It’s Friday in Vancouver, a day when Laurel Bach and Brónagh Kelly like to belly up to a table at the Irishtown Pub, knock back a few Shirley Temples, and step up to the microphone.
The two 11-year-olds, both fifth-graders at Ellsworth Elementary School, are big fans of the bar and restaurant’s family karaoke night that runs every Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. It’s a place where the girls can perform in front of a friendly crowd and learn how to shake off their youthful shyness, they said.
“I used to be shy but now I know how to sing and not be shy,” said Brónagh, who’s been coming for a few years but only recently started bringing Laurel along.
The two kicked off a recent evening with a slightly giggly duet of “Eye of the Tiger,” popularized by the ’80s band Survivor. An audience of mostly parents and other kids hooted and cheered.
“I don’t really like singing because I get nervous and shy, but if I’m not alone it’s better,” Laurel said afterward.
Brónagh gave her a knowing smile.
“That’s how I used to be,” she told her friend. “Now I like to sing ’cause it really expresses myself.”
Brónagh has taken up piano and voice lessons, and she’s singing in the school choir.
Laurel plays the flute and loves listening to music. She’s getting used to the idea of singing, but there’s one musical thing she just can’t stand.
“At school we have to play the recorder, but the flute is so much better,” Laurel said. “I don’t know why we have to play the recorder.”
At that, Brónagh nodded vigorously, adding that she’s way more into the piano.
“You know why?” she asked Laurel with a grin. “You don’t have to remember to bring your piano to lessons. It’s already there.”
As the two talked, other kids and a handful of adults tried their voices on a wide range of songs, everything from Christmas carols to rock and country hits.
Kori Ludahl, the karaoke DJ who also runs the adult karaoke show from 9 p.m. to close at the pub, said she’d never heard of a kids karaoke night before Breda Yeates, one of the pub’s owners, brought it up.
Yeates is Brónagh’s grandmother.
“We started this about 2½ years ago for the kids and it’s really taken off,” Ludahl said. “Fridays we’re always packed. With the kids, the songs are often Top 40 or Disney hits. Disney is really popular for the little ones.”
She also has to be a little more selective for the kids than she does for adult shows, she said.
“You can’t have any songs with curse words or anything like that,” Ludahl said.
Yeates holds kids’ and adults’ karaoke contests at the pub each year. The kids’ contest, which is about to start, awards $200 in each of two categories: kids under 12 and kids 12 and over. The adult contest awards $500 and a trip to Hawaii this year. It begins in mid-January, she said.
“A lot of people come back every week,” Yeates said. “And you can see the kids get more stage presence and get more outgoing. And over time you can hear their singing get a lot better, too.”
Whether you’re a kid or an adult, karaoke can be a fun time. And there are at least 16 hot spots for it in Clark County, where it’s a popular form of entertainment, Ludahl said.
If you’d like to try it, The Columbian has compiled a list of karaoke spots in town. If we missed one, please let us know and we’ll add it to our map.
• 3 Monkeys Pub, 7917 N.E. Highway 99, Vancouver, 360-828-7006, www.3monkeyspub.com, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
• BackAlley Bar and Grill, 6503 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver, 360-694-6873, www.thebackalleyonline.com, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday and Tuesday, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
• Big Foot Inn, 105 Pendleton Way, Washougal, 360-835-2826, bigfootbar.com, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 7 to 11 p.m. Sunday.
• Boomers Sports Bar & Grill, 611 Main St., Vancouver, 360-693-7300, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
• Cascade Springs Restaurant, 516 S.E. Chkalov Drive, Vancouver, 360-891-9589, www.thespringsfoodandspirits.com, 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday.
• Chronis’ Restaurant & Lounge, 819 Main St., 360-690-0032, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
• Firstenburg Community Center (50 & Better Senior Activities) Meals on Wheels People Community Lunch Room, 700 N.E. 136th Ave., Vancouver, 360-487-7055, www.cityofvancouver.us/firstenburg, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every first Thursday.
• Husted’s Hazel Dell Lanes, Cedar Room Lounge, 6300 N.E. Highway 99, Vancouver, 360-694-8364, hustedshazeldelllanes.com, 8:30-11 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
• Ice House Bar & Grill, 7804 N.E. Highway 99, Vancouver, 360-573-0454, 8 p.m. to close Tuesday through Saturday.
• Irishtown Public House, 11600 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver, 360-253-1479, irishtownpub.com/itown, 5 to 8 p.m. family karaoke, 9 p.m. to close regular karaoke most Fridays.
• Jay’s Restaurant & Lounge, 5620 N.E. Gher Road, Vancouver, 360-892-0072, www.facebook.com/jaysbarvancouver, 9 p.m. to close, daily.
• Legends Food & Fun, 7005 N.E. Highway 99, Vancouver, 360-693-8125, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily.
• Out-A-Bounds Sports Bar & Grill, 14415 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver, 360-253-4789, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily.
• QuarterDeck Bar, 4300 E. Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver, 360-694-8016, www.facebook.com/pages/The-QuarterDeck-Bar/121729331212478, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily.
• Silver Star Saloon, 6718 N.E. Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver, 360-694-5742, www.facebook.com/pages/Silver-Star-Saloon/281443735199433, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily.
• Sportsman’s Restaurant and Lounge, 174 N. Main Ave., Ridgefield, 360-887-3141, www.facebook.com/SportsmansPub, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
