Sallie Ford and The Sound Outside, Cobirds Unite, and John Heart Jackie at The Columbia City Theater 8/4

Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside, Cobirds Unite, John Heart Jackie @ The Columbia City Theater | 8/04 | $10 adv (Get Tickets)/$14 at door | 9pm | 21+

This weekend marks the second anniversary of the opening of the remodeled Columbia City Theater. This storied venue was built in 1917 and has hosted everyone from Duke Ellington to Jimi Hendrix. In the current incarnation, they have been hosting live music events  (occasionally combined with burlesque) featuring all genres of music.

Photo by Melani Brown via sallieford.com

Saturday night’s anniversary celebration is headlined by Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside. This Portland band started steadily growing a Pacific Northwest fanbase with the 2009 release of their Not an Animal EP and a busy performance schedule. In 2010, they were named the best new band in the Willamette Weekly. They first toured nationally as an opener for the Avett Brothers and then recorded their first full-length album, Dirty Radio, which received widespread praise and attention. The band has played live on David Lettermen and made numerous appearances at large festivals.

Fronted by charismatic singer Sallie Ford, the band combines her powerful and sassy voice (which brings to mind singers such as Etta James and Billie Holiday) with bouncy hooks and a great rhythm section. Their style combines roots rock with elements of swing, soul, and jazz and the occasional appearance of Tom Waits‘ spirit. Their catchy songs and the low and steady beat of the upright bass makes their live act one that is guaranteed to make even a Seattle crowd shake some dust off of their dancing shoes.

Also playing are Seattle acoustic folk group Cobirds Unite, featuring the singing of Rusty Willoughby and Rachel Flotard accompanied by pedal steel, bass, and cello. In the video below, they cover the song “Streets of Baltimore”, hailing back to the vocal duet by Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris on the most well-known version of that song.

Starting things off this evening will be another male/female vocal duo, Portland’s John Heart Jackie, consisting of singer/songwriters Jennie Wayne and Peter Murray.

SSG Music has a pair of tickets to give away to this show. For your chance to win them, e-mail contests@ssgmusic.com with the phrase “Sallie Ford (Columbia City Theater 8/4)” in the subject line. Be sure to include your first and last name for the guest list. We’ll holler back if you’re the winner. Follow @SSGPromo on twitter and SSG Music on Facebook to keep your eye on all of our giveaways.