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Saturday Night: Ambient Magic with iconic musical legend Laraaji at St. Mark’s + Anjimile at Ballard Homestead
Saturday, May 16, we have two very different but equally special opportunities to experience music in unique Seattle spaces. Whether you are looking for a massive, immersive cathedral experience or an intimate indie folk/rock night, we have a seat for you.
Laraaji: Day of Radiance at St. Mark’s Cathedral
Ambient Church Series | Saturday, May 16 | 8:00 PM
We are incredibly excited to welcome the legendary Laraaji to the soaring sanctuary of St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral on Capitol Hill. This is part of the Ambient Church series, a non-religious touring project dedicated to hosting curated ambient music in architecturally significant spaces. (Not related to St Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral)
The Artist and the Legacy
Laraaji is a pioneer of celestial music. A multi-instrumentalist who specialized in the zither, he was famously “discovered” by Brian Eno while busking in Washington Square Park in the late 1970s. That chance encounter led to the recording of Ambient 3: Day of Radiance, a cornerstone of the ambient genre.
Tomorrow night, Laraaji revisits this landmark work. Expect shimmering, rhythmic zither patterns and deep, meditative drones. He will be joined by his long-time collaborator and sound healer, Arji OceAnanda, adding layers of percussion and therapeutic soundscapes to the evening.
Preview via his NPR Tiny Desk –
https://youtu.be/apUE3nAeszw?si=0RTJmKE5jBZzP5UQ
The Visual Experience
This is going to be quite a full sensory immersion. The internal architecture of St. Mark’s Cathedral will be transformed through large-scale, architecturally-mapped projections. The light and visuals are designed to respond to the frequency of the music, turning the concrete walls and high ceilings into a living, breathing environment.
Show Details & Logistics
- Location: Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral (Capitol Hill)
- Doors: 7:15 PM | Music: 8:00 PM
- All Ages: Kids 10 and under are generally free with an adult at Abbey Arts events.
- The Elixir Bar: We will be serving a selection of local beer, wine, cider, and specialized non-alcoholic elixirs and snacks.
- The Quiet Policy: To preserve the meditative nature of the performance, we ask that all guests keep conversations and phone use to an absolute minimum once inside the sanctuary.
Tickets for Laraaji: Purchase via Humanitix
Anjimile at Ballard Homestead
Intimate Indie Folk Rock | Saturday, May 16 | 7:30 PM
If your soul is craving something more grounded and lyrical, join us across town at Ballard Homestead. This venue is a converted residential-style church that offers one of the most intimate listening environments in the city.
About Anjimile
Anjimile is a master of the “listening room” format. Known for intricate finger-style guitar work and a voice that carries immense emotional weight, their music often explores themes of identity, resilience, and transformation.
The focus of tomorrow’s show is the powerful new album, You’re Free to Go. This record has received critical acclaim for its stark honesty and beautiful arrangements. In the quiet, wood-paneled room of the Homestead, these songs take on a new life. It is the kind of show where you can hear every breath and every string squeak, a true connection between artist and audience.
Local Townsend’s Solitaire band opens the show!
Show Details & Logistics
- Location: Ballard Homestead (NW Ballard neighborhood at 65th/ Jones)
- Format: Fully seated, intimate listening-room style.
- All Ages: Always welcome.
- Atmosphere: Casual, warm, and community-focused.
Tickets for Anjimile: Purchase via Humanitix
Looking Further Ahead
YAIMA & Nessi Gomes at St. Mark’s Cathedral
Cathedrals Concerts Series | Saturday, September 26 | 7:30 PM
Doors: 6:30 PM
Part of the Cathedrals Concerts Series, this evening brings together two distinct voices in a spacious, quiet setting at St. Mark’s Cathedral.
Artist Info
YAIMA blends nature-inspired rhythms, spacious vocals, and electronic production into music that feels immersive and transportive.
Nessi Gomes brings British-Portuguese songwriting, subtle detail, and a quiet intensity that fits this kind of listening room well.
Experience
- Format: Open-floor experience
- What to bring: Blankets and cushions encouraged
- Quiet Policy: Please keep conversation and phone use to a minimum during the performance
Show Details & Logistics
- Location: St. Mark’s Cathedral
- All Ages: Kids 10 and under free with an adult
- Bar: Elixir bar and alcohol bar available
Tickets ON SALE NOW for YAIMA & Nessi Gomes Sep 25:
Why These Spaces Matter
With Abbey Arts Presents, our mission is to create “curated spaces” where the community can experience art in a way that feels human and connected. Whether it’s the massive scale of a cathedral or the cozy warmth of a homestead, the space itself becomes a bit of a character in the performance. And you’re invited!
St. Mark’s Cathedral offers a sense of awe. Unfinished during the Great Depression, it sits as a now renovated iconic Cathedral on the hill overlooking Seattle. It has acoustics that allow sound to hang in the air for seconds, creating a natural reverb that digital pedals can only dream of. It is the perfect home for Laraaji’s “celestial” sounds or Yaima’s flowing ethereal music.
Conversely, Ballard Homestead is about proximity. It removes the barrier between the performer and the guest. In a world that often feels loud and disconnected, these quiet, seated shows allow for a different kind of discovery up close and personal. Plus newer padded chairs now!
Supporting Local Arts & Nonprofit Culture
Every ticket purchased for an Abbey Arts event helps sustain our mission as a nonprofit. We believe that art should be accessible to everyone, which is why we prioritize all-ages programming and work to keep our venues welcoming for all.
Our venues, including Woodlawn Hall in Green Lake and other partner venues like Washington Hall, Palindrome Pt Townsend, Victorian Valley Chapel Orcas Island and more are maintained through the support of our community. When you aren’t attending a show, these spaces are often used for community gatherings, dance workshops, and private rentals that help fund our youth arts programs and local artist grants.
Upcoming Highlights
If you can’t make it tomorrow, we have a packed calendar of unusual and moving performances coming up:
Abbey Arts Presents…