Marymoor Reveals Summer Music Plans

marymoor sunset via flickr cc user sunjaec

Nothing heralds the arrival of summer in Seattle more clearly than the combination of pollen-filled air, the overeager appearance of sandals, and announcements of outdoor music-watching opportunities. This week brought a slate of announcements for a season's worth of concerts at Marymoor Park, some of which should have you running to pack your favorite picnic blanket while others may remind you that long forgotten bands still continue to exist.

Among the most noteworthy entries was the lineup for the second (now annual) No Depression Festival, to be be headlined this time around by Lucinda Williams and the Swell Season (Once darlings Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova). Sponsored by Seattle's own roots music magazine that arose from the grave in 2008 as a community oriented website, the all-day event will also feature the Cave Singers, Punch Brothers, Alejandro Escovedo, Chuck Prophet, and Sera Cahoone. It takes place on 21 August with advance tickets running $45.

That said, the show most likely to have me setting aside disdain for convenience charges and scheming for a ride to the eastside is the dynamite pairing of the National and Okkervil River on 11 September.

Anticipation for the National's upcoming release High Violet has been high, with tracks trickling out all year via official channels, late show performances, and fan videos. Last week saw the New York Times getting into the realm of full album streaming, with the full record playing alongside a long magazine profile of the band. With Matt Berninger singing about still owing money to the money that [he] owes (on "Bloodbuzz Ohio") in his sad lion baritone, the whole thing has a feeling of gunning for (and achieving) "album of These Troubled Times" status. If their border-delayed 2008 performance at Sasquatch was any indication, the band outdoors on a cool summer evening will rank among my highest recommendations of the season.

Also highly worthy of your consideration are Rodrigo y Gabriella, the Mexican guitar phenoms by way of Ireland who must be seen to be believed, on 13 August. There are also throwbacks like the Doobie Brothers and Beatles tribute band called 1964, festival addicts like Michael Franti & Spearhead, and bands whose continued existence elicit surprise like Barenaked Ladies, Slightly Stoopid, and Train. On top of all of that, the Mountain hosts its own music festival on 14 August. Full calendar listed below, tickets for most go onsale on Saturday morning.

19 June: Slightly Stoopid / Steel Pulse / the Expendables
15 July: Barenaked Ladies
24 July: 1964
07 August: Michael Franti & Spearhead
13 August: Rodrigo y Gabriella / Xavier Rudd
14 August: Mountain Music Fest
21 August: No Depression Festival
26 August: The Doobie Brothers
11 September: The National / Okkervil River
19 September: Train

• Concerts at Marymoor. Marymoor Park (Redmond, WA). Most summer weekend, ticket prices vary.