The Incredible Shrinking Bumbershoot

Our guide to the small things that make Seattle's arts festival great.

BUMBERSHOOT IS NOW a three-day festival instead of four: So what? Does this mean you’re not going to go? We highly doubt it. This year, the festival’s organizers have made up for the lack of Friday on the schedule by cramming the weekend with some serious A-list talent. Kanye West, Blondie, a Tribe Called Quest, and the Steve Miller Band are but a handful of the crowd pleasers One Reel has managed to snag. But rather than plug the big-name artists, we thought we would keep with the small-scale theme of this year’s Bumbershoot, and put the spotlight on a few of the lesser-knowns. Inside, you’ll find profiles on soft-folkie Vashti Bunyan, electronic minimalist Lusine, local roots crooner Sera Cahoone, and Portland pop-punkers the Thermals, to name a few—plus a complete pullout schedule to make your weekend easier. Bumbershoot may be three days now, but we think you’ll still find plenty of little things to celebrate.

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