Pack your summer full of Pacific Northwest music festivals

  • By Kelton Sears Seattle Weekly Music Editor
  • Tuesday, May 19, 2015 10:32am
  • LifeGo-See-Do

In 1995, Portland professor Alexander Baretich designed The Doug — a green, white, and blue flag meant to represent the bioregion of Cascadia, stretching all the way from British Columbia down to Oregon.

And what did he slap on it? A big ol’ tree, of course — because the Pacific Northwest is full of lusty, drool-inducing nature. If you haven’t noticed, the trees here look real good.

Why else would the Pacific Northwest attract so many lumberjack types?

Summer is when all this sylvan outdoor goodness really shines. According to the Sperling’s Best Places research site, Seattle and Portland rank No. 1 and 2, respectively, in the nation for the most enjoyable summer, thanks to our long days, low humidity, and comfortable average highs (speaking of which, did I mention the legal weed?).

Anyone who has taken a rudimentary math class can tell you that nature + weed = hippies, and where there are hippies, there will be music festivals. The Pacific Northwest is an incredibly biodiverse region, not only for its flora and fauna but also for its massive ecosystem of pop, folk, rock, hip-hop, and electronic festivals and concert series.

They exist in the Cascadian wilderness in a variety of habitats: Washington’s Sasquatch lives in a giant gorge; Oregon’s What The Festival lives deep in the forest; British Columbia’s Pemberton Music Festival lives in the shadow of Mount Currie; There are probably three or four deep-sea, or even subterranean, Northwest music festivals yet to be discovered by explorers.

When it comes to outdoor music in summer, you really can’t go wrong in Cascadia. The choice isn’t which show you should go to, but how many. Throw on your hiking boots, pop a few allergy pills (it’s a pollen clustercuss up here), and get ready to rock out near or atop lots of actual scenic rocks. This is your Cascadian birthright.

Pacific Northwest music festivals

Northwest Folklife Festival

May 22 through 25, Seattle Center, free

For the past 44 years, this gathering has celebrated the music and arts made by the various people who make the Northwest home, drawing an estimated 250,000 revelers to Seattle Center each Memorial Day weekend. Fittingly, it remains for anyone to attend. nwfolklife.org

Notable Acts: Clinton Fearon and Boogie Down Band, The Passenger String Quartet, Eleni Mandell, Mindi Lind, Tomo Nakayama, Cahalen Morrison, Mikey Mike the Rad Scientist

Sasquatch!

May 22 through 25, George, $350

Started in 2002, this oldest of the Northwest’s destination festivals plays host to some of the world’s hottest acts in a breathtaking setting, filling the Gorge Amphitheatre with pop, hip-hop, EDM, and people in costumes. sasquatchfestival.com

Notable Acts: Kendrick Lamar, Robert Plant, Modest Mouse, Sleater-Kinney, Lana Del Rey, Ryan Adams, St. Vincent

Volume Music Festival

May 29 and 30, Spokane, $20

Doggedly regional, this event — hosted by local weekly newspaper, the Inlander — features up-and-comers from throughout the Northwest in clubs (and one outdoor stage) around the city. volume. inlander.com

Notable Acts: Kithkin, Shaprece, Smoke M2D6, Fauna Shade

Camp RAHH!

June 5 through 7, Samish Island, $395

This “summer camp for grown ups” makes its registrants turn in their phones and focus on an immersive experience that includes arts and crafts, yoga, hiking, but also music. camprahh.com

Notable Acts: Zach Fleury, Suzy Sun, Manatee Commune

Elkfest

June 5 through 7, Spokane, free

Continuing to fill the street’s of the historic Browne’s Addition neighborhood for more than a decade, this grassroots weekend of music spurns sponsorship and puts truly indie acts front and center. wedonthaveone.com/the-elk/elkfest/

