Orcas Center has an exciting year ahead of concerts, theatre productions, and more. Here is a taste of what’s to come for the month of January.

Spotlight in the OffCenter – Eric Apoe and Baby Gramps

This new series in the OffCenter Stage, conceived and hosted by Carolyn Cruso, will highlight celebrated songwriters from Seattle and beyond, and styles ranging from folk, blues, jazz and even vaudeville. The first of this series will feature Eric Apoe and Baby Gramps. A staple of Seattle’s underground, Apoe’s music is a cornucopia of romance, dissent, and speculation, spilling out into a galaxy of eclectic instrumentation and diverse styles. Baby Gramps is a high energy, humorously entertaining West Coast legend with an endless repertoire, including his own unique arrangements of rags, jazz, and blues songs from the 20s & 30s.

Saturday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m., OffCenter Stage. Tickets: $12.

Island Classics Series

Marilyn Parman, curator of the series, hopes to expose the islands to the marvelous array of local talent and to delight audiences with the fresh appeal of musical master works.

Island Classics #1, “Peace Through Music” will be on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 2 p.m., OffCenter Stage. There will be two more concerts, one in May and one in October.

Tickets: $16 nonmembers, $16 members, $10 students.

All Ages Concert with Common Market and No-Fi Soul Rebellion

Orcas Center and The Funhouse join forces to present this very cool all ages music event.

Come rock the house with a leader of Seattle’s hot hip hop scene and a hip pop-soul duo.

According to “The Stranger,” Common Market has “created a work that’s brought them closer to the region of hiphop greatness. This is no exaggeration.”

Friday, Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $10.

For more 2009 event listings and to buy tickets, visit www.orcascenter.org or call 376-ACT1.