BY MAUREEN PARKER for WEEKLY VOLCANO | 6/19/2026
OK, so boom. I don’t go out that often, but when I do, it’s usually for really, really, REALLY good music. And today I’d like to introduce you to Heather Jones & the Groove Masters.
They’ve been part of the Northwest music scene for a number of years, and they’re truly a family band. The group consists of Heather on vocals and percussion, her husband, Donny, on guitar and vocals, her nephew, Roman, on bass, and Damarreun on drums, whom they’ve long since adopted as family.
Heather and Donny moved to Washington in 2014 to be closer to family. Their current nonblood family member joined the group in 2017 after meeting them at one of the jam nights they hosted at Dawson’s Bar & Grill in Tacoma. Having recently moved from South Carolina, he was understandably nervous about stepping into a new music scene, but his talent, personality, and artistry earned him a place in the band. More importantly, he fit right in.
If you’ve never been to Dawson’s, you should really make a point of checking it out. Located on South Tacoma Way and 56th Street, it’s one of the few places left that consistently supports live music and local musicians. They host jam nights and feature live music from real people playing real instruments, and they absolutely kill it.
What I appreciate most is that they welcome everyone. Whether you’re a younger musician trying to learn the ropes or an experienced player looking to connect with others, Dawson’s provides a place to learn, collaborate, and grow. It’s an amazing networking tool for musicians. Sure, social media has its place, but nothing beats being face-to-face and instrument-to-instrument with people who genuinely love their craft.
Heather and Donny actually met in Flint, Michigan, before making the move west. They started out playing country music before eventually transitioning into R&B, bringing a variety of influences to their performances. The first time I saw them play was at Dawson’s around 2016ish, and I was absolutely hooked because Miss Thang can SANG.
Seriously. Every time I hear Heather perform, I find myself wondering why they aren’t playing out even more often. That’s actually one of the reasons I’m writing this piece. They’re worth the effort it takes to get off the couch, leave the house, and go support live music.
The Groove Masters are primarily a cover band, but they occasionally sprinkle in an original song or two. (I’m still working on convincing them to play more originals, so wish me luck.) The originals they do perform come from real-life experiences, passion, and vulnerability. And we all know how much fun it is to put your life on paper, add music to it, and then stand in front of strangers while they listen to your deepest thoughts and feelings. Just a blast. (Insert sarcasm here.)
Still, that’s what makes original music so powerful. It gives people an opportunity to connect with something authentic, and that’s something we need more of these days.
We also talked about the challenges facing live music today. Bands are competing with karaoke nights, DJs, comedy shows, streaming entertainment, and social media. Those things all have their place, but they’re often less expensive for venue owners to host. From a business standpoint, it makes sense. The drinks still sell, and the overhead is lower. But there’s something different about live music. There’s an energy exchange that happens between musicians and an audience that simply can’t be duplicated. It’s organic, unpredictable, and human.
Another interesting topic that came up during our conversation was self-promotion. Many artists struggle with it. The truth is that most musicians are their own toughest critics. They care deeply about their audience and want every performance to be worth someone’s time and money. They want people who have crawled out of their she-sheds and man caves to feel like leaving their comfort zones was absolutely worth it. And if those same people happen to shake a foot or two while they’re there, even better. (See what I did there?)
When I sat down with the band to talk about music and life in the Pacific Northwest, one theme came up repeatedly: Even if they weren’t getting paid, they’d still be doing this. Why? Because music brings people together. It’s a universal language. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, what you do for a living, how old you are, or what your background is. Music has a way of creating community and reminding us that we’re all connected.
In this age of AI and digital everything, I think it’s more important than ever that we continue supporting artists who are creating something real in real time. If we don’t, we risk losing the very experiences that inspire future generations to pick up a guitar, sit behind a drum kit, learn a horn, or sing into a microphone. Our children and young adults deserve to know that music is more than something that comes through earbuds. It’s a heartbeat experience. It’s people sharing pieces of themselves with other people.
Heather and the Groove Masters will be performing at Rock the Dock on June 20 at 535 Dock Street in Tacoma. If you’re looking for a great night of music and want to hear one of the best bands in the area, one that knows how to read a crowd, work a room, and keep people engaged from the first song to the last, go see them. The view from the deck outside isn’t too shabby either.
When you love what you do and you see people dancing, smiling, laughing, and forgetting their troubles for a few hours, it makes every rehearsal, every late-night loadout, and every mile traveled worthwhile.
Support local music. Support local venues. Support artists who are still willing to put themselves out there and create something real. I promise you’ll be glad you did.
