Kirkland has an interesting lineup of bands scheduled.

During August, the Sparrow will host four bands, starting with Mark Iler & Jess McKeegan. Mark Iler is an MC, performer, and singer/songwriter who came to the Pacific Northwest from Detroit, and has been here since 1988. He began playing when he was 17, gigging around coffee houses, restaurants, and bars in Detroit with his acoustic guitar. He continued this after relocating, performing solo in addition to his work with Jess. He plays harmonica and various types of guitars, and wry humor punctuates his rock songs and ballads.

Jess comes from the Philadelphia area, where she started her career in much the same way as Mark, singing and playing guitar in coffee houses. She also sang and played the flute in disco and funk bands, and studied music theory and flute at the Bryn Mawr Conservatory of Music. In addition to guitar, she plays the mandolin and Irish whistle.

Since 2004, the duo have been playing everything from rock to folk to sea shanties to Celtic music, often with a humorous twist. Their shows are upbeat, fun, and engaging.

Mark Iler & Jess McKeegan will be at Sparrow on August 7, beginning at 5.30 pm. Sparrow is on NE 120th Place in Kirkland. Organizations hosting events like this will often have professional printers use poster printing to create advertising.