Notable Acts: The Grizzled Mighty, Ayron Jones and the Way, Lyrics Born

Levitation Vancouver

June 5 through 7, Vancouver, B.C., $153

With a delicious blend of psychedelic, electronic and metal acts, this jam-packed offshoot of Austin’s Psych Fest bends ears and musical boundaries. levitation-vancouver.com

Notable Acts: The Black Angels, Black Lips, Black Mountain, Dead Moon, Tacocat, La Luz, White Poppy

What the Festival

June 19 through 22, Dufur, Oregon, $250 to $350

Held on the 250-acre Wolf Run Ranch in Mt. Hood National Forest, this large-scale beach party features three stages, a wading pool, an illuminated forest and lots of electronic music. NBC calls it “the millennial generation’s Woodstock.” But if you’re taking your tips from NBC news, this isn’t the place for you. whatthefestival.com

Notable Acts: Odesza, Machinesdrum, Keys N Krates, TOKiMONSTA

Solstice Music Festival

June 19 and 20, Seattle, $45

The Fremont Solstice Fair’s parade — with its nude cyclists — gets the most attention, but the music has become just as titillating an experience all on its own — OK, almost as titillating. fremontfair.org

Notable Acts: Deltron 3030, Presidents of the United States of America

Victoria International Jazz Fest

June 19 through 28, Victoria, B.C., prices vary

Jazz, blues, and world-beat music floods the town’s historic streets, not to mention the 35,000 attendees. jazzvictoria.ca

Notable Acts: The Bad Plus Plus Joshua Redman, Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton, Pink Martini, Eliane Elias

The Spur Festival

June 26 through 28, Darrington, $110

This inaugural festival focuses on country music and will be the first of three musical festivals at Darrington’s Music Park. Tickets are discounted 25 percent if purchased before May. www.thespurfestival.com.

Notable acts: Aaron Crawford, Chance McKinney, Jessica Lynne

Paradiso Festival

June 26 and 27, George, $185

The largest annual EDM gathering in the Pacific Northwest, this event regularly attracts some of the genre’s premiere DJs. paradisofestival.com

Notable Acts: Skirllex, Armin Van Buuren, Knife Party and Alesso

Waterfront Blues Festival

July 2 through 5, Portland, Oregon, prices vary

The largest blues festival west of the Mississippi, this annual event benefits the Oregon Food Bank. waterfrontbluesfest.com

Notable Acts: Buddy Guy, Gregg Allman, Galactic, Macy Gray, Allen Toussaint

Bass Coast

July 10 through 13, Merritt, B.C., $280

Now in its seventh year, this more-intimate gathering hosts emerging electronic artists on four stages two-and-a-half hours east of Vancouver where revelers can dance (of course), explore installations, do yoga, or play in the Coldwater River. basscoast.ca

Notable Acts: Zebra Katz, Mat the Alien, Om Unit, Woodhead

Chinook Fest Summit

July 10 through 12, Snoqualmie, $120

An off-shoot of the Naches event Chinook Fest (which has now been rebranded Chinook Fest Central and is scheduled for Sept. 11 through 13), this fest takes place at a higher altitude than most any other. chinookfest.com

Notable Acts: Allen Stone, Austin Jenckes

Vancouver Island Musicfest

July 10 through 12, Courtenay, B.C., $169

Roots and world music are the focus of this weekend, which features 6 stages on the banks of the Tsolum River in the Comox Valley, as well as workshops and crafting opportunities. islandmusicfest.com

Notable Acts: Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, Buddy Guy, Graham Nash, Leftover Salmon

West Seattle Summer Fest

July 10 through 12, West Seattle, free

Now in its 33rd year, this community celebration has seen its musical offerings become more and more impressive, featuring some of the region’s most powerful club acts. This year’s lineup — booked by Shadowland owner Ben Jenkins and KEXP DJ Troy Nelson — is no exception. wsjunction.org/summerfest

Notable Acts: The Thermals, The Cave Singers, Vox Mod, S, La Luz

Ballard Seafood Fest

July 11 and 12, Seattle, free

The name might not bring to mind music, but this four-decade strong event is a culmination of all-things ballard, which of course includes lots of songs … to go with your salmon. seafoodfest.org

