:: MAY
11–13 Upstream Music Fest + Summit Music from more than 300 Northwest artists will fill the streets of Pioneer Square for three days, while the summit will feature industry professionals sharing vital knowledge about the current state of the music industry. Seattle. Three-day Fest + Summit pass, $325; three-day fest-only pass, $135; one-day fest-only pass, $40–$65. upstreammusicfest.com. Notable acts: Shabazz Palaces, Aluna George, Flying Lotus
20–21 Xperience! Music & Technology Festival The King County Library System has put together its own live festival this year with local artists. Music tutorials will also be provided, with the purpose of bridging technological barriers for those who want to be creative. Bellevue. Free. kcls.bibliocommons.com. Notable acts: SassyBlack, the Black Tones, Wild Powwers
21 Wildflower and Music Festival Most outdoor fests are great for nature lovers, but this family-friendly fest is especially so, with nature walks, art, food, and a plant sale. All proceeds will go to the Mount Pisgah Arboretum. Eugene, Ore. