Palmer's music scene varied

When you talk about the hot music scene, you don't often think of Palmer -- but that is changing as festivals take over Raven Hall throughout the spring, local acts head to local coffeehouses and musicians find an outlet for their talent.

In the last few months, acts like The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Joey Fender and the 55s, the Ken Peletier Band and Hobo Jim have packed Raven Hall as part of the Cabin Fever Reliever series, while festivals like this weekend's Alaskan Freedom Fest and next month's Hunter Creek Bluegrass festival are sure to draw a crowd.

If you want to explore nearly every music scene in the state at once, you can do it at one time or another in Palmer.

"I'm not a musician but I appreciate good music, and we're getting that out here now," said Jerry Grastley, a Palmer 23-year-old who said the music scene here "is starting to remind me of college a little.

"There [Colorado] you have small bands that everybody knows, because you get to see them all the time. There are bands up here that are starting to develop quite a following. It's good to see and hear," Grastley said.

Many of the smaller bands get started at bars and coffeeshops. In Palmer, Vagabond Blues routinely plays host to budding musicians on the weekends, and the patrons are more than happy to sip a latt/ and groove.

Last weekend, the Palmer Depot played host to a Christian rock concert that featured bands from around Alaska, adding to an already varied scene.

"There is such an eclectic mix of music," said Janet Garrett, "and the environment is perfect -- it's cozy, little Palmer."

Talkeetna has long been heralded as a center for great folk music, as well.

"I could listen to Larry Zarella at the Fairview every weekend," Garrett said, "but for some reason, life interferes with having a good time, and I don't get to do that."