By Cali Bagby

When Jim Sangster turned 50, he decided that not only would he throw himself a huge party, but he would also provide the entertainment, with the help of nine members of his family.

The musicians included Jim’s two children, his mother and father, John and Patsy, his brother Johnny and his three kids. The show went well. The Sangsters decided to keep playing.

“Part of the reason we have the Sangster Family Band is it gives us an excuse to get together,” said Jim. “I always idealized playing music with my family and thought, wouldn’t that be great, but the only way things happen is when you book a gig. Although most of the fun is having rehearsals, mostly in my living room and it’s really a cool way to spend time with our family doing something we love.”

The Sangster Family Band will play on Lopez from 4 to 6 p.m., at Woodman Hall on Aug. 14 with the Seattle band CoBirds Unite, an acoustic based folk rock band with harmony singing.

The Sangster Family Band features three generations of performers and the genres of music they play reflect the varied ages in the group. They play swing jazz, rockabilly and other early rock and roll, as well as some modern songs.

This is their first official performance on Lopez, but the Sangsters have been playing music on the island for many years.

“We’d make music late into the night,” said Jim recalling summer nights on his parents’ deck overlooking the water, watching his family with guitars and ukuleles in hand.

John and Patsy Sangster have been permanent residents on Lopez since 1988. Jim and Johnny grew up in Seattle, but spent countless summers on Lopez and attended a year of high school on the island.

Jim and Johnny formed their first bands during that year, playing gigs at the high school and the American Legion.

John recalls photos of his son, Johnny as a child, playing the guitar.

“He was so small he could barely get his arms around it [the instrument],” said John. “It was something I loved to do and they just picked it up so quickly.”

Johnny’s brother, Jim started playing guitar at age 10. As the boys got older they attended the Puget Sound Guitar workshop camp with their father. They were introduced to a wide range of music, including swing, Celtic and jazz.

“My brother and I went on to be in rock bands,” said Jim. “When we had kids we wanted to include them in the tradition.”

As a family turned into a band mates they already have an existing bond, unlike bands that form first and have to search for common ground. John and Jim both say that being a family makes it easier to be a band and that they get along “pretty well.”

“My brother and I have played a lot of music together. We both have great respect for each other,” said Jim. “There is family tension, we know each other so well. There are little things that are irritating. It’s hard to practice with a large group, going over parts with one person while someone else starts plunking out another song. Overall we don’t have issues. No one says, ‘Remember when you broke my guitar when I was ten.’”

John said, “Bands come and go, people pull in different directions,” but it’s obvious that this family sticks around whether playing impromptu tunes on the porch or planned concerts.

They already have another gig booked in Seattle in mid-August.

“I’m a little nervous,” John said about the upcoming show on Lopez. “But it’s really not about me, it’s about the grand kids. Last time they really stole the show.”