fireflylogo1.jpgWhen Jennifer Kallen, a former radio DJ, moved to Seattle, she missed having the opportunity to surround herself with great music. She missed having a chance to hang out with great artists, to have that level of musicianship in her life. She also wasn’t impressed with the options in town for hearing acoustic roots music. She wanted a venue where people got together and talked before the show, where there was good food and wine, comfortable seating, some level of community about the place. She wanted to see great music in a place where people weren’t talking at the bar through the whole set. Finally, in 1999, she decided to stop wishing for the venue, and just create it in her own home.

That first Firefly Concert Series show featured Boston-based singer/songwriter Kris Delmhorst. At the time, Kallen was living on Whidbey Island, and wasn’t totally confident her friends and acquaintances—and Delmhorst’s Seattle fans—would be willing to make the long drive and ferry ride just to see the songwriter play in someone’s living room. She was wrong, though. They came. And, they continued to come back, even after Kallen moved to West Seattle. They returned for the quality of the music. Through the years, she’s hosted locals and national artists, as well—Vicci Martinez, Ashleigh Flynn, the Weepies, Meg Hutchinson, Peter Mulvey, Kym Tuvim, and Holly Figueroa, to name a few.

“At the house,” she says, “there are potlucks. Everyone brings something to share. It turns into a cocktail hour, a chance to meet and greet with the artist and the people you’ll be sitting next to. Have a glass of wine, sit on the deck…it makes it more intimate.”

Now, four years after moving the series to her West Seattle home, the size of Firefly’s faithful crowd—and the caliber of artists the series attracts—has forced her to seek a larger venue. Enter Columbia City Theater, where Firefly will officially kick off its new run this Sunday, June 8.

On the bill, from Portland, are Ter-Ra, of whom Kallen says, “When I had them at my concert series last year, they didn’t stop getting standing ovations.” They’ll play a “long opening set” (45 minutes), followed by Los Angeles singer-songwriter Adrianne, whose music is big, smart, and dreamy—not unlike Firefly’s first artist eight years ago.

This inaugural Columbia City Theater performance will include catered appetizers from the time doors open at 6:30 until show time at 7. As always, Kallen will be there to host, introduce the artists, and greet the guests.

“The caliber of performances,” she promises, “is extremely high, in my opinion.” It may seem a strong statement for those unfamiliar with the genuinely high caliber taste Firefly routinely presents. But, it’s Kallen’s personal taste that’s carried her roots music concert series from a home on Whidbey Island to the Columbia City Theater eight years later. Tickets for all Firefly Concerts are available online.