The Timber! Outdoor Music Festival is officially an annual event.Last July the

The Timber! Outdoor Music Festival is officially an annual event.

Last July the two-day festival debuted with a healthy lineup for a first-time fest, bringing regional standouts including Helio Sequence, Fruit Bats, and Quasi to the banks of the Snoqualmie River. It was a success, drawing more than 2,000 music fans to a park that most Seattleites didn’t even know existed. The festival, produced by Artist Home Presents with cooperation from King County Parks, even spurred a winter counterpart in last month’s Timbrrr! Winter Music Festival in Leavenworth. And the momentum for Artist Home continues…

Today the organizers announced the first half of this year’s fest, set to take place July 24-26 again at Tolt-MacDonald Park hear Carnation, Washington, and it appears that the fest has jumped up a level (lineup below). According to Artist Home proprietor Kevin Sur, that’s partially because the process was a little different this time around.

“We didn’t decide to even do the festival until February of last year,” he told Seattle Weekly. “So this time last year, I was just getting started on the lineup. This year, I’ve had the luxury of working on the lineup and listening through submissions starting all the way back in October.”

The partial lineup is largely made up of regional talent, highlighted by standard-bearers

Damien Jurado and

Rocky Votolato. Also of note is the booking of

Grynch

and

The Physics

, two hip-hop acts that will help to broaden the weekend, which last year was dominated by folk and indie rock. But the biggest change from the first iteration of Timber! is the addition of a couple of big acts not from these parts at the top of the bill: powerful soul singer

Charles Bradley

and one of the greatest (and loudest) guitar players of this generation,

J Mascis.

“The ideal balance for us is to always just showcase the most talented artists out there, regardless of region, regardless of popularity,” Sur said of the turn outward, before bringing it back home. “It just so happens that the Northwest is one of the best places for musical talent in the world so in all likelihood, there will always be a heavy focus on all that makes the music of this region great.”

To account for the what will surely be greater demand, the festival is increasing its capacity from 2,500 to 3,000, while also adding another day on the front end of the event. There will also be a second kids show added this year, as well as a mobile record store showcasing Northwest record labels. More announcements are in the works, but it would probably be a good idea to get your tickets when they go on sale next Tuesday, February 25, at 10 a.m.

Here’s the entire first-round lineup:

Charles Bradley

J Mascis

Damien Jurado

Rocky Votolato

Grynch

Cumulus

The Physics

The Comettes

Battleme

Smokey Brights

Tea Cozies