The Business, DoS and AMP
Nate Ashley recalls Anacortes music hubs – 1990s to 2025
Part 1: The Business
My first real recollection of the Anacortes music scene was centered around the Business when it was run by Bret Lunsford. Karl Blau would have introduced me to the community through playing shows there, Magic City, and the Brown Lantern. But the Business felt like the real musical hub, with its intimate shows in the cafe, or on their back patio during the warmer months. When I finally move to Anacortes to get ready for my first west coast tour it was at the Business that Karl Blau, Phil Elverum, Dave Matthies, and I would practice. I think I had two weeks to learn around 20 songs on different instruments, since we'd all be touring together and heading our own acts, with the support of the other 3 musicians. It was a lot of fun working on the songs after hours at the Business between the shelves of books. We did a few tours together in one form or another, but that was the beginning of it all, around 1999/2000.
Part 2: The DoS
The second time I moved to Anacortes the Department of Safety (DoS) had formed. The all-ages music venue had taken over the old police station and housed a couple recording studios, one of them, Vibe Control, was run by Dave Matthies. They also were one of the locations to host What the Heck Fest. I think this would have been around 2003/2004. I remember playing shows with Karl Blau, Little Wings, and Gift Machine there. Something musical always seemed to be going on and some larger acts came through town when that was in full swing.
I ended up moving to Portland not too long after my second time living there, but came back pretty quickly to practice for a two-month US tour with Dave Matthies. We both look back fondly on that tour. We hit the road in the fall and ended up spending Halloween on Martha's Vineyard, where I grew until I was eight. It was a beautiful time to be there with the autumn colors on display. When we came back from that tour I recorded some demos at the request of a smaller offshoot label from Warner Brothers. Nothing ever came of them, but it was fun reaching for it at the time. I seemed to remember there wasn't any heat in the big room when we recorded those in the winter, so I kept trying to do quick takes and you could see your breath from singing in the cold.
Part 3: AMP
My wife, Rachel Zeile, and I, moved back up to Anacortes in 2023. The Anacortes Music Project (AMP) had sprung into full bloom during the time I was gone. I think Karl Blau had a lot to do with making it come to life. His imprint on the local music since can't be overstated. It had since moved into the Buxton Building, spawned a radio show, and hosted multiple music classes and all ages shows. Yet another incarnation of the strong musical presence in this town. I'm a fan of their focus on the all-ages scene and creating a place for younger musicians to explore and grow.
It reminded me a lot of what The Business had once been in spirit. With the support and encouragement of older artists like Bret Lunsford and Bryan Elliott, and the existence of KNW-YR-OWN Records, it felt like you had a voice to contribute to the Anacortes music scene. And with strong song writing peers like Karl, Phil, and Dave, who all lived in town at the same time in the early days, it felt like anything was possible.
(Nate Ashley came to Anacortes to sing with Karl Blau and found many more collaborators in town. His first album, Where Matter Lives, is well suited to late-night cross-country driving, and comes with the recommendation that one listen to it while alone. Many of Nate’s releases are soundtracks for as yet unmade movies.)