Summer Music Festival Guide

Summer is coming to Seattle. Well, if not what most people would consider summer, at least the chance of a few rain free days in succession are headed our way. And with the summer come the music fests, street fairs, block parties and so on. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of outdoor stages. I prefer my live music without the sunburns and baby strollers. I feel if rock was meant to be played outside, guitar amps would plug into trees. Rock is born in dark basements and in bedrooms late at night. Music sounds best, to me, when it entirely fills a small, awkward space. But I know most people enjoy huge outdoor concerts. And here in Seattle, we put on some pretty great music festivals. And while, it isn’t my favorite way to see bands, I still go. I get pretty excited when the line-up announcements start coming in. So here are the some highlights of this year’s festival season…Sasquatch: When: May 26-27 Where: the Gorge Amphitheatre Line-up Highlights: The Beastie Boys, Arcade Fire, Bjork, Bad Brains, Neko Case, Visqueen, the Black Angels, Viva Voce, and many more. My thoughts: I haven’t been to the Gorge in years, and I’ve never been to Sasquatch. I know for many people, this is the most anticipated festival of the year. And it definitely has more big names than any of the other festivals. There are bands I’d love to see, just not enough to drive out there and camp. More info: http://www.sasquatchfestival.com/

Georgetown Music Fest: When: June 2-3 Where: Georgetown neighborhood Line-up Highlights: Earlimart, the Supersuckers, Idiot Pilot, Voyager One, With Friends Like This, Iceage Cobra, the Hands, Skullbot, Spook the Horse, Tiny Vipers My thoughts: The Georgetown Music Fest has expanded to two days this year and has assembled a killer line-up of mostly northwest bands. $12.50 per day in advance, $15 per day at the door, or two day passes for $25 More info: http://www.georgetownmusicfest.com/index.php

Noise for the Needy: When: June 6-10 Where: Various clubs around town Line-up Highlights: Okkervil River, Sera Cahoone, Das Llamas, The Lights, The Cops, and more. My thoughts: Not really a festival, but a series of shows around town to benefit a good cause. Because of other shows happening this week, the only Noise for the Needy show I plan on attending is the Okkervil River/Sera Cahoone show at Neumos on the 10th. More info: http://www.noisefortheneedy.org/

Fremont Fair: When: June 16-17 Where: Fremont neighborhood Line-up Highlights: Peter Parker, Carrie Akre, Gerald Collier, and more My thoughts: Always a very eclectic line-up More info: http://www.fremontfair.com/music.php

West Seattle Summer Fest: When: July 13-15 Where: West Seattle along California Ave Line-up Highlights: Nothing has been announced yet. Last year featured a very eclectic line-up including some big names like John Doe and 50 Foot Wave. My thoughts: If there is someone I want to see, I’ll make the trip across the West Seattle bridge. More info: http://www.westseattlefestival.com/

Capitol Hill Block Party: When: July 27-28 Where: Capitol Hill Line-up Highlights: Silversun Pickups, Blue Scholars, the Blood Brothers, Cave Singers, Grand Archives, Spoon, the Blakes, plus more to be announced. My thoughts: Last year the CHBP moved a block South and went to a Friday/Saturday schedule (as opposed to the Saturday/Sunday schedule it had been in the past). Both of these changes improved an always great festival. This was by far my favorite festival last year and it will be hard to top last year’s line-up featuring Big Business, Pretty Girls Make Graves, the Black Angels, Band of Horses, and the reunited Murder City Devils. More info: http://www.thestranger.com/blockparty

KEXP BBQ: When: Sometime in August, probably on a Sunday. Where: It was held in the KEXP parking lot, but last year was moved to South Lake Union Discovery Park. Line-up Highlights: Nothing has been announced. Last year featured Ghostland Observatory and Thee Emergency. My thoughts: This will be the 5th year of the BBQ. The first one featured the Divorce playing on a flat bed truck. They ran out of food. They had plenty of beer kegs, but only 2 taps. A warehouse two blocks away caught fire and sent up a huge pillar of smoke. But lots of fun. More info: http://www.kexp.org/events/events.asp

Endfest: When: ??? Where: White River Amphitheatre (?) Line-up Highlights: Nothing has been announced My thoughts: KNDD has almost become a talk radio station. The local show on Sunday nights is just about the only time I listen to The End anymore. More info: http://www.1077theend.com/pages/255890.php

Bumbershoot: When: September 1-3 Where: Seattle Center Line-up Highlights: The Shins, Wu-Tang Clan, more to be announced (I hope when more bands are announced there will be more I want to see) My thoughts: Last year Bumbershoot changed from a four day format to a three day format. Last year was also the first time I was disappointed in Bumbershoot. I paid more than ever, and got less than I ever had. I hope this year will be better. More info: http://bumbershoot.org/

Other: Decibel Festival, the electronic music festival, happens in September. http://www.dbfestival.com/. Gay Pride Weekend is June 23-24. http://www.seattlepride.org/. Hempfest, August 18-19, http://hempfest.org/drupal/. The Vans Warped Tour hits the Gorge on August 18, http://www.warpedtour.com/warpedtour/index.asp. Something called the Download Festival is at the Gorge on August 25, http://www.downloadfestival.com/

There you go. Information on all the major Seattle area festivals all in one place. If I’ve left out any other music festival (or festival featuring music), please add it in the comments. Where sunscreen, be wary if the food vendors, and have a merry festival season.

by Matt Koroulis

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