Wut is a self-described “jangle-pop meets riot-twee” trio from Vancouver, BC. They have been charming audiences with their catchy riffs and whimsically observational lyrics since 2020, and are hot on the heels of their sophomore record Mingling With The Thorns (hhbtm records, 2024). They explore themes ranging from social ills and gentrification to relationships and simple pleasures, always blanketed by sugary group vocals. This will be Wut’s fourth show in Olympia, and their first Scherler Sundays headlining performance.

Spacer is a dream-fuzz quartet formed in Olympia, way back in 2024. When two dudes Jeremiah and Slade collaborated on a small arsenal of original, personal songs, with a hint of fantasy involved. Jeremiah and Slade are joined by Landon on bass and Chris on drums, completing the circle. If Spacer had a non-human physical embodiment, it would be a gigantic robot driving a dragster on a race track that’s on fire, and also happens to be on the International Space Station. Their debut EP It Has Been Shown turns a year old this summer, and they’ve got a new one recorded live to tape by Robin Carmosino that the band will be previewing at today’s show.

Triviot is likely the only band in this year’s series that began as a pub trivia team (at Questionable Music Trivia, 6:30pm on Mondays at Three Magnets Brewing). They play old-school punk en español- their self-titled cassette blasts through 10 songs in 15 minutes. You might recognize some of them from previous installments of Scherler Sundays- Kenny and Freddy also play in the band Hot Rush, who performed back in 2023. Triviot delivers a frantic and energetic per

Swamp Dogg is difficult to classify, but he has been making remarkable contributions to soul, R&B and country music since he was a kid- his first record (as “Little Jerry” Williams) was released in 1964 when he was just 12.  He took on the moniker of Swamp Dogg in 1970, and has since released at least 25 solo albums- his latest, Blackgrass, received multiple Grammy nods. His fan base includes a lot of heavy hitters, many of whom you’ll meet in this year’s documentary Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted. Collaborators over the years include Johnny Paycheck, The Pointer Sisters, John Prine, Justin Vernon and Jenny Lewis. Swamp Dogg has never slowed down in his music career in the past six decades, and he has no plans to pump the brakes anytime soon! This show happens the day after the living legend’s 83rd birthday, so be sure to bring a balloon for “the original D-O-double-G.”

Winehouse started in 2018 and have been commanding audiences with their upbeat bangers ever since. Sarah, their singer, was born and raised in Tenino, Washington- the state’s fastest-growing city. The rest of the group are Olympia-grown, but Winehouse is rarely seen on local stages. They deliver a glossy, funky indie-pop groove that feels simultaneously fresh and familiar. But for Winehouse, it’s not just about the music- their priority lies in connecting with the audience. Expect them to bring the party to you!

Moogstar is best known as Swamp Dogg’s flamboyant right-hand man, rocking madness on the keys. He’s a dynamic performer in his own right, and today he’ll be kicking off the show with a set of his own original music. Moogstar delivers a captivating blend of hip hop, cocktail hour jazz and electro-funk. Catching Moogstar live and in his element is a very rare opportunity, and we are thrilled to bring him to our little city today!

Pearl and the Oysters is the sonic child of Parisian high school sweethearts Juliette Pearl Davis and Joachim Polack, who shared an affinity for bossa nova, tropicalia and bubbling synth pop music. Their journey led them to the USA where they would hone their craft as Pearl and The Oysters, creating musical landscapes that take you on a new exotic vacation every time a song begins, which I learned when I heard two songs back-to-back on KAOS- a great station to discover new music. Their latest album Planet Pearl is their fourth album on Stones Throw records and their fifth altogether, making for a great half-day of incredible bops to get you hyped for their Scherler Sundays set.  Maybe, if we’re lucky, they’ll also be previewing some new songs from their upcoming LP.

LAKE returns to the grassy knoll in support of their acclaimed new record, Bucolic Gone (Don Giovanni Records, 2025). When we last saw them at Scherler Sundays they were still working out this material. Now is the chance to catch it in full form! LAKE began in Olympia back in 2006 from the ashes of a Fleetwood Mac tribute act. They have since recorded twelve albums and performed in as many countries around the world. Over the years, the group has included as many as seven members at one time - today, the core trio of Ashley Eriksson, Eli Moore and Andrew Dorsett split their time between Langley, WA and Los Angeles, CA. Thankfully, they can’t seem to stop coming up with groove-laden, mature, glistening nuggets of timeless pop music.

