Stories

Keep up with the rapid beat of the Heart of Bellevue. Read stories of the people behind the place. Get to know the BDA with a member spotlight. Stay informed on the latest advocacy efforts and what's happening downtown. Whether you come downtown for work or fun, make the most of your visit by enjoying Bellevue Beats and Al Fresco Dining.

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Bellevue Beats Wraps for 2021 – See You Next Year

As our beloved summer rhythms wind down, so does the Bellevue Beats Music Series. Thank you to everyone who joined us to champion live, local music these past six months and picked up some grub from local Downtown eateries on your lunch break!

Bellevue Beats: Choroloco

An infusion of passionate melodies, jazz harmonies, and jubilant rhythms offers a taste of what audiences can expect from a Choroloco performance!

Bellevue Beats: Sundae + Mr. Goessl

While some label their style as "vintage pop" and others may deem it "cowboy jazz," there's one adjective everyone can agree on: delightful. From cheeky humor with a vintage flair to diverse instrumentation, Sundae + Mr. Goessl spread nostalgia with serious musicianship.

Bellevue Beats: Stephanie Anne Johnson

A singer’s talent is complete when they can bring a crowded dive bar to a collective hush and receive a standing ovation from one of the biggest audiences on the planet. Stephanie Anne Johnson is that special vocalist.

Bellevue Beats: Massy Ferguson

With a touring history that spans over a dozen years and nine countries, Seattle-based rock band Massy Ferguson has proudly planted their boots on both sides of the country-rock divide, carving out their own brand of amplified Americana along the way.

Bellevue Beats: Jeff Fielder

Guitarist and producer Jeff Fielder is renowned throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond for his exceptional guitar work, touring as a guitarist for a number of national and global acts over the past 10 years.

Bellevue Beats: Jovino Santos Neto Trio

Three-time Latin Grammy nominee Jovino Santos Neto, a master pianist, composer and arranger currently based in Seattle, is among the top Brazilian musicians actively working today. His compositions include samba, choro, baião, xote, forró, marcha and other styles rooted in centuries-old musical traditions while pointing to new and adventurous harmonic languages.

Bellevue Beats: J.R. Rhodes

From her first open-mic performances at the O.K. Hotel in Seattle to her latest album "I Am," singer-songwriter J.R. Rhodes believes in the transformative power of song and distills her musicality into gems of quiet intensity that traverse blues, jazz, folk and rock.

Bellevue Beats: Warren Dunes

Gold pants, red hair, and a Kevin Durant jersey are the first things that catch your eye at a Warren Dunes show.

Bellevue Beats: Billy Brandt

Billy Brandt is a singer, guitarist, and composer whose music has working-class appeal that radiates masculine charm and chutzpah with a voice he describes as "dark roasted coffee with a hint of cream."

Bellevue Beats: Joy Mills Band

Joy Mills Band, a Seattle-based soulful country and roots group, embraces a sonic turn on their fifth studio album, Echolocator, with a clean, modern sound that places vocals front and center.

Bellevue Beats: The W Lovers

Fleur and Wesley Wood, partners in business and in life, have a proven commitment to craft in the live music scene across the American West, playing over one hundred shows a year since their partnership began in 2014.

Bellevue Beats: Aaron Crawford

Independent country artist Aaron Crawford forges a new path for traditional country and roots culture, instrumentation, and songwriting by blending musical flavors with a signature Seattle grunge sound.

Bellevue Beats: Adrian Xavier

Community leader and musician Adrian Xavier has been spreading his uplifting message about community for nearly two decades across the nation and the globe.

Bellevue Beats: Brett Benton

Alabama-born and Southern-raised, Brett Benton has been obsessed with country blues ever since he was a child, listening to his parents’ and grandparents’ records at an early age. His signature delta blues spin on country music has graced local festivals in the Pacific Northwest as well as at countless national venues.

Bellevue Beats: New Age Flamenco

Carried by the rhythmic currents of Mediterranean folk, Gypsy soul, jazz and a strong Latin connection, New Age Flamenco has been delighting audiences with its infectious performances since the band formed in 1998.

Bellevue Beats: D'Vonne Lewis' LIMITED EDITION

At 32 years old, D’Vonne Lewis is already considered the most versatile jazz drummer in the Seattle area as a skillful composer, poet and bandleader.

Bellevue Beats: Larry Murante

Two decades and counting, Larry Murante has been performing, writing, recording, and touring regionally and nationally as one of the Pacific Northwest’s finest contemporary singer/songwriters.

Bellevue Beats: Denise Glover

An anthropologist and singer-songwriter, Denise Glover centers her artistic expression on communities, stories, love, and social justice.

Bellevue Beats: Reggie Garrett

A self-proclaimed "purveyor of acoustic music with an urban strain," Reggie Garrett incorporates diverse influences and genres into his repertoire, including Latin rhythms, blues, gospel, Celtic, rock, jazz and more.

Bellevue Beats: Sam Parker

An eclectic, full-time musician in Tacoma, WA, Sam curates solo projects as well as orchestrates a full band. He writes original music and performs covers.

Bellevue Beats: Kim Archer

Kim Archer is a life-long artist who draws, entertains and holds crowds with her honest, soulful delivery. Whether she’s playing a premier venue with her award-winning band, or an intimate solo show, she never disappoints!

Bellevue Beats: Chris Eger

Very few musicians are said to be extraordinary examples of excellence in any one genre of music. Even fewer can be described as exceptional across multiple. As both a guitarist and vocalist, Chris Eger embodies the latter.

Bellevue Beats: Amanda Winterhalter

A life between grey coastlines and rugged mountains gave Amanda Winterhalter a scope for the gothic Americana music she creates with her Seattle-based band, whose diverse range informs a new Americana that connects with the heart and mind as quickly as the ears.

