April Foolishness at Church of Great Rain

Church of Great Rain promises comic relief for taxing times at a special April Foolishness Show at 4PM on Sunday, April 1 at Open Space for Arts and Community. The show will feature Seattle singer Star Anna with guitarist Justin Davis. Show co-founder Frank Hein, now living on Catalina Island in California, will be making a special guest appearance.

Church of Great Rain is Vashon Island’s own music, comedy and variety show, featuring the Church House Band, twisted news and irreverent views by the Holy Roller Radio Players, amazing guest artists and an inspiring impromptu sermon by the preacher. Audience members are invited to join in the fun by writing on a seasonal topic to be read aloud during the show. Churchgoers are encouraged to get tickets in advance and arrive early as recent shows have been standing room only.

Star Ana and Justin Davis

Star Anna was born and raised in the small town of Ellensburg, WA. At the age of eleven she got her first snare drum, started taking drum lessons, and began spending all of her money and time at the local record shop, Rodeo Records. At the age of 16, Star picked up a guitar and learned some chords. She began writing songs and playing local coffee shops and cafes.

Star’s band, The Laughing Dogs, formed in Ellensburg, went through some member changes and eventually relocated to Seattle where they have been gaining a loyal fan base. The highlight of the last year for them was performing at PJ20, a festival at Alpine Valley in celebration of Pearl Jam’s 20 years together as a successful band.

Their sound is rooted in good ol’ American rock and roll with hints of blues, soul, punk and alt country. They always play with high energy and a passion for what they do.

Mike McCready of Pearl Jam says "Star Anna is an American original. I am a huge fan of her music and especially her voice. She sings from a place of beauty and pain that takes me to a higher place. Star is on her way to great musical heights."

Star Anna will be performing at the April 1st Church of Great Rain show as a duo with guitarist Justin Davis. Justin became obsessed with guitars the first time he held one and is still rarely found without one in his hands. He played in several bands around Seattle, including Honest Abe, East of the Equator with Nirvana’s Chad Channing, and Puptulla. Justin has a degree in classical guitar performance, has studied Flamenco guitar in Spain and attended Cornish to study jazz, all while maintaining a punk rock soul and religious devotion to Jimi Hendrix.

In The Beginning

Church House Band was formed by Greg Parrott and Frank Hein, of folk rock duo Great Rain, following an invitation from Vashon Island music promoter Pete Welch to perform a monthly Sunday night gig at The Red Bicycle. Great Rain had been hosting jams at Frank’s Lisabeula studio every Sunday morning with a gaggle of island musicians, a gathering which they casually referred to as ‘church’. Frank’s partner, graphic artist Terri Bassett, designed the original cherub logo. In October 2008, Church of Great Rain moved to The Red Bicycle for monthly ‘evening services’ and incorporated sketch comedy with the vision of becoming the Northwest’s answer to A Prairie Home Companion with a Monty Python twist. 
The result is Vashon’s own music / comedy / variety show that now draws capacity congregations at Open Space for Arts & Community.

Church of Great Rain’s April Foolishness Show will be followed by the Season Finale on May 20. Performances are 4PM Sundays at Open Space for Arts and Community. Doors open at 3PM and Fupps Beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks will be available to enjoy. Church Cherub and Fupps Beer apparel and Church House Blend coffee will be for sale.

Advance tickets are strongly suggested and are $10 at Vashon Bookshop and www.brownpapertickets.com. Show information and video at
www.churchofgreatrain.com.