Bumbershoot may be "the nation's largest arts festival, attracting over 100,000 people to Seattle Center every Labor Day weekend," according to fest organizers, but as one of Seattle's oldest and longest-running festivals (now in its 44th consecutive year), here's what the annual shindig really has going for it:
Located in the heart of the city: Pretty much anywhere you head on the Bumber-grounds are within sight of The Emerald City's iconic landmark: the Space Needle.
Diversity of lineup: From staples of the rock and roll scene to hip-hop heroes to getting your fill of folk, pop, soul and electronic music, Bumbershoot consistently offers a danceable melting pot of genres. And 2014 is no exception: Try Elvis Costello, Wu-Tang, Bootsy Collins (featuring Portland's own Farnell Newton on trumpet), Foster The People, Mavis Staples and so many more on for size.
Best of the Northwest: Plus, there's always plenty of hometown and PDX talent present at Bumbershoot. This year, you should be excited about The Head and the Heart, Pickwick, Red Fang, Modern Kin, Tangerine, La Luz, The Lonely Forest, Campfire Ok, Shelby Earl, Polyrhythmics, Fly Moon Royalty, Hobosexual, Cumulus and more, more, more!
All ages with a totally relaxed, family-friendly environment: Youngershoot activities are specifically geared towards wee ones but other programming is easily accessible because it...
Never feels too crowded: With so much stuff going on, there's usually ample opportunity to get close to the stage, especially during afternoon and early evening sets. And here's a hint for those of age: Try the beer garden. Several stages have nearby gardens and some of them will actually allow you a better view, or at least a less crunched listening experience (not to mention a cool beer!), if the area close to the stage is too crowdy.
Extracurricular activities: And by that we mean non-music offerings like comedy (check out the PDX troupe Comedy Grab Bag), talks, theater and film, which are not only often funny, entertaining and informative, but they also frequently take place in a chilled, seated theater. Ahh, your tired legs will thank you.
Live on KEXP: If, heaven forbid, you can't make it to the fest grounds over Labor Day weekend, KEXP has got you covered. Broadcasting live from its super-secret Bumbershoot Music Lounge, you can hear exclusive live performances on the radio or streaming online.
But most importantly: The outdoor mainstage is back this year—albeit with a slightly reconfigured orientation—but anything beats shuffling and scuttling inside of Key Arena to catch the night's headliners (or anyone else, for that matter). We cannot wait to bask in the open air of Memorial Stadium once again this year.
Join us because it'll be good to be back!