Festival Lineup TBA

Northwest String Summit

July 16 through 19, North Plains, Ore., $250

Now in its 14th year, this annual event in the woods of Oregon mixes nature at the beautiful Horning’s Hideout with the soothing sounds of bluegrass and string music. Look for the peacocks. stringsummit.com/

Notable acts: Yonder Mountain String Band, Greensky Bluegrass, David Grisman and Del McCoury

Pemberton Music Festival

July 16 through 19, Pemberton, B.C., $299

Last year New Orleans-based Huka Entertainment revived this long-dormant four-day event set at the foot of Mount Currie in the pastoral Pemberton Valley, 25 minutes from Whistler, with a lineup that put it in league with other big-time destination festivals. It was a rough restart, hampered by organizational miscues and a death, but organizers promise a better experience this year. Price doesn’t include camping and shuttle. pembertonmusicfestival.com

Notable acts: Kendrick Lamar, The Black Keys, Missy Elliott, Tiesto, The String Cheese Incident

Timber! Outdoor Music Festival

July 16 through 18, Carnation, $65

Located in Carnation, this earth- and ear-friendly gathering features some impressive acts from a wide variety of genres in an intimate setting with lots of foliage and canopy. A great alternative to fans unable to secure Doe Bay Fest tickets (see below). timbermusicfest.com

Notable Acts: The Dead Milkmen, La Luz, Beat Connection, David Bazan, Jon &Josiah (of the Head and the Heart)

Darrington Bluegrass Festival

July 17 through 19, Darrington, $55

This family friendly festival is a celebration flavored with banjos, fiddles and catchy vocal harmonies. One-day tickets are $20 for Friday and $25 for Saturday and Sunday. www.darringtonbluegrass.com

Notable acts: Gibson Brothers, Gentlemen of Bluegrass and Gold Heart, along with North Country, Rural Delivery and the Darrington band the Combinations.

Project Pabst

July 17 through 19, Portland, Oregon, $155

Jam-packed with high-caliber pop artists of all different genres, local food trucks, and massive unicorn statues, this beery event offers something truly unique to the festival scene. projectpabst.com

Notable Acts: Blondie, Run the Jewels, Buzzcocks, Against Me!, TV On the Radio

Vancouver Folk Music Festival

July 17 through 19, Vancouver, B.C., $145

The artists that take the eight stages at Jericho Park for this 37-year-old event are as likely to come from Africa as from a neighborhood away — and each upholds the folk ideal of music of the people for the people. thefestival.bc.ca

Notable Acts: Taj Mahal, Phosphorescent, Basia Bulat, Blind Pilot, Lucius, Richard Thompson

Victoria International Busker

July 17 through 26, Victoria, free

Festival Now four years old, this unique festival provides a venue for professional street performers from all around the globe to take center stage. victoriabuskers.com

Notable Acts: Violinist Darth Vader, Basketball Jones, Cate Great, Chocolate Man

Winthrop Rhythm &Blues

July 17 through 19, Winthrop, $90/$100

Festival Started in 1988, this annual gathering brings some of the best blues artist to the Eastern slope of the Cascades. winthropbluesfestival.com

Notable Acts: Elvin Bishop, Los Lonely Boys, Bobby Rush, Ayron Jones &the Way

Rock the Shores

July 18 and 19, Colwood, B.C., $149.50

Just as it name states, this emerging fest — now in its fourth year and newly expanded to three days — brings rock to the to the beachfront just outside Victoria and resplendent with views of Mount Baker and the Olympic Mountains. rocktheshores.com

Notable Acts: Black Keys, Jane’s Addiction, Father John Misty, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, TV On the Radio

PDX Pop Now!

