Columbia City's The Royal Room Opens Friday. Skerik, Thousands, and 20 Other Bands on Tap For the First Week

Thousands plays Columbia City's Royal Room (5000 Rainier Avenue South) at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Wayne Horvitz promised that the Royal Room -- the club he's opening in Columbia City with Rendezvous/OK Hotel peeps Steve Freeborn and Tia Matthies -- was going to feature eclectic booking that would feature, but not be defined by, the jazz that he's famous for in town. And, judging from the lineup for opening week, he's keeping his word.

The Royal Room's opening week starts Friday, and features more than 20 bands through the week, including local indie-pluckers Thousands, in-demand sax innovator Skerik, and a band I've never heard of called JazzED New Works Ensemble (they're billed as "Seattle's finest alternative high school big band," which is enough to sell me). The weekend's shows are free, and tickets to see Skerik's Bandalalabra are $10. Show details can be found at theroyalroomseattle.com.