What's not to love about Olympia? Great house parties, cutesy shops, home brews and home grown, progressive people. A thriving music and arts scene.  Plus, it's a place of connections. Seems like everybody's got a friend who's got a brother who dated the girl who's in the band.

Because of this magnetic social scene, (and a little heart) Olympia has made a place for itself in the music world, and has the power to pull off amazing shows. 

This year's Arts Walk exemplifies that skill.

"Music is a big part of the vitality of Arts Walk," says Stephanie Johnson, City of Olympia Arts and Events Program Manager. "Music has a great ability to pair with visual arts and complete the overall experience."

Olympia loves to musically participate in Arts Walk.  Every downtown venue has a lineup this weekend, like The Hard Way with Glass Elevator and Fight for Change at Le Voyeur Friday, and The Blackberry Bushes, The Tilted Stilts and The Oly Mountain Boys at The Eastside Club Saturday. Also on Saturday, Northern (all ages) welcomes Eleanor Murray, Camp Wisdom, Bob Schwenkler and Sunshine & Irony.

Even places that aren't designated venues tear it up, Like Phantom City Records, where Milk Music and Brilliant Colors will be rocking records off the shelf.

"It's going to be cool, there's so many people going downtown," says Ben Trodgon, who booked the Phantom show.

And Oldschool Pizzeria, whose "stage" is the parking lot, has an entire weekend of rock planned (eight hours of music just on Saturday!), including legendary band Chief on Friday night, featuring favorite Olympian, Jerry Zeigler. (It's true - he's the best, just check out the Volcano's Best of Olympia issue.)

Another Volcano voted favorite, Brown Edition, will be at 4^th Ave Tavern Saturday night.

And if you want to go outside the rock box, there's Gypsy Jazz, Reggae, Traditional, Folk and Experimental Youth Harp on the tasty music menu Arts Walk has prepared. You can also expect impromptu street jams and roof top performances, as all of downtown comes alive for this much-anticipated event.

For more information visit artswalkolympia.com.