Shermy is the solo project of Shelby Turner, a musician who was born and raised here in Olympia, WA and played in literally dozens of bands in the first decade of the 20th century before moving to Chicago to find himself, etc. After spending over a decade in the windy city as the frontman of the band Richard Album, Shelby and his partner have relocated back to the Pacific Northwest- some town called Seattle- with a baby! The newly paternal Shelby has re-emerged to the sonic environment as Shermy, whose debut LP Friends 2020 reflects on the anxious uncertainty of the 2020 lockdown, the importance of friends, and the closing of doors- cautiously venturing into the still-uncertain social environment of 2025. His lyrics are always sincere, his gift for unforgettable melody is unparalleled among his peers, and he has always been a reluctantly effective showman. Whatever you’re feeling, you’ll feel a little better after Shermy’s set.

Afrocop is an instrumental trio that blends psychedelic post-rock, ambient music, modern jazz and heavy synths to tremendous effect. Led by visionary keyboardist Noel Brass Jr., the group delivers self-contained universes laden with masterful improvisations and kaleidoscopic patterns. Afrocop is onto some next-level shit, as demonstrated throughout their recorded discography.  Their latest, Afrocop, was released by Wax Thematique in 2024.

Afrok was born and raised right here in Olympia. He grew up on hip hop and got his start in the local scene during his freshman year when he DJ’d his first party at Arrowspace, a bygone DIY venue. Before long, he joined the local hip-hop collective Squadron 98 as an MC. By 2000,

he took on the name Afrok and joined his second hip-hop crew, Capital City Squad. Then, when he formed his live band Afrok and the Movement, things really started to pop- the group has gone on tour with Masta Ace and shared the stage with hip-hop royalty like the Jungle Brothers and KRS-ONE. His latest album, A King With Words, picks up where The Movement left off before the pandemic and features an array of collaborators and fresh takes on earlier material. Today, Afrok will be playing a mixture of classics as well as a sneak peek into works in progress.

The Now! Is the improvisational duo of Kefa Crow and Sam Smith. The duo formed in 2023 for a performance for Olympia ArtsWalk and has been in a constant state of development, using  guitars, vocals, samples and other electronics. Every set is custom made on the spot for each crowd’s vibe, taking suggestions from the audience when necessary. The group’s priority is  having a great time and sharing it with all persons present. Nothing they perform will ever be repeated, hence the band name- The Now!

The Olympia Music History Project is a local nonprofit whose mission is to document and make public the music history of Olympia, WA through oral histories, images, and ephemera. They are co-presenting today’s event, focusing on artists who were active in the local scene between 1980-2002.

Some Velvet Sidewalk frontman Al Larsen describes the band as “an experimental, underground, lo-fi, indie rock, anti-grunge and love rock band formed in 1987.” The group formed in Eugene, OR and performed and recorded in Olympia throughout their tenure, which dissolved sometime in the late 1990s. In 2023, the group reconnected and began working on a forthcoming album during extended visits to Olympia. Al will be joined by the group’s longtime drummer Don Blair and some surprise guest musicians, marking the end of Some Velvet Sidewalk’s first tour of the 21st century.

The Transfused was a ground-breaking, homespun and fully staged dystopian rock opera that ran for 8 jam-packed nights at the Capitol Theater back in 2000, making this year the show’s 25th anniversary. Join original cast and crew members for a singalong with remastered and live-recorded backing tracks featuring music by Nomy Lamm and The Need.

Compelled by a specific location and its subconscious energetic pull on their bodies and psyches, Morgaine and Prudence first encounter each other at a motel in the high desert hills after over two decades of seeking. They band with the LoveCoven and learn to access a portal that brings them into resonant realignment beyond the binary. Can they embody the ebbs and flows of interdependent collective sensing, and become the Portal Priestexx(x)? Come join the LoveCoven and see for yourself!

C.O.C.O. is shorthand for Chris and Olivia, City of Olympia- coined by Dub Narcotic Sound System drummer Heather Dunn. The band formed in 1997, inspired by the minimalist dance grooves of disco-punk pioneers like E.S.G. Their energetic positivity found them touring with the likes of Blondie, The White Stripes and Sleater-Kinney around the turn of the century.  The duo never officially dissolved, but their performances are few and far between as they have plenty to keep them busy- Chris is now a member of The Gossip and has a weekly program on XRay FM in Portland, where he and his family live today. Olivia is still active in the Olympia community and can be seen playing bass in Morgan and the Organ Donors. This will be the first C.O.C.O. performance in downtown Olympia in many years.

