Preview: Artists to Watch at This Year’s Festival.
BUMBERSHOOT, Seattle’s Arts & Music Festival, is celebrating it’s 50th year!
The annual two day festival happens on Labor Day weekend and is held on the historic grounds of the Seattle Center , home to the Space Needle and Mural Amphitheater.
Each year, BUMBERSHOOT, celebrates local artists and features music from all around the globe. This year the festival has 5 stages, around 66 music performances and over a dozen artists ranging in styles and genres such as Burlesque, Pole Dancing and Performance Art.
There are chart topping headliners on both Saturday and Sunday such as Brittany Howard and Fatboy Slim, PLUS numerous acts who originated in Seattle like Band of Horses and Sleater – Kinney.
With so many choices it might be hard to decide who to see first! I’ve made a list of my favorites, just in case you need some help.
Saturday
Chong the Nomad – 1:40 PM – Mural Stage (Electronic, Dance, Pop, Spoken Word)
Alda Agustiano is the Seattle based Indonesian-American Producer, Singer-Songwriter, DJ, Musician known as Chong the Nomad. A brilliant force of nature who’s lyrical story telling evokes an array of emotions. A passionate performer who has shared the stage with Odesza, Death Cab for Cutie and K.Flay.
Spirit Award – 3:45 PM – Vera Stage (Alt -Indie, Electronic, Shoegaze, Psychedelic,Rock)
Spirit Award is the musical creation of Seattle-based singer/songwriter Daniel Lyon. Fuzzy guitars and synthesizers send you on a trip through Daniel’s mind. The band’s latest album The Fear is an ear tingling journey of emotional exploration and the video is a cinematic work of art. Spirit Award will be touring the U.K following their BUMBERSHOOT date, so don’t miss it!
Reignwolf – 6:45 PM – KEXP Stage (Indie Blues Rock)
Reignwolf hit the charts in 2013 with their single “Are You Satisfied?” and a year later was featured in Cameron Crowe’s series “Roadies”. Since then the trio has played Lollapalooza, toured with The Who and released a single “The Woods” with Rage Against the Machine‘s Brad Wilk. Lead singer and guitarist, Jordan Cook, is known for his high energy performances.
Reignwolf
AFI – 7:30 PM – Fountain Stage (Alternative Rock, Electronic, Dance)
A Fire Inside (AFI) has been dominating the punk and alternative scene since the 1990’s. Led by the enigmatic Davey Havoc, the band has released over 11 albums and ruled the early oughts with their break-through albums 2000’s The Art of Drowning and 2003’s Sing the Sorrow. You will sing, you will dance and you will be left hoarse from screaming. I already have “Miss Murder” stuck in my head writing this…..
Sleater- Kinney – 10:00PM – Fountain Stage (Indie Rock)
Sleater-Kinney, formed in 1994, an alt-rock, Indie, all women trio from Olympia WA. The band were early trailblazers of the riot grrrl movement and are known for their strong feminist political action. The band has collaborated with Pearl Jam covering Neil Young‘s “Rocking in the Free World” and have lend their voices to an episode of Bob’s Burgers.
Sunday
Pussy Riot – 3:05 PM – Fisher Stage (Performance Art, Alternative, Punk, Hard Core, Indie)
Pussy Riot is Moscow’s performative punk rock riot band made entirely of women artists who use their music as a weapon against war, misogyny, bigotry and hate. Since 2011 the band has written songs to protest inequality for women and advocate for LGTBQ+ rights. Their provocative guerrilla style anti-Putin performances have landed them in jail on more than one occasion. The balaclava wearing activists have been nominated for numerous peace awards, stand with Ukraine and have written a book about their years in Russia’s criminal system.
RUB – 4:55 PM – Vera Stage (Electronic, Rock, Dance, Pop)
Former/Current members of Trick Candles, Salt Lick, Acid Tongue, NighTraiN, Cute Lepers and La Fonda. It’s the ultimate “Best of” Seattle Supergroup that pairs rock, dance, pop and soul together. RUB‘s music is designed to give you a euphoric lift of happiness that will transport you back in time. If you are looking to kick up your shoes and throw your cares away for 45 minutes, this will be your jam! Guaranteed to have you say: “This is my new favorite band”. Check out their first video “Contentment“.
Valerie June – 5:35 PM – Fountain Stage (Americana, Singer-Songwriter, Poet)
If you are in need of a musical ray of sunshine then head over to the Fountain Stage and check out Grammy-nominated Valerie June. The Tennessee native uses her gift of musical poetry to promote positivity with uplifting and inspirational lyrics. Valerie is also a certified yoga and mindfulness meditation instructor and author behind a best selling book of poetry. You will laugh and leave a little lighter and mindful for sure.
Band of Horses – 7:30PM – Fountain Stage (Indie, Folk, Rock)
It’s been over a decade since Band of Horses (BOH) have played at BUMBERSHOOT. The Grammy nominated group formed in Seattle in 2014, led by lead singer and guitarist Ben Bridewell after the breakup of Carissa’s Weird. Their debut album Everything All the Time produced the hit single “The Funeral” which has been used in several television series, films, and covered by several artists. BOH is known for their ethereal melodies paired with emotional lyrics that pull on your heart strings. Songs like “No One’s Gonna Love You” “Ghost” and “Warning Signs” always seem to trigger tears among fans in the crowd. Even though the band moved to Charleston, SC during their Infinite Arms session in 2010 Seattle music fans welcome them home with open arms.
