Tacoma’s popular Sixth Avenue bar strip may have another hot spot this summer in the spot that Tacoma’s Hell’s Kitchen abandoned for downtown late last year.

The owners of Gruv Lounge & Nightclub – a dance club under construction at 3829 Sixth Ave., formerly home to popular rock club, Hell’s Kitchen, which moved downtown – applied for a liquor license on March 25.

Jason Rim said he bought the space a month and a half ago, attracted by the synergy building on the Sixth Avenue. “There are some good bars around there, like Jazzbones and Chopstix and some …

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One of my favorite discs so far this year is the self-titled debut of Broken Bells, the super-duo featuring James Mercer from the Shins and Brian “Dangermouse” Burton. So I was pretty stoked to just learn they’ll drop in on Seattle’s Showbox on May 25. Ticket info isn’t available yet, but you’ll eventually be able to learn more here.

Other tour dates are posted here. And on a side note, man, these kiddie critics are tough – yet totally adorable.

Just to get you all pumped up for the show on Friday.

You’ve already heard what he had to say about tour mate John Mayer’s racially inflammatory comments in Playboy. And now I’ve finally had a chance to edit some more Michael Franti interview clips, this time with the hip-hop/soul veteran reflecting on his expanding fan base, his musical growth and traveling to the Middle East.

He’ll be at KeyArena with John Mayer Wednesday. Meanwhile, click the links to hear him talk about …

… finally having a big hit, the secrets of his success.

… how his musical focus has shifted …

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Quincunx of Washington, Live Nation and Sleep Country USA just announced a new naming rights deal for the Amphitheater at Clark County, down the road a couple of hours near Ridgefield. It’s been dubbed the Sleep Country Amphitheater.

Not quite as annoying as when they renamed iconic Mile High Stadium (which I will henceforth and forever more still call Mile High Stadium.) But that name makes me think of taking a nap, not going to a cool rock show.

Hmmm. Wonder if White River or the Gorge could be next.

Just got word from KeyArena that 400 tickets have just been released for Friday’s supposedly sold out show in Seattle. The Key has also released 300 tix for the Michael Buble show on Saturday, too. If you need ‘em, better hurry up and buy ‘em here.

Here’s an up-and-coming Tacoma band I’ve been meaning to showcase for a while, Pioneers West. These clips are from the New Frontier on March 20. They’re playing there again on Thursday if you want to support what you see and hear here.

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Some of you caught Crosby, Stills & Nash at last year’s Puyallup Fair. And now you can catch the legendary folk trio again at 7 p.m. on June 12 when it headlines the Chateau Ste. Michelle winery in Woodinville.

Tickets will go for $50.50 to $80.50 and go on sale Friday, April 2 at 10 a.m., Live Nation announced today. You’ll be able to get them here, and you can revisit last year’s show here.

This Bob’s Java Jive announcement just in from Bandolier camp:

55 years ago, Bob and Lylabell Radonich bought the Coffee Pot Restaurant and revamped it as a music venue called Bob’s Java Jive. The tradition of great local music continues with this bill featuring the musical stylings of The Painkillers (Rick King’s baby), Motopony (Daniel Blue) and Bandolier (Lino Fernandez’s pop band). Darren Sampson, former booker of the jive, will be spinning tunes all night long as Darrren Selector. Long live the Jive!

The show’s at 9 p.m. on April 10, and cover is 5 …

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Don’t fret if you missed MercyMe’s recent Tacoma stop with the Rock and Worship Road Show. The popular Christian rock band will play the Puyallup Fair & Events Center grandstand on Sept. 23 with Jeremy Camp, fair organizers announced today.

Reserved seats for the 7:30 p.m. show will cost $20 to $50, and you can find more info here.