The Noses formed in 1985 while they were still in high school. They played whatever suited them- power-pop, country, jazz, ska- but all told, they were one of Olympia’s most reliable good-time rock and roll acts for over a decade. In 1996 the band dissolved and made way for various projects- Jon Merithew went on to form the “garage prog” band C Average, and later played in ONETON, Mosquito Hawk, and most recently, Chance of Ghosts and Blues Faeries. Kelly Van Camp lent his talent to so many regional groups, including Engine 54, Treehouse, and he even played harmonica on a Mudhoney album. Tim Brown was a long time member of the Dirty Birds, played bass in the Resident Kings, and is currently in The Low Wires. This will be The Noses’ first reunion since 2010, and their first all ages show in about 30 years! It’s like stepping into a time machine…

Pet Products are hailed as Olympia’s first punk band, established in 1981. The band’s initial tenure was under two years, then vocalist/guitarist Chris Pugh went on to form the legendary hometown heroes Young Pioneers. This year marks Pet Products’ second renaissance- they reunited back in 2013 for a one-off gig at McCoy’s Tavern, and now they have returned to the local circuit in support of the long-delayed release of their eponymous 1982 album, released last December by Kill Rock Stars as part of an ongoing archival series.

The Human Jukebox is the improvisational, often satirical brainchild of Justin McKaughan (aka Mac Dawg)  and Scott Brummel. Ongoing since 1999, the duo has reliably commandeered stages throughout Thurston County bringing surprises, smiles and positive vibes wherever they go. Hire them for your next birthday party.

KENDL WINTER has earned her keep as a fixture of the Olympia music scene for the better part of two decades- from her time in the folk-punk group the Pasties, bluegrass ensemble the Blackberry Bushes, and in recent years as one half of festival darlings The Lowest Pair. As a solo artist, she has released a handful of LPs with K Records, appeared on numerous compilations and displays a broad range of experimentation on self-released albums. This show marks her second consecutive year performing at Scherler Sundays.

Hot Tears was established in 2011 by San Francisco native Molly Fischer. She moved to Olympia after it made a positive impression on her while on tour. After settling down here, Hot Tears recorded their debut album The Chorus and a follow-up 7” single. While living in Olympia, she was a vital contributor to the local community volunteering for Stonewall Youth and founding Queer Rock Camp. Hot Tears has been on an extended hiatus for a while and has only recently begun performing in Philadelphia, where Molly lives today. Her songs cascade into vast sonic valleys, full of unexpected twists and turns.  They will be performing old favorites as well as some new material that will hopefully be a part of a new Hot Tears album in the next year or two.

Erica Freas is a regional treasure and a longtime staple in the Olympia independent music community. Perhaps best known around these parts as a founding member of positive-punk heroes RVIVR, she remains a gifted acoustic pop artist in her own right, with four albums and an EP to her credit that she recorded when she wasn’t too busy playing in a slew of bands and working to make the world a better place. In recent years, Erica returned to the Pacific Northwest–this time, in Seattle–after a series of moves around the US, Europe and the UK. Like her community-rooted work, a lot of her music is focused on working to overcome social injustice. Erica’s going to be bringing some new material for her Scherler Sundays debut. Hell yeah.

Sunbathe started in 2015 as the solo project of Portland singer-songwriter Maggie Morris. After a couple years of performing a la carte, she began inviting friends into the mix, with the current lineup going back to ‘22. Their live sets are a place where you can watch a group of tight buddies have a great time, and they’ve toured with notable acts like Typhoon, Helio Sequence and Built To Spill. A binge through their bandcamp catalog is consistently dreamy, melodic and sincere. Maggie wears her heart on her sleeve and the honesty comes through in the form of fuzzed out, ethereal earworms. Today, Sunbathe is fresh from a weeks-long tour in support of their new album Myself To You.

Seaside Tryst plays sad/happy dance music about serious stuff like social ills and queer heartbreak, and wonderful things like nature, literature and youth. Frankie, their keyboardist, told me about the evolution of the group: She and a group of her friends were at a house party, and they came across a fun electro-pop duo playing in the basement.  Nobody else was watching, so they decided to strip down to their undies and cut loose for the remainder of the set. Fast forward a few weeks, and Frankie–who had just bought a keyboard–learned that this group was looking to expand, and needed a keyboardist. The group grew into a quartet and have been playing around the PNW, including a fabulous set at last year’s South Sound Block Party.

