Squeak and Squawk Music Festival
Thursday, September 12–Monday, September 16
Earlier this year, a Tacoma blog posted a number of articles that considered the state of Tacoma’s evolving music scene, citing “key issues impeding [its] growth,” dubbing it nothing “to rally around.”
Adam McKinney hopes to change perceptions like that with the Squeak and Squawk Music Festival.
“Tacoma is a notoriously scrappy town,” says McKinney, who organizes the festival with co-director Jena Stedtler, “but in recent years we’ve begun to embrace our underdog status.” The aim of the fest, he says, is to strengthen the local music community while offering great T-Town bands larger exposure. “Squeak and Squawk is helping to invigorate and build up the music scene, and introducing it to the outside world can only make things better.”
By booking diverse indie acts from the Pacific Northwest, McKinney hopes to curate “an extended five-day period of weirdness.” This year, the festival showcases approximately 30 different bands—mostly Tacoma-based, but also some regional and national groups. “Some of these acts, like Carletta Sue Kay,” says McKinney, “never really take tours up the Coast, while others are exciting up-and-comers that we can’t wait to share with everyone.”
Kay will bring her unique torch-song stylings from San Francisco, along with Oakland’s Twin Steps. Other highlights include La Luz; the reunited Man Plus; Friends and Family; LAKE; and Tender Forever.
The fest, launched in 2008, offers two shows each day: an all-ages show at 6 p.m. at the Broadway Center and a 21-and-over show at 9:30 p.m. at the New Frontier Lounge. SoundTransit can get you there quickly and easily: The New Frontier Lounge is a few blocks from the Tacoma Dome station, and the Broadway Center is just off the last stop of the free Tacoma Link light rail.
“Squeak and Squawk is a unique event for these parts, and I’d love for people to make the effort to experience it,” says McKinney, a shameless cheerleader. “Tacoma is a lovely place, and Squeak and Squawk is one of the loveliest things about it.” Broadway Center, 901 Broadway, 253-591-5890. New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 25th St., 253-572-4020. squeak andsquawk.com. $7 DOS/$50 for a festival pass.
MICHAEL BERRY
