Once a week, Mike Summerfield transforms from driven businessman to fun-lovin’ rock star. His fingers slap his electric bass for appreciative regulars and visitors at Big Daddy’s Place Bar & Grill, Woodinville’s only restaurant or club with daily live music. Summerfield and his group, Red Cup—anyone who’s attended a wild-eyed drinking party knows where that name came from—are pretty much guaranteed a slot on stage whenever they please.

When he's up in front of the crowd, Summerfield owns the stage in more ways than one. That's because he is Big Daddy himself, a nickname bestowed on him before he opened the original Big Daddy’s in Woodinville Town Center. His current location is a happening and lively place trapped in a bland-looking industrial complex on NE 177th Place, in Bear Creek Plaza.

Step inside, though, and you’ll take in a colorful space with guitars hanging on walls, comfortable booths, a generous number of tables (some shaped like guitars), video games and busy, attentive servers. The open floor plan guarantees greats views of the stage from every seat. Heck, even the people in back with pool cues can take a peek at the action.

Big Daddy’s, like the wineries surrounding it, is in many aspects a destination for people from surrounding communities like Lynnwood, Kirkland and Bellevue, even drawing the curious from Seattle. It's not just a night club; the place is filled with all ages for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

“We’re a family community here in Woodinville,” said Summerfield, who added that his place certainly gets its share of locals.  “We’re a destination. We just happen to be in Woodinville.”

Big Daddy’s certainly has a wide variety of food and drink to choose from.  But it's best known, in these parts and elsewhere, for its live music. You’re in Woodinville and want to hear it, you go to Big Daddy’s. You know about Red Cup, with Summerfield and guitarist Steve Stefanowicz, keyboardist Eric Robert and drummer Darin Watkins. There’s more.

Tuesday is JamDawgs night, Big Daddy’s partnership with a Seattle-based nonprofit that brings together musicians and provides support for music education.

Wednesday is house-band night, and belongs to Red Cup.

Thursday is a showcase for new bands playing practically any type of original music. “There’s not too many venues for them to play,” said Summerfield. It’s really a great gig. Summerfield provides the bands a professional-quality video and audio recording of the set. “They have the opportunity to get on stage with lights and a professional sound engineer and to have people hear their music.” Interested? Summerfield says he often prequalifies bands over the phone.

One Thursday a month is dedicated to Woodinville-based Spotlight Studios Music Center, which provides music lessons, band rehearsal spaces and a school-of-rock-type program called Jam Academy. Next month’s will showcase several youthful bands.

Friday and Saturday nights is reserved for local, professional bands like Big Dog Revue, now in its 15th year as a horn-based collective playing classic rock, R&B and dance. The band’s been a Big Daddy’s staple since the days at the old location.

“It's always been one of our favorite rooms because people come for a good time,” said Bob Wikstrom, who sings and plays keys and Hammond B3 organ. “Mike has always been focused on maintaining a high standard when it comes to entertainment. The sound system is probably better than any room, including casinos, in the Northwest. He took a huge risk when he moved to a larger room, but he's been doing everything right. It's refreshing to see a club owner who's willing to step out, take a chance and go for it. It's another reason Big Dog's looks forward to playing there.”

For a band that’s played for so many years in Woodinville, it’s become invested in the city. Its trumpet player, Steve Mraz, is an instructor at Spotlight Studios.

“Woodinville is becoming a hot spot,” said Wikstrom. “Obviously, the wineries are a major part of that. You drive or walk around where the wineries are clustered on a weekend and it just feels like a party. If there were perhaps a bit more coordination and event planning from maybe the Chamber or another entity, the draw to Woodinville could be huge.”

Summerfield is doing his part. Every weekend, he offers free wine-tasting excursions by bus to patrons who buy breakfast, lunch or dinner at Big Daddy’s. It’s part of his plan to develop beneficial relationships with the city’s most recognizable business. “Woodinville is,” he said, “like the Napa Valley of the Northwest.”