July 24 through 26, Portland, Oregon, free

It’s more than likely that you will not recognize many of the acts playing this entirely free, entirely all ages celebration of one of the country’s most eclectic and energized music scenes. That’s by design (and what makes this event great). pdxpopnow.com

Festival Lineup TBA

Capitol Hill Block Party

July 24 through 26, Seattle, $125

A nightmare for anyone who lives on the hill and doesn’t love music — who are you, people? — this annual takeover regularly features the city’s most cathartic musical moments from an array of exceedingly hip artists. capitolhillblockparty.com

Notable Acts: RATATAT, TV On the Radio, The Kills, Built to Spill

Pickathon

July 31 through Aug. 2, Happy Valley, Oregon, $270

Having long since strayed from its bluegrass moniker, this low-density, low-impact music fest features a wide variety of artists, though its heart and soul is still found in its Americana offerings. pickathon.com

Notable Acts: Cloud Nothings, Alice Gerrard, Giant Sand, King Tuff, Shabazz Palaces, tUnE-yArDs, Ty Segall

Summer Meltdown

Aug. 6 through 9, Darrington, $165

Set in the heart of the scenic Whitehorse Mountain Amphitheater, this fest promises musical diversity over a 40 acre playground. summermeltdownfest.com

Notable Acts: STS9, Iration, Tycho, Greensky Bluegrass, Galactic

Doe Bay Fest

Aug. 6 through 10, Orcas Island, sold out

Now in its seventh year, this festival invites top talent from the Northwest (and beyond) to an island for an intimate weekend of camping and music. It’s one of the toughest tickets around. doebayfest.com

Notable Artists: Champagne Champagne, Lee Fields &the Expressions, Bryan John Appleby, Motopony, Bhi Bhiman

Stillaguamish Festival of the River

Aug. 8 and 9, Arlington

Put on by the Stillaguamish Tribe, the Festival of the River is in its 26th year and takes place at the River Meadows County Park. www.festivaloftheriver.com

Notable acts: Los Lobos, Thompson Square

Stopover Festival

Aug. 14 and 15, Walla Walla, $199

It may be one of the last stops of the touring festival, but the diverse lineup, camping opportunities, and local beer prove it’s definitely not least. gentlemenoftheroad.com

Notable Acts: Foo Fighters, Mumford &Sons, The Flaming Lips, Jenny Lewis

Helsing Junction Sleepover

August 14 through 16, Rochester, $65

With the dissolution of Anacortes’ What the Heck Fest a couple years back, this gathering of K Records artists and friends is the best bet for those looking for put some vitamin D in their D.I.Y. Rochester, Wash. Weekend pass, $65 (camping included) helsingfarmcsa.com/gather.php

Notable acts: Malaikat Dan Singa, LAKE, Young Pioneers, Calvin Johnson, Tender Forever

Music on the Mountain

Aug. 21 through 23, Fort St. James, B.C., $80

Contrary to what this festival’s URL might suggest, this low-key roots-focused get together at the Murray Ridge Ski Area is for the entire family. momfestival.com

Notable Acts: Twin Peaks, Power Duo, Ben Sures, Barefoot Caravan

MusicfestNW

Aug. 21 through 23, Portland, Oregon, $140

Two years after its move out of local clubs and into the city’s Waterfront Park, this festival — created by Willamette Week — is focused on big acts, though it still makes some room for local acts on its main stages. musicfestnw.com

Notable Acts: Modest Mouse, Beirut, The Tallest Man on Earth, Twin Shadow, Beat Connection

Evergreen State Fair

Aug. 31-Sept. 4, Monroe, vary

Amid all the pig races and elephant ears is some really great music. www.evergreenfair.org

Notable acts: Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Casting Crowns, Lee Brice, Vince Gill.

Bumbershoot

Sept. 5 through 7, Seattle, $169.50

Seattle’s premiere celebration of the arts, this massive festival has undergone some major change of late, but it remains a touchstone for anyone who calls themselves a Seattleite. bumbershoot.org

Notable Acts: The Weeknd, Faith No More, Ellie Goulding, Flying Lotus, Hozier, Ben Harper, Bassnectar, Social Distortion

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