Bumbershoot: Seattle’s Music & Arts Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary this weekend with a diverse Mainstage lineup, from Bob Dylan and Hole to The Decemberists, Neko Case, Weezer, Rise Against, Mary J. Blige and Drake.
Look beyond the Mainstage for some sure-to-be-rewarding performances by The Moondoggies, Solomon Burke, Wheedle’s Groove, The Maldives, Booker T. and School of Rock All Stars, a showcase of student musicians.
Check the complete lineup of music, comedy, theater, film and other events here. And here’s a primer on the concept and history of Bumbershoot.
The 40th annual festival is huge a milestone for the Seattle institution that began as a quirky arts festival in the early ’70s. It has survived more than two generations of changing tastes.
Bumbershoot has long been Seattle’s premier festival, something that Seattleites have looked forward to year and year. People are excited about Dylan’s appearance, even though he’s a perennial Northwest performer who has played such venues as the Paramount Theatre, The Gorge and even the Puyallup Fair. Here’s my review of a Dylan concert in the mid-2000s.
Perhaps creating more drama are performances by the incomparable Neko Case (opening for Dylan Saturday); the mercurial, unpredictable Courtney Love and Hole on Sunday; and Canadian rapper Drake, who will open for the classy R&B queen Mary J. Blige on Monday.
Bumbershoot has announced that standard tickets on Saturday (Sept. 4), guaranteeing access to Mainstage shows featuring Bob Dylan, Neko Case and The Decemberists, are sold out.
But standard tickets for Sunday (Sept. 5), featuring Weezer, Hole and Rise Against; and Monday (Sept. 6), featuring Mary J. Blige, Drake, and J. Cole; are still available.
A few Platinum Passes are still available through the Bumbershoot Web site. Platinum Passes guarantee entrance to all Mainstage performances, including Saturday’s sold-out show, in addition to reserved VIP seating at all comedy stages, Bumbershoot’s secret and ultra exclusive Music Lounge, the 1 Reel Film Festival and the Performing Arts and Words & Ideas stages.
New this year are Bumbershoot’s Economy Tickets, which provide access to everything at the Festival except the Mainstage, for $22 ($30 at gate). They are still available for all three days of the Festival.
Follow this link to get the latest ticket information.