Where did the summer go? Every year, it seems that July and August fly by until here we are, on the cusp of Labor Day Weekend. So no judgment if you haven’t gotten around to planning your Bumbershoot experience just yet. Don’t worry–The SunBreak hivemind is here to help!
Tony gets the ball rolling: I won’t even pretend. Despite the awesomeness of Bumbershoot’s overall art and performance schedule, it’s the music lineup that’s got me most stoked. True dyed-in-the-wool showbiz legends are a dying breed, so the fact that world-class crooner icon Tony Bennett and rockabilly pioneer Wanda Jackson both grace Bumbershoot this year should be cause for celebration.
Dana: I plan to close out Sunday night with Wanda Jackson & The Dusty 45’s. She’s the Queen of Rockabilly, still rocking it at age 74…’nuff said. The Dusty 45’s are a local group known for kickass rockabilly and lighting their brass instruments on fire. I was that weird kid in the late ’90s who was obsessed with rockabilly instead of boy bands, so this will be a great opportunity for me to bond with my inner teenager.
Audrey: Speaking of legends, American hero John Waters is a non-negotiable Bumbershoot must-see for your Saturday night.
Dana: Sunday afternoon brings Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and their Motown and blues for the 21st century. I fell in love with Sharon Jones’ voice when I heard her cover of “This Land is Your Land.” Anyone who can turn a song that I used to sing in elementary school into something I’d play at a dance party is awesome in my book. (If anyone here knows how to blues dance, please come and dance with me!) Then it’s off to the Harmonica House Party. Because everyone needs to experience a harmonica jam at least once in their lifetime.
Tony: In sharp contrast, years of bad luck have deflected me from being able to enjoy the mad genius of Don’t Talk to the Cops in a live setting, an oversight I intend to correct this weekend.
Audrey: You might want to try your Don’t Talk to the Cops luck at the Free Yr Radio stage on the Fountain Lawn. Their tent often serves as a good way to see local bands in a venue likely smaller than where they’re playing festival proper.
Tony: Everyone’s been over the moon about Reignwolf‘s volcanic live show, and I’m excited to see the guy in action.
Shawn: I am only going on Monday, but I am looking forward to Reignwolf in a performance bigger than the Easy Street show I saw him at last time. Also Foxy Shazam!
Audrey: I want to make sure to catch the smooth Swedish Europop of Niki and the Dove and the mellow, sweeping French guitar grooves of M83. I wish Ken Jennings hosting trivia didn’t fall so late on the last night of Bumbershoot. Won’t somebody think of the olds?
Margaret: Skerik’s Bandalabra features a friend of mine on bass, so I’ll be checking them out (and if you miss them at Bumbershoot, they’ll be playing a couple of shows in Seattle in late September and October).
Dana: I’ve been following The Young Evils from afar for the last couple of years, so Sunday is the perfect opportunity for me to follow them a little more closely. They get a lot of airplay on KEXP, and their songs & energy always catch my ear. “Get Over It” is the perfect driving in the Seattle sunshine with the windows rolled down song.
Audrey: The Young Evils are also playing the Free Yr Radio stage later that day, to allow you to stalk them even further. Just sayin’, friend.
Tony: The Dirtbombs smear everything from garage-rock to vintage soul to old-school new wave with a fistful of Motor City elbow grease and a performance artist’s sense of adventure. And there’s an influx of reunited bands from the 1980s and ’90s that have reputedly been bringing it live. Jane’s Addiction probably represent the most high-profile of those acts, but I’m way more interested in catching up with ska-punk polyglots Fishbone, New York sultans of heaviness Prong, and The Vaselines‘ winsome yet scruffy pop. I could go on…
Audrey: Like The Promise Ring touring together again! Emotacular! It’s a Bumbershoot miracle.
Dana: On Sunday at noon, I’m planning to hit the Seattle Symphony presents Symphony Untuxed. In past years, I always bemoaned the lack of classical music at Bumbershoot. How could the self-proclaimed catch-all arts festival ignore the musical genre I love the most, especially given Seattle’s vibrant classical music scene? That’s why I was excited to hear about SSO’s partnership with Bumbershoot for last year’s festival. It looks like 2011’s performance was a success, so Symphony Untuxed has returned for a second year, in which members of the Seattle Symphony will perform a variety of solo and chamber works.
Margaret: I’m interested in the Modernist Cuisine experience–it’s one thing to see it done on Top Chef, and another thing to see/smell/hear it done in person. Who knows, maybe afterward I’ll buy the 5-volume, $600 tome.
Dana: I’ve always loved the comedy at Bumbershoot. I definitely want to catch Fred Armisen, but I may try to see some of the other comedy shows, like Gabe and Jenny.
Margaret: I’ll be hoping to be one of Paul F. Tompkins’ (fake) friends at his show featuring Jen Kirkman and Kumail Nanjiani (who I know from college, if you insist on full disclosure).
Audrey: All of those comedy acts are on my list too. Expect to see Doug Benson wandering stoned around the Seattle Center grounds, as per usual.
Margaret: How can I forget M. Ward? I’m sad that his show conflicts with The Jayhawks, but given the choice, I’d still go with M. I haven’t seen him live in years, so I look forward to the experience. And then I might be done…I’m old and I live in West Seattle now, so it’s going to take me a few days to get home. I kid, I kid! It’ll take a week.