David “Tuba Dave” Endicott and Craig Chastain Remembered at Poverty Bay Blues & Brews Festival

On Saturday, August 26, the Rotary Club of Des Moines and Normandy Park hosted the 16ᵗʰ annual Poverty Bay Blues & Brews Festival. Despite the late-summer timing, roughly 1,100 music lovers turned out to enjoy world-class blues and tastes from 20 local breweries.

This festival remains the Rotary’s signature fundraiser, and all net proceeds are reinvested locally. Each year, Highline Music4Life receives the largest single grant—this time $15,000—to support the acquisition and repair of musical instruments for public school students. Other beneficiaries include college scholarships, the Des Moines food bank, and youth development programs.

This year’s festival was dedicated to the memory of David “Tuba Dave” Endicott, who passed away in May 2025. As co-founder and longtime driving force of Music4Life, Endicott built the organization around a singular conviction: that every child should have access to instruments, regardless of family income. Under his guidance, Music4Life donated more than 3,100 instruments valued at about $2 million to schools across the Puget Sound region.

Endicott’s path to this mission was shaped by his own early life in rural Wisconsin, where he credited his sixth-grade band director, Emory “Nordy” Nordness, with placing him on a better life path.  Later, Endicott worked in public relations and politics—serving as press secretary to U.S. Senator Slade Gorton (1982–1987) and contributing to public service boards before dedicating himself full-time to Music4Life’s growth.

At the festival, the Rotary also made its Music4Life contribution in honor of Craig Chastain, who served in past years as club president. Chastain was well known in the Seattle music and events world. As president of The Chastain Company, he helped coordinate major public events including Bumbershoot, Folklife Festival, and Bite of Seattle. His experience and networks across the music community were instrumental in deepening Rotary’s commitment to music education.

The success of the festival likewise depends on a strong network of civic support. Thirty-two local businesses and civic groups contributed sponsorships in the $500 to $5,000 range. As Center Stage sponsor, the City of Des Moines subsidized rental costs for the picturesque Des Moines Beach Park—a popular venue for both public and private events.

Blues & Brews consistently features four acclaimed blues bands, and its reputation for attracting top performers continues to grow. Many artists are drawn not only to the region’s vibrant blues scene, but to the festival’s meaningful mission in support of music education.

Poverty Bay Blues & Brews is held each year on the Saturday before Labor Day weekend. Mark your calendar for next year—and get ready to enjoy great music, local brews, and a chance to help empower the next generation of musicians.

By Bettina Carey & Catherine Carbone Rogers