Time to take a bite

Here are the ingredients: 7  distinct blends – two parts roots, a little indie, three parts acoustic, and a bunch of Salsa.

Once again our friends at Pig Out in the Park have given 7  the green to highlight some of the tastiest talent Spokane has to offer, and we’ve got a diverse buffet in the Clock Tower Meadow on Thursday for Spokane’s annual festival of food and music.

It starts with a healthy helping of roots and reggae vibrations from the fires of the Real Life Sound System highlighted by Oren B. and the Seekers.

Then The Back Row Kings stir the pot with a kitchen-sink stew of piano-laden dance-synth-prog-post-indie- pop (add a pinch of folky metal for good measure).

Next 7 ’s all-star singer-songwriter showcase brings together on one stage The Shook Twins’ full band cooking with rookie sensations Kaylee Cole and Dane Ueland, all collaborating for a solid two hours of nonstop sweetness.

And finally, Spokane’s one-and-only 10-piece Salsa band, Son Dulce, heats things up with authentic, dance-inducing flavor. When Son Dulce lays on the sauce, few people can sit down but nobody can sit still.

Here’s the recipe for 7 ’s soul-food Thursday on the Clock Tower Stage at Pig Out:

3 p.m.: Real Life Sound System featuring Oren B. and the Seekers – Real Life’s ringleader, DJ Yochanan holds down the first half of the joint, spinning reggae tunes and spreading positivity, then he passes the mike to emcee/singer and longtime percussion partner Oren B. Scripture, who is joined by the rest of his Seekers of truth in culture and world-influenced sound (see Spin Cycle on Page 21 for details).

4:30: The Back Row Kings – One of the all-ages scene’s best-kept secret weapons, TBRK have been lying low since losing its bassist while recording their debut EP, “Giving Away The Ending” with Joe “Yes, I’m really moving” Varela. With the crowning of new bassist James Hoy, TBRK just resurfaced in the live scene this month. The quartet has been writing new material, some of which will be unveiled at Pig Out.

“The new stuff is more introspective. We’re thinking about it instead of just trying to rock faces,” said lead singer and pianist Stephen Peterson.

6 p.m.: The Shook Twins with Kaylee Cole and Dane Ueland – Sandpoint’s Shook Twins have been a busy pair, touring the summer away. They’ve also expanded to a five piece band with Laurie on banjo, guitar and vox and Katelyn singing and providing loops, beatbox and ocarina (seriously) – both accompanied by cello, bass and percussion. In addition to playing its own set, The Shook’s full band backs piano songstress Cole and mandolin southpaw Ueland for a special engagement at Pig Out. Instant hits in the local scene, both Cole and Ueland have anticipated fall full-length debuts being recorded by Cole’s hubby Adam David. While David plays guitar, Ueland has popped up playing drums at recent shows behind Cole – who is fresh off of high-profile gigs at the West Side’s always-poppin’ Capitol Hill Block Party. Expect a few surprises.

8:30 p.m.: Son Dulce – The 10-piece Salsa unit has been in action for one year this month, but the band hasn’t played a single show since March. That’s by design, said bandleader and bassist Armando Arguello, as Son Dulce (which means “sweet sound”) has been woodshedding more songs to the repertoire and breaking in a new trombonist, the Spokane Jazz Orchestra’s Dave Stoltz. Alto saxophonist “Poncho” Paul Flores has taken the lead on songwriting as the band works toward a full-length album of original tunes. Son Dulce also features Groove Patrol super trooper Josh Simon on keys (who recently added James Pants and Royal Zodiac to his lengthy band resume, see Soundwave on page 4).

Son Dulce has played to warm receptions at weddings and clubs, but it’s primed to rock the park.

“We served them a taste and they seemed to like it. The Salsa dancers come out in force. They’ve proven we have a following and the word spread from there. Every time we play we see new faces. We have a good time entertaining them because it’s entertaining for us to watch them have a good time,” Arguello said. “We’re playing straight through (at Pig Out), song after song. We don’t want to see anyone sitting down.”

Download mp3s by 7 ’s featured artists at Pig Out at spokane7.com/music/mp3s.