WOODINVILLE, Wash. – It has been 30 years since Chateau Ste. Michelle began its summer concert series.
Today, Washington’s largest and oldest winery produces 18 to 21 concerts per year, most of which sell out the 4,300 seats in its outdoor amphitheater.
On Monday, Chateau Ste. Michelle released the first part of the 2014 concert series – six concerts that will take place in June. Lynda Eller, communications director for the winery, said choosing which artists come to Chateau Ste. Michelle is reliant upon a number of factors.
“It really depends on who is touring,” she told Great Northwest Wine. “We work with concert promoters to find out which acts are coming through.”
She added that many artists who have performed at Chateau Ste. Michelle in the past have had a great time and often want to return. They also mention their experience to other artists, who then look forward to coming to the King County town, too.
Chateau Ste. Michelle fortunate with concert weather
Eller said that even with Seattle’s notorious rain, the concert series has been surprisingly fortunate with the weather through the years.
“On the occasion it does rain, concertgoers are troopers and have a great attitude about it,” she said.
Eller added that the stage is covered, so artists are protected from the elements.
Earlier this year, Ste. Michelle started a winter/spring concert series called Sessions. They are indoor concerts with musicians from the Seattle area and are held in the winery’s cellar room, which can accommodate about 180 patrons.
“Everyone has been really happy, and we have had great feedback,” Eller said.
Eileen Votteler, director of guest services for Chateau Ste. Michelle, said the Sessions concerts have gone well, with anywhere from 125 to 150 guests participating.
“It’s our way of doing something to highlight local bands,” Votteler said.
Votteler added that the June concert schedule is being announced early because there are six concerts, when there usually are just one or two.
Tickets for the June concerts go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through Ticketmaster or at the Chateau Ste. Michelle tasting room. Chateau Ste. Michelle will announce its concerts for July, August and September in May.
Here is the June lineup:
Friday, June 13: Allen Stone
Concert starts at 7 p.m. Reserved seating is $49.50, and general admission is $29.50. Allen Stone sings soul and R&B and is from Chewelah, a community north of Spokane.
Friday, June 20 and Saturday, June 21: Sarah McLachlan
Concerts start at 7 p.m. Reserved seating is $80.50, and general admission is $50.50. Sarah McLachlan, a native of Nova Scotia, has won multiple Grammys for her soulful singing style. She co-founded Lilith Fair, an all-female music festival during the 1990s.
Sunday, June 22: Merle Haggard and Emmylou Harris
Concert starts at 7 p.m. Reserve seating is $85, and general admission is $49.50. Emmylou Harris and Merle Haggard are country music legends. Harris grew up in Alabama and has a lengthy career as a singer, guitar player and songwriter. Haggard was a major part of the “outlaw country” movement in the 1970s and helped create the “Bakersfield sound.”
Saturday, June 28: An Evening with John Legend: All of Me Tour
Concert starts at 8 p.m. Reserve seating is $96, and general admission is $40.50. John Legend is a nine-time Grammy winner who sings R&B and soul.
Sunday, June 29: Steve Winwood
Concert starts at 7 p.m. Reserve seating is $67.50, and general admission is $45. Steve Winwood rose to fame in the 1960s with the super group Blind Faith, which included Eric Clapton. In the 1980s, he scored with such soul-pop hits as “Higher Love” and “Back in the High Life Again.”
It is always exciting for us to hear which concerts you have booked each summer and look forward to celebrating your 30th Anniversary this year!
We love The Chateau!
The Red Sky Agency Inc and family in Tulalip, WA