Fromyourbed is the brainchild of Rosalyn Winter Echo, a New Zealand native who landed in the Pacific Northwest and fell in love with Olympia and Twin Peaks at the same time. They began performing nearly a decade ago leading up to what would become the project fromyourbed, featuring Rosalyn’s personal songs interpreted by a rotating cast of musicians and singers. The audience can expect acoustic reflections on heartbreak and the human condition written in a treehouse.

The Beehees are a remarkably unlikely combo. Brahim Hikmi, the group’s singer and songwriter, was born and raised in Casablanca, Morocco. He came of age further south in Essaouira–a small haven for subculture–where he made his living performing in local bars and restaurants. There he met the love of his life and followed her to Olympia. Eventually, he began taking a music composition program at the Evergreen State College, writing what he describes as a “joyful homesick blues” songs for the guembre, a traditional Moroccan three-stringed bass. He invited other musicians to contribute their own parts to his songs, and the group developed from these collaborations. After he graduated, the Beehees officially began and started creating a lush and entrancing body of work, behind closed doors. You might recognize some of the players from other local bands like Yarrow, The Hinges or Manic Pixie Dreamboat. Brahim sings all of the songs in Darija, a Moroccan form of Arabic. He says that the music he writes are a celebration of his roots.

Soul-Junk began in 1993 as a side-project of noise rock legends Trumans Water’s guitarist, Glen Galaxy. Shortly thereafter, Glen received a higher calling to take the project full time. Over the past three decades the project has had a rotating cast of band members, always genre-fluid. Depending on the era, one might expect frenetic hardcore punk intersecting with free jazz, psychedelic drum-n-bass, glitch-hop, sludge rock, or reciting the book of Psalms over breakbeats. This is a band who will not be pigeonholed, and today will mark Soul-Junk’s first live show in nearly a decade.

Reid Urban is an interdisciplinary artist from Portland, Maine. He wears a lot of hats- experimental musician, playwright, film director, actor, poet, painter, illustrator, stand-up comedian, author and performance artist. I asked him what he had in mind for today’s performance, and he said he was probably going to yell at the sun. We’ll have to wait to find out why.

Rae Isla has been a practicing musician since she was only three years old. She grew up in a musical family on Bainbridge Island, and has been writing songs for as long as she can remember. Currently based in Los Angeles, the self-described traveling bard has wowed crowds all over the USA and seldom stays in one place for long. Her latest album New Frontier finds Rae leaning into an alt-country direction informed by family relationships, queerness and unity in a time of societal turbulence. Earlier this year, Rae collaborated with Self Care on a non-alcoholic rustic IPA inspired by her song “Years Beers Her Tears.” This will be Rae Isla’s debut performance in Olympia, following a string of concerts on Washington’s islands and the Pacific Northwest.

Karl Blau is a songwriting singer who found his stride in Anacortes, WA and has made dozens of albums recorded at home and in professional studios. He has toured internationally alone and in supporting roles with PNW acts including Earth, Laura Viers, Your Heart Breaks and Lovers Without Borders. He currently resides in Philadelphia, and once in a while he comes back to the Puget Sound to see his old friends and entertain his dedicated fan base. This will be his third appearance on the grassy knoll behind the Carnegie Library.  His latest record Vultures of Love was released last fall by Otherly Love Records. Today we can expect to hear some of those songs, some new stuff and a song or two by the late great Michael Hurley, who was originally scheduled for today’s performance.

James Maeda has been an active participant in the local music scene since he was a teenager. Most music fans in Olympia probably know James Madea from our vinyl mecca Rainy Day Records where he obsessively curates a treasure trove of 45 RPM singles, and his bone shaking DJ sets as Wildman James, spinning underground garage rock gems most people have never heard. Of course, he’s also a founding member of the group Spider and the Webs, and most recently, Morgan and the Organ Donors. James is a gifted songwriter with leanings toward early rock and country music, low and lonesome. His rare live solo sets are the only way to hear his tunes, so far. He has been carefully working on an album, and today if we’re lucky, we might get a sneak preview.

South Indian and American Grub.

Old school wood smoked Bbq goodness with a modern twist!

A family owned and run Gelateria located in the heart of Olympia’s downtown.

Downtown Olympia's premier candy store will be setting up shop at Scherler Sundays 2025!

$6 cans of Scherler Easy Premium Shitty™ Lager and other draft options.

Draft Red Cap cider or bottled heirloom variants.

Wine options for those not into beer or cider!

$6 cans of Scherler Easiest Premium Shitty™ Non-Alcoholic Lager and other draft and can options.

Brewing and bottling deliciously curious, refined yet funky kombucha in Olympia since 2006.

Cans of Nitro Cold Brew.