The 47th annual Bumbershoot music and arts festival is happening this weekend and with it comes the usual lineup of big-name headliners, buzz bands and local acts on the rise. But each year Bumbershoot’s lineup offers something a little different than the years before it and the group of artists booked for Bumbershoot 2018 is no different.
This year’s Bumbershoot includes nearly 100 acts (99 by my count) spread across three days performing on five stages throughout Seattle Center’s 74-acre campus. While that number isn’t as large as other Bumbershoots over the past 10 years it’s still a lot to digest, which makes putting together a comprehensive preview covering all the festival has to offer a difficult task.
This year instead of dissecting the lineup and going over every name on the poster, I identified three themes worth paying attention to for anyone who might feel overwhelmed by Bumbershoot’s offerings.
The youth movement has taken over
A few years back it was reported that One Reel, the non-profit organization that manages Bumbershoot, was in the red and owed the city of Seattle a lot of money. In order to save Bumbershoot the company partnered with concert promoter AEG (which also promoted Coachella and other major fests) and this resulted in a bit of a shake up in what a modern Bumbershoot lineup looks like.
Since AEG has taken over booking the lineups have been littered with acts anyone over the age of 30 might not care about. Targeting the younger demographic by almost entirely removing world music, folk, jazz and legacy acts has likely helped Bumbershoot on its road to profitability, but has left older music fans scratching their heads at headliners they may not recognize.
This is evident with the large numbers of DJs, Soundcloud stars and hip-hop artists (see item two below) filling the lineup spots that were once populated by rock acts. One-time (and maybe still) pop punching bags The Chainsmokers are arguably the festival’s biggest act. Other acts anyone who falls outside of the window of millennial categorization may not recognize include Illenium, RL Grime, Chromeo, London On Da Track, Bishiop Briggs, Yuno, Jade Bird and Tinashe. All of those acts are well worth your time and if you spend some time checking them out you might even get closer to understanding why avocado toast is such a coveted luxury among the younger set.
With this injection of youth the festival’s golden oldies acts are now artists from the 80s, not the 60s or 70s like in the past when names like Bob Dylan topped the lineup. This year Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Blondie and Prince’s old band The Revolution are the seniors on the bill. Both of those artists are must-see festival appointments, despite annoying set time scheduling conflicts (thumbs down to whoever put Fleet Foxes up against Blondie on the fest’s final day) and should compliment a day filled with young pups hungry to rule their respective corners of the highly fragmented world of pop music .
Hip-hop has a huge presence (but guitar bands still matter)
Hip-hop has always had a big presence at Bumbershoot with past headliners including Kanye West, Wu-Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest and many other hip-hop heavyweights. This year’s festival leaned in hard on hip-hop, which may be a result of both demand and this year’s Coachella not having a single rock headliner.
Some of the names in bigger font on Bumbershoot’s poster include include J Cole (who is headlining Bumbershoot for the second time), SZA, Ludacris, T-Pain, Lil Wayne, Young Thug and Dr Octagon to name a few. Lower down the poster you get JPEG Mafia, Yung Pinch, Saweetie, Towkio and many other rising rappers.Then there’s the local hip-hop talent on the bill with Travis Thompson, Grynch, DoNormaal, B.A.G., Knife Knights and others.
But it’s not all MCs and DJs that will end up being the talk of Bumbershoot 2018. Several excellent rock bands should be on your radar and make up an important part of this year’s Bumbershoot narrative.
Black Pistol Fire‘s mix of early Black Keys garage blues and polished pop-rock should be on your must-see list. Same goes for locals Sloucher, whose 90s alt-rock sounds will make you yearn for the days of Doc Martins, flannels and OK Soda. Sub Pop act Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever are another rock band to add to the favorites on your Bumbershoot app and main stage act The Pink Sips (fronted by Duff McKagan’s daughter) will make you throw up the devil horns as well.
If lesser-knowns aren’t your thing and you’re still looking for a guitar rock fix there’s always Portugal. The Man, Cold War Kids and if you’re feeling a bit synthy, the Frenchies in Phoenix.
Local talent is still important
While the headliners and mid-card names on the lineup are big enough to sell tickets, the local artists on Bumbershoot’s bill will always be the heart of the festival. The emphasis on Seattle artists is at the core of what makes Bumbershoot the Seattle institution it has become.
I’ve already mentioned several locals you should add to your watch list, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t others who merit inclusion. Brent Amaker and the Rodeo‘s shit-kicking country and excellent live show filled with plenty of stage swagger and showmanship will make for unforgettable festival memories. Sound Off! winner Micaiah Sawyer is guaranteed to delight with her bluesy folk rock.
Great Grandpa is one of the many great youthful underground rock bands primed to take over the town and Noah Gunderson’s latest album, “White Noise,” was declared one of the best albums of 2017 by The Seattle Times.
Then, of course, there’s Fleet Foxes. I’m pretty sure I don’t need to tell you why you need to check them out. Their main stage set shortly after dusk on the festival’s final day is a 100 percent Seattle moment that only Bumbershoot can deliver.
