I suppose it's due time I update you on what's coming up at my favorite all-ages venue in Olympia - Northern. And it is for good reason I am bringing you this information because some fantastic acts are scheduled to be visiting our State Capitol.

Thursday, Sept. 12 Portland-based band Hits - formerly Hits Of Sunshine - will be making their way up to Olympia to perform their percussion-based music that originated in Joshua Tree, Calif. Also joining the bill that evening will be French-born solo artist Angelo Spencer, as well as Hugo Berlin, who will be bringing her dream-like original songs to the venue.

The following day, Sept. 13 Richard Album will be making an appearance at Northern. With two full-length albums up his sleeve, Album's creative, hard-to-categorize form of pop music will be a fantastic soundtrack to your Friday evening. Joining the bill will be Palace Of Buddies and Stephen Steinbrink.

Sept. 18 is a night I plan to be nowhere other than Olympia. That night, three fantastic bands will be performing their own brand of pop on the Northern's concrete-floor of a stage. Portland-based band The Shivas will be one of them. Founded in 2006, the band's suave-punk sound will be pleasing your eardrums with songs like "No Waves" and "Gun In My Pocket." Also on the bill is Gap Dream. With their latest full-length album out last year, the Ohio band's droning-though-catchy songs should draw many to the Northern the evening of the 18th. And to top it all off, California band Cosmonauts will also be included on the bill, adding their equally droning and poppy songs to the mix.

As you can see, you have no excuse not to get out as hear some marvelous live music this September.

NORTHERN, 321 Fourth Ave., Olympia, northernolympia.org