For many unlucky Seattle music fans, nothing’s worse than knowing your favorite bands are playing a multi-day festival in the middle of nowhere, a scenario sure to attract stoners, binge drinkers, and maybe even a juggalo or two. Though we may want a festival experience, many of us don’t wish to loiter once the last band of the night has peeled off its final encore. The inconvenience of camping next to a group of teenagers experiencing their first acid trip—not to mention that whole Porta-Potty situation—is sure to offset the day’s high notes.
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But fear not, tent-averse music lover! You can still enjoy a festival’s worth of great music without giving up a night’s sleep in your own bed. Here are the summer’s best festival-worthy lineups that happen all in one sweet day.
Tom Brosseau, Sean Watkins, Darren Loucas & Friends. If you have yet to experience the gorgeous pipes of this L.A.-based folk singer (who’s shared a stage and studio with the likes of John C. Reilly and Hilary Hahn), see him tonight with Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek and Darren Loucas, one of Seattle’s finest slide guitarists. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W.,
tractor tavern.com.
$8. 8 p.m. Wed., June 5.
Noise for the Needy 2013 Party at Hattie’s Hat. The benefit for this Seattle-based nonprofit group runs June 20–23 at venues around town, but this culminating show in the festival-primed grounds of Hattie’s parking lot pulls out all the stops with a bill of Seattle’s hottest up-and-comers. With Kris Orlowski, Hot Bodies in Motion, Cody Beebe & the Crooks, Tango Alpha Tango. Tractor Tavern,
noisefortheneedy.org. $15. 1 p.m. Sun., June 23.
Sub Pop Silver Jubilee. Seattle’s celebrated independent record label celebrates its 25th anniversary with a staggering selection of Sub Pop artists past and present. With Mudhoney, J Mascis, Greg Dulli, Shabazz Palaces w/THEESatisfaction, Shearwater, Father John Misty, Pissed Jeans, the Baptist Generals, Brothers of the Sonic Cloth (feat. Tad Doyle), Endino’s Earthworm (feat. Jack Endino), and more. Georgetown, various venues,
silver jubilee.subpop.com
. Free. Sat., July 13.
David Byrne & St. Vincent. If you missed the founding father of Talking Heads in tandem with one of indie rock’s sickest guitar slayers (not to mention songwriters) during last year’s area fest stops, don’t miss the duo tonight. Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14111 N.E. 145th St., Woodinville,
ste-michelle.com.
$55–$75. 7 p.m. Thurs., July 18.
Capitol Hill Block Party. Yes, it’s a festival. But camping here is discouraged (unless you count crashing on your friend’s couch), so grab a cab or Uber car and enjoy the fest—along with the Flaming Lips, Pickwick, Frightened Rabbit, Telekinesis, and many others—at your leisure. Capitol Hill, various venues,
capitolhillblock party.com
. $40–$115. 3 p.m. Fri., July 26, 1 p.m. Sat., July 27–Sun., July 28.
First Annual Horseshoes & Hand Grenades Music Festival. Get your twang on with the best alt-country and rockabilly outfits west of the Mississippi. With the Dusty 45’s, Davidson Hart Kingsbery, the Swearengens, Ganges River Band. Slim’s Last Chance, 5606 First Ave. S.,
slimslastchance.com
. $15. 6 p.m. Sat., July 27.
The Uncluded Hokey Fright Tour. This fresh collab between Aesop Rock’s intelligent-rap MC Ian Bavitz and Moldy Peaches’ cheeky lyricist Kimya Dawson is sort of the anti-Byrne/Vincent pairing (not that we’re comparing). Neumos, 925 E. Pike St.,
neumos.com
. $16 adv. 8 p.m. Tues., July 30.
Todd Snider’s Traveling Folk Show. Snider’s wry sociopolitical observations—perhaps a version of his “Talkin’ Seattle Grunge Rock Blues” or “Conservative Christian”—alongside Hayes Carll’s dusty drawl (remember him from Country Strong and “She Left Me For Jesus”?) are sure to produce loads of laughs. With Shawn Mullins, Hayes Carll, Sarah Jarosz. Woodland Park Zoo, 601 N. 59th St.,
zoo.org/zootunes
. $24. 6 p.m. Sun., Aug. 11.
KEXP Concerts at the Mural. The other thing about some of these non-fest festivals? They’re absolutely free, which means more money for the beer and wine garden. Enjoy KEXP’s annual summer music showcase featuring three bands per bill, a concert that combines the best of a fest into one perfectly packaged evening. With Rose Windows, Deep Sea Diver, Dude York, Vox Mod, and more. Concerts start at 5:30 p.m. Free. Aug. 2, 9, 16, 23. Mural Amphitheater.
kexp.org
.
gelliott@seattleweekly.com
