The South Seas

Expect a polished, self-sufficient band that sets the mood without taking over the room.

We arrive early, set up quietly, and bring everything we need — professional PA, all instruments and equipment, and our own setup and breakdown. No additional production is required for most events.

The music is entirely instrumental and played at a volume that's comfortable for conversation. Sets move through jazz standards, Hawaiian classics, Western swing, and mid-century pop — and we can lean the repertoire more jazz, more Hawaiian, or more Western swing depending on your event. Sets typically run 45–60 minutes, and we regularly play 2–3 hour background events with breaks.

You'll get clear, prompt communication from booking through performance day, and a band that's easy to work with — we've played wineries, art festivals, senior living communities, garden parties, and private events throughout Western Washington.

The South Seas plays the music that lived somewhere between 1935 and 1965 — jazz standards, Hawaiian instrumentals, Western swing, and mid-century pop, filtered through a Pacific Northwest sensibility.

At the center of the sound are a 1958 Fender Stringmaster lap steel and a vintage Fender Rhodes electric piano, surrounded by archtop guitar, bass, and brushed percussion. The result is warm, intimate, and entirely conversation-friendly — atmospheric music that sets a room rather than competing with it. Think Martin Denny. Think Arthur Lyman. Think the kind of sound that makes a cocktail hour feel like a place worth being.

The band:
• Jason Kuykendall — 1958 Fender Stringmaster lap steel (leader). Berklee-trained; 2025 Northwest Country Music & Americana Association finalist.
• Alex Fermanis — Fender Rhodes
• Rob Dickerson — archtop guitar
• Marcus Kitley — bass

Based on Bainbridge Island, the band performs throughout Western Washington — recent and upcoming appearances include Eleven Winery, Art on the Green, the Poulsbo Arts Festival, and private events across Kitsap County and Seattle.

Fully self-contained: we provide our own professional PA, amplification, instruments, cables, and stands. Setup takes approximately 45 minutes; breakdown about 30 minutes.

Power: one standard 15–20 amp circuit (one or two outlets) within reasonable distance of the performance area.

For outdoor events we request shade or cover for the band and equipment (vintage instruments are sensitive to direct sun and rain). We can play unamplified-feeling, conversation-level volume for intimate rooms, or scale up for larger outdoor spaces.