Contributing to the essential opening night of the Squeak and Squawk Music Festival will be Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside. The Portland band is fronted by Sallie Ford, a native of Asheville, N.C.  Her music comes from a veneration of old-time blues, ragtime and roots music. Sallie Ford's voice calls to mind classic vocalists from yesteryear.

"I've always been a bit of a belter," says Ford.  "I've never been scared to experiment with my voice and see what it could sound like.  I think Tom Waits kind of inspired me to do that."

Amidst Sallie Ford's vintage stylings, there lingers a modern sensibility that helps to keep the music fresh.

Sallie Ford, a sweetheart, says of Tacoma: "I bet people are going to appreciate out-of-towners coming ... and I bet the art community is pretty close-knit.  I'm just assuming."

Can we please live up to her assumptions?

For ourselves. And for our future.

Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside

With The Pica Beats, Basemint and Santee,  Thursday, June 10,  9 p.m., $8
The New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma

myspace.com/squeakandsquawkfestival