Bellevue Beats: Tomo Nakayama

Born in Japan and raised in Seattle, Washington, Tomo Nakayama is an artist whose melodic, complex and emotionally compelling music has been praised by NPR, New York Times, and KEXP, an independent Seattle public radio station.

Bellevue Beats: Debbie Miller

Seattle songwriter Debbie Miller performs a solo set featuring guitar and piano for today's concert.

Bellevue Beats: Tobias the Owl

Tobias the Owl is an award-winning musical collective based in the Pacific Northwest. Today's solo performance featured guitarist Elijah Dhavvan.

Bellevue Beats: Allison Preisinger

Preisinger is a mainstay in the Seattle music community and knows one thing for sure: music is the light cresting just beyond.

Bellevue Beats: Brian Butler

Acclaimed musician Brian Butler plays bold blues and originals in today's virtual concert.

Bellevue Beats: Fysah

Fysah, an American-born electronic soul artist from Seattle, kicked off the new Bellevue Beats music series on April 7.

Summer Music Replay: New Age Flamenco

New Age Flamenco wrapped up this year's Summer Music series playing beautiful "Flamenco Soul." The band, formed in 1998, is well-known in the Seattle area for their professionally-trained sound and charismatic stage presence.

Summer Music Replay: Aaron Crawford

Aaron Crawford, an independent Seattle-based Country artist, showcased new and old originals in today's set. Aaron is the founder and original Cascade Country artist, and is known for creating music that pays respect to traditional country, yet blends with Seattle sound...

Summer Music Replay: Brett Benton

Brett Benton, known for his "fierce rhythmic finger picking and melodic slide guitar," brought a performance showcasing his dynamic style of country blues. Brett currently lives in the Pacific Northwest playing local, regional and national festivals...

Summer Music Replay: Eric Madis

Eric Madis performed dynamic arrangements of blues and jazz classics and original acoustic compositions for today's show. This well-loved Seattle musician also showcased his Hawaiian slack-key and slide guitar techniques.

Summer Music Replay: Beth Whitney

Beth Whitney and husband/collaborator Aaron Fishburn performed 'wild folk' for today's show. The soulful duo featured their steady rhythms and haunting vocals throughout their set.

Summer Music Replay: Jayleigh Ann & The Lost Boys

Jayleigh Ann & The Lost Boys delivered a genre-defying performance for today's show. The group of three played an eclectic blend of acoustic, alternative rock, pop, folk and R&B music.

Summer Music Replay: Sundae + Mr. Goessl

Sundae + Mr. Goessl are a husband/wife duo who have been playing music together for the past six years. Today's show featured their range of jazz, pop and country sound, along with their wit, comedy and charm.

Summer Music Replay: Judd Wasserman

Judd Wasserman is a singer-songwriter and composer based in Seattle, WA, originally born in NYC and raised in Connecticut. Accompanied by his acoustic guitar, Judd performed several songs from his upcoming new album, along with old favorites.

Summer Music Replay: Massy Ferguson

For more than 12 years, Massy Ferguson has played both rock and country music, creating their own brand of Americana. Based in Seattle, the group has played all across the Pacific Northwest and has toured in nine different countries.

Summer Music Replay: Adrian Xavier

Adrian Xavier brought some uplifting, positive energy to today's lunch hour. His solo acoustic set featured a variety of reggae music, delivering universal messages of peace, community and love.

Summer Music Replay: Tekla Waterfield & Jeff Fielder

Seattle-based singer/songwriter Tekla Waterfield took the stage with collaborator and husband, Jeff Fielder. Their set included a wide range of music under the "Contemporary American Folk" realm, which incorporates elements of folk, country, indie, rhythm and blues, and soul...

Summer Music Replay: Larry Murante

Today's lunchtime soundtrack was brought to us by Larry Murante. For over two decades, Larry has been performing, writing, recording, and touring regionally and nationally. He's known for his "soaring, mellifluous, tenor, a strong rhythmic guitar style and an engaging stage presence."

Summer Music Replay: The W Lovers

Fleur and Wesley Wood took the stage this afternoon, performing as The W Lovers. Today's livestream featured original songs written by the duo, showcasing their alternative country and Americana sound.

Summer Music Replay: Champagne Honeybee

Rani Weatherby joined us, performing solo in the "smallest inception" of her band Champagne Honeybee. She performed a range of covers and original songs, which featured her ability to mix contemporary jazz, blues, folk and "ukulele soul" music...

Summer Music Replay: Alex Thoman

Alex Thoman kicked off the first Thursday show for our Summer Music series. Fans of alternative and indie rock will likely enjoy his covers and original songs. Although performing solo today, Alex plays in the Bellevue-based band, Before Our Time.

Summer Music Replay: Kim Archer

Kim Archer joined us on Wednesday for a live, soulful performance. Known for her raw and powerful voice, Kim was able to connect with viewers all across the region during her set.

Summer Music Replay: Ian McFeron & Alisa Milner

Duo Ian McFeron & Alisa Milner graced the stage for this week’s show, bringing a bit of sunny pep in with them. Known for their upbeat style with a twist of folk, these local musicians have a popular following across the Puget Sound and beyond.

Summer Music Replay: Singer Songwriter Jim Skewes

Jim Skewes graced the stage, playing a collection of his songs. His musical style and northwest flair have established him a strong following from the Seattle area down to Portland...

Summer Music Replay: Native American Flutist Peter Ali

Celebrated Native American flutist Peter Ali kicked off the first of our Summer Music series. Couldn't catch the livestream? Watch the recording here.