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Bumbershoot 2013: You can’t eat it all

By on August 31, 2013
(Photo by Greg Roth)

(Photo by Greg Roth)

I have said it at least a thousand times and I will say it again, taking in all of Bumbershoot is like trying to eat a multi-course meal in one sitting, and then washing it down by drinking water from a fire hose. Even if you had ten clones you still wouldn’t be able to fully drink in every act, every magic moment, every beat and riff.

After attending festivals like Bumbershoot, Sasquatch or Capitol Hill Block Party, it’s very easy to have a “I could’ve had a V8” moment and regret what you missed. The important thing is to savor the moments you do experience. In fact, you are going to miss a bunch of brilliant stuff – but the good news is, the stuff that you do catch will be equally cool. When it’s all said and done, it won’t really matter what you saw and heard, as long as you stayed safe, had fun, and got your groove on.

Like last year, stellar weather (for the first couple of days anyway), along with a lineup consisting of classic artists, 80’s and 90’s hit makers, as well as some local and emerging artists. Three days of fun in the sun with some outstanding musical talent in The Emerald City under the shadow of The Space Needle is a great way to close out the Northwest festival season.

How you approach an event of this size and scale is up to you. You can check out the itinerary (there’s an app for that.) and make a plan – get a full helping of each band or sample a little of many – or… you can just toss the schedule and take a more Zen approach. One of the coolest things about Bumbershoot is discovering acts that aren’t necessarily on the itinerary. Some music just reaches out, grabs you and pulls you in. It is great when that happens. But if you do want a place to start, here are just a few recommendations.

BUMBERSHOOT 2013: CLASSIC AND EMERGING ARTISTS ON TAP (VIDEOS)

bumbershoot

Day 1 – Saturday, August 31

The Flavr Blue, Down North, Beat Connection, ZZ Ward, The Physics, Charles Bradley and his Extraordinaires, Gary Newman, Kris Orlowski, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Maceo Parker and Heart

Day 2 – Sunday, September 1

Kithkin, Ayron Jones & The Way, The Redwood Plan, The Mowgli’s, Teagan & Sara, David Bazan, Fun. Eric Burdon & The Animals, Bob Mould, The Grizzled Mighty, Ra Ra Riot, The Zombies, Beats Antique, Death Cab For Cutie, Matt & Kim and Vickie Martinez

Day 3 – Monday, September 2

Hot Bodies in Motion, The Maldives, Redd Kross, MGMT, Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands, Delta Ray, Ivan & Alyosha, Justin Townes Earl, Allen Stone and The Joy Formidable

It looks like the KEXP Music Lounge sessions may all be sold out but it may be worth a shot anyway.

Also, our partners Melodic Caring Project will be streaming Ayron Jones & The Way at 12:00 and the Vicci Martinez at 10:00pm live from the Starbucks stage on Sunday, September 1.

Not only is he a multi-media journalist, he is also an accomplished musician. He is the founder of SMI and drives the creative look, feel and branding for the publication. His years of writing, arranging, and performing live music in a variety of genres inform his ability to communicate the message and the mechanics of music. Roth’s work on SMI reflects his philosophy that music is the universal language, and builds community. He believes it has the power to unite people of every race, religion, gender, and persuasion.
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