New Works Series Showcases Local Dobro Player

Island musician Tab Tabscott got bit by the music bug early. At the tender age of 10, while learning to play guitar, he heard his teacher play dobro and was immediately intrigued with the instrument.

Tabscott will play his beloved dobro along with a host of other instruments and guests at the Blue Heron in a Vashon Allied Arts New Works performance, Saturday, March 24, 7:30 pm.

The show will include original and traditional bluegrass and Celtic tunes. The guest list includes Islanders Mindy Manley Little on banjo, fiddle, Iris Spring (his niece) on fiddle and John Schubert on guitar and vocals. Musical guests also include Vashon’s resident expert mandolin player Paul Colwell, Al Hutteball on upright bass, Jamie Blair on banjo and vocals and Jeff Westerinen on mandolin.

"John, Al, and I have been playing together for nearly 30 years, and Jamie and Jeff for over 20 years," says Tabscott. "The second set is full-blown, hard driving bluegrass music with vocal harmonies and some red hot picking; Jamie and Jeff are phenomenal players." Tabscott plans to play his favorite instruments including the musical saw, jawharp, electric and acoustic mandolin, dobro and pedal steel guitar. "I’ll also have my ventriloquist dummy there, my good buddy Alex." Tabscott’s style is freewheeling and fun, a show for all ages, audience-friendly and playful. Check it out!

Tickets, $12/$15, are available at VAA, Heron’s Nest, Vashon Bookshop, brownpapertickets.com or by calling 463.5131.