Alexa Peters

Seattle

Journalist and Copywriter at Freelance

Freelance journalist/copywriter writing about music, culture, social justice for @soseaemerald, @audiofemme, @leafly, @paste, @nodepression etc | #binder 💜

Articles

‘Ideal’ hall for live, genre-bending music opens in Seattle

1 week ago | knkx.org | Alexa Peters

Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood is more of a music hub than meets the eye. Nestled among this district’s quirky sculptures and charming storefronts, music fans can find the headquarters of nonprofit Earshot Jazz, instrument shops like Dusty Strings Music Store & School, record stores like Jive Time Records, recording studios like Studio Litho, and of course, music venues like Nectar Lounge and High Dive.
Local Musicians Remember Quincy Jones

Nov 5, 2024 | thestranger.com | Alexa Peters

In 2017, during a performance from local garage-jazz quartet Industrial Revelation at Upstream Music Festival, I noticed a commotion near the stage as people huddled around the VIP seats. I stood on my toes and lookedâ€”Is that Quincy Jones?! While Jones, the legendary musician, producer, and alumnus of Seattleâ€™s Garfield High School, had given a keynote address earlier in the festival, I didnâ€™t expect to see the mastermind behind Michael Jacksonâ€™s Thriller sitting amongst the crowd.
Catch up on all the Seattle area jazz happenings this fall

Oct 17, 2024 | knkx.org | Kirsten Kendrick |Alexa Peters

October is a big month for jazz events in the Seattle area. A new self-guided tour called the Jackson Street Jazz Trail tells the history of jazz in two Seattle neighborhoods, the Chinatown-International District and the Central District. And the Earshot Jazz Festival is kicking off this week with shows in Seattle as well as Tacoma, Bellevue, and Bainbridge Island.
Another Year Of Great Music At Bumbershoot 2024

Sep 2, 2024 | northerntransmissions.com | Alexa Peters |Charles Brownstein

Landing during a stretch of hot, sunny weather in Seattle after two weeks of atypical summer thunderstorms, Bumbershoot 2024 was overrun with a mix of ravenous live music fans—dancing toddlers in sunhats, old Seattle hippies, and everything in between. Bumbershoot’s music lineup was as diverse and unique as the crowds, offering a sublime balance between old favorites and fresh faces. On both days, the early afternoon slots highlighted the talent and variety within Seattle’s music scene.
Bumbershoot 2024: The World Is Finally Catching On to Dean Johnson

Aug 29, 2024 | thestranger.com | Alexa Peters

For the better part of 10 years, Dean Johnson was one of Seattle music’s best-kept secrets. I first heard him sing in 2016, during a time in my life when I’d make almost nightly outings to Ballard to sloppily two-step at Conor Byrne, grab a late-night snack from Sexy Alley Puffy Tacos (may it rest in peace), or catch a show at Tractor Tavern.
Volunteer-run Olympia Jazz Central celebrates 15 years

Jul 16, 2024 | knkx.org | Alexa Peters

When someone thinks about Olympia music, it’s likely K Records or riot grrrl that come to mind. But, Olympia, the state’s quaint capitol city with a population of approximately 56,000 people, also has a rich tradition of jazz. “Olympia has been a jazz town for a long time. There are a lot of really amazing jazz musicians,” said Betsy Perkins, a resident since 1992. Perkins works as an elementary school music teacher and performing percussionist and vocalist.
Grace Kelly’s Grand Movie Entrance

Jun 11, 2024 | downbeat.com | Alexa Peters

News, From the Magazine, Grace Kelly By Alexa Peters I Jun. 11, 2024 Growing up near Boston, 31-year-old saxophonist-singer-songwriter Grace Kelly had a Friday night tradition with her family. They’d eat at their favorite Chinese restaurant, then rent a movie at Blockbuster and watch it together. Kelly first laid eyes on actress Grace Kelly during one of these family movie nights.
Lemon Boy’s Pissed-Off Pop-Punk Is Empowering Seattle’s DIY Scene

May 30, 2024 | thestranger.com | Alexa Peters

The first time I heard Lemon Boy, the scorching pop-punk brainchild of Nicole Giusti and Yaz Ahsani, I was wearing glitter wings in an audience of prosthetic-eared goblins and maidens with floral crowns. This was last month, at Springtime in the Shire, a whimsical and unpretentious “fantasy crossover costume party” at the Capitol Hill DIY venue Mosswood Loft. Lemon Boy opened the party with a biting set, setting the tone for the rest of the bill: Faerie Born, Salt Lick, and Sux.
Riley Mulherkar: The Value of Slow Work

May 29, 2024 | downbeat.com | Alexa Peters

News, From the Magazine, Riley Mulherkar By Alexa Peters I May. 29, 2024 The first time trumpeter/composer Riley Mulherkar met his longtime mentor Wynton Marsalis, he was in the third grade. It was after a Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra show in Seattle, Mulherkar’s hometown. Mulherkar still remembers what Marsalis told him backstage when he mentioned he was learning trumpet. “He told me to practice slow.
Tackling nerves and new music, Garfield Jazz makes the final sprint to Essentially Ellington

May 3, 2024 | knkx.org | Alexa Peters

On an overcast April day just after spring break, Garfield High School's Jazz Band I rehearsed feverishly for Essentially Ellington, a national high school jazz band competition taking place May 9-11 in New York City. They’ve been preparing nearly the entire school year for this prestigious event, now less than three weeks away. Students were a bundle of nerves as they spoke to KNKX.