Devon Yesberger emailed me a few weeks ago to let me know that his band, The Yesberger Band, a group with strong Washington roots (he's from Edmonds and the bassist from is from Vancouver), is playing at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 26, at Blue Horse Gallery, Café and Wine Bar in Bay Street Village, at Bay and Holly streets. The band is based in Boston because the members are students at Berklee College of Music, but they're on tour this summer. At the gig at the Blue Horse, Berklee student and Bellingham native Thomas Harris, who Devon calls "an amazing saxophone player," will join them as guest performer.

The band has traveled the U.S. and the United Kingdom, and has opened for Bobby McFerrin, The Temptations, The Yellowjackets. The band recently won second place in Jamie Cullum's international talent competition, The Big Audition.

This summer Devon says they're excited to hit the road again, sharing old material from their EP "The Bad Weather," as well as some of the material that will be featured on their upcoming album, due for release in the fall. For samples from the band and more, go to yesberger.com.

JAZZ SINGER CHERYL HODGE OFFERS WORKSHOPS

Vocalist and keyboardist Cheryl Hodge, who has been an enthusiastic stalwart of the Bellingham jazz scene since she moved here from British Columbia about a year ago (she was nominated for Best Blues Song for the 2011 Hollywood Music In Media Awards), will offer vocal workshops starting Tuesday, Aug. 7. Among her goals for her students are for them to learn vocal technique, performance tips and a personal style. Classes are 7 to 8:30 p.m. Register through cherylhodge.com or call her at 360-933-4485.

CHERYL JEWELL CELEBRATES NEW JAZZ CD WITH GIG IN SEATTLE

Bellingham jazz vocalist Cheryl Jewell will debut in Seattle at Tula's Restaurant and Jazz Club, 2214 Second Ave., for her official Seattle CD release party at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2. Jewell will be joined by special guests Darin Clendenin on piano, Milo Petersen on guitar and Bellingham's own Saltwater Octet will back her up.

Her new CD, "My Blue Heaven," is receiving national airplay, as well as regular play on Seattle's premier jazz station KPLU. For more information, visit cheryljewell.com.

CELEBRATION COMING TO ENGLISH CAMP IN SAN JUANS

I had the opportunity to visit English camp on San Juan Island recently and was impressed with the care that's been taken to inform visitors about the history of the island during the mid-19th century. Placards and printed guides to the restored buildings in the camp are quite detailed, and strolling the grounds gave me a sense of what life must have been like for the occupying soldiers of the time.

This weekend, July 28-29, re-enactors from throughout the Pacific Northwest and Canada will once again celebrate peace as they gather for the 15th Annual Encampment and the Henry M. Jackson Centennial Celebration on the parade ground. The encampment is free, and activities will culminate at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Candlelight Ball, in the barracks. The public is invited to join in the dancing and refreshments that will include traditional cake and punch. Music for contra dancing will be provided by the Pig War Band.

Mike Vouri, chief of interpretation and historian for the San Juan Historical Park (and who worked at The Bellingham Herald and at Whatcom Museum) sent me a link to the park, which gives details of the 1859 Pig War and Capt. George E. Pickett (who has a lot of Bellingham history). For more on the park and the weekend festivities, go to this National Park Service webpage.

'LOUIE LOUIE' FESTIVAL COMING TO TACOMA

If you're in Tacoma this weekend, July 28-29, you might want to take in LouieFest, a two-day arts and music festival at the new LeMay America's Car Museum. The festival began in 2003 as a fundraiser for youth music programs, education and scholarships.

The LouieFest grand finale, the 1,000 Guitars event, begins at 5 p.m. Sunday. Everyone who brings a guitar, acoustic or electric, can join scores of guitarists and other instrumentalists to perform the song "Louie Louie."

(I couldn't help but be reminded of then County Councilman Craig Cole's 1985 practical joke to introduce a resolution urging the Legislature to declare "Louie Louie" the state song. Didn't happen, but lawmakers did declare April 12 "Louie Louie Day.")

For event details, go to lemaymuseum.org.

ABOUT BEHIND THE SCENES

Behind the Scenes focuses on the people who make the arts and entertainment world of Whatcom County happen. It appears in Take Five, The Bellingham Herald's entertainment section, each Thursday. Margaret Bikman is the Entertainment News Coordinator at The Bellingham Herald.

Reach MARGARET BIKMAN at margaret.bikman@bellinghamherald.com or 715-2273.