Doe Bay Music & Art
Thank You for a Wonderful Season
The 2026 Doe Bay Artist in Residence season has come to a close, and we want to thank all of the artists, guests, collaborators, and community members who helped make it such a memorable summer.
Artists came to Doe Bay to rest, write, record, collaborate, and perform. Guests gathered around the Campfire Stage, joined us for Open Mic, discovered new musicians, and helped support the artists who shared their work with us.
There are no DB-AIR performances currently scheduled, but the music will return. We look forward to welcoming artists back for another season in 2027.
In the meantime, take a look back at the artists, photographs, recordings, and stories that made 2026 such a special year at Doe Bay.
The DB-AIR Story: How Doe Bay Became a Haven for Artists
Remember the pandemic? The world went quiet—especially for musicians. When Doe Bay Fest 13 was canceled, we knew artists needed support, space, and community more than ever. So we launched the Doe Bay Artist in Residence program (DB-AIR)—a place to rest, write, perform, create, and connect again.
What started as a simple invitation soon became something much bigger. Over the past few years, hundreds of artists have stayed, played, and made music here. Songs were written, some recorded in cabins, and shared around the campfire and from the Yoga Studio deck.
And then something magical fell into place.
We partnered with longtime friend and sound engineer Kevin Colomby, creator of Hidden Valley Studio just down the road. With Doe Bay as the muse and Hidden Valley as the workshop, we began recording original music born from residency stays — with no cost to artists.
Pictured: Kevin Colomby, Joe Brotherton, Dune Butler, and Natalie Colvin @ Hidden Valley Studio
Connecting the Musical Dots
No Rolling Stone cover—but we are on the radio.
Clint McCune of KIXP, Orcas Island’s very own radio station, recently sat down with Kevin Colomby and Joe Brotherton at Hidden Valley Studio to talk about the Doe Bay Artist in Residence program—and how it has grown into something much larger than a weeklong stay.
Artists come to Doe Bay to rest, create, collaborate, and perform. Many also record at Hidden Valley Studio, and some go on to reach an even larger audience through Orcas Center’s Summer Concert Series. Together, these partnerships have created a pretty remarkable musical circle here on Orcas Island.
Nick Drummond joined Clint, Kevin, and Joe during the interview, helping bring the whole story together. Nick contributed two original songs to the second Doe Bay All-Stars Band album. This summer, he returned to record new material, contribute to our upcoming third album, and perform as part of Orcas Center’s Summer Concert Series.
Our third Doe Bay All-Stars Band album is scheduled for release at the end of 2026.
A big thank-you to Kevin and Hidden Valley Studio for giving our artists a place to experiment, collaborate, and bring their music to life.
Listen to the KIXP interview to hear more about these collaborations—and consider staying with us during next summer’s residency season to experience the music where much of it begins.
Music at Doe Bay
The Doe Bay Artist in Residence program began as a way to support artists through rest, creative space, community, and opportunities to share their work. It has since grown into an evolving collaboration among Doe Bay, Hidden Valley Studio, Orcas Center, visiting artists, and the people who gather here to listen.
During the summer residency season, performances are generally free and open to everyone. Artists may perform around the Campfire Stage, in the Yoga Studio, at Open Mic, or even in Eastsound on the outdoor stage. Because DB-AIR is designed to give artists room to create without the demands of a traditional tour schedule, performance times and locations can change.
Joe and Maureen underwrite DB-AIR as part of their commitment to supporting music, art, and the people who make it. Guests are never required to purchase a ticket—we simply encourage everyone to listen, participate, and tip the artists generously.
Our 2026 residency season has concluded. Please join our mailing list or follow Doe Bay online for news about future artists, performances, recordings, and the 2027 season.
More Than Music: Visual Art + Other Creative Forms
DB-AIR is rooted in music, but it is built for creative practice in many forms. Visual artists, painters, muralists, writers, photographers, and interdisciplinary artists can use Doe Bay as a place to pause, observe, make, and share work. Around the resort, murals and artist-made pieces tell the same story as the songs: Doe Bay is a living canvas shaped by the people who spend time here.
The Doe Bay All-Stars Band
We are celebrating our 2nd album release – a compilation created at Hidden Valley Studio by artists in residence.
Album name: DB-AIR 25
Featuring music & lyrics written by: Nick Foster, Nick Drummond, Stephcynie, Carrie Jennings, Jonas Myers, Navid Eliot, Craig Suede, Kate Dinsmore, Susy Sun, The W Lovers, Kaylee Cole
Contributing artists: Harlan Silverman, Jeff Fielder, Tekla Waterfield, Charles Wicklander, Thomas Jennings, Kate Olson, Annie J, Carrie Jennings, Jonas Myers
Audio engineer: Kevin Colomby @ Hidden Valley Studios
Mixing and mastering: Jake Perrine
Music producer: Joe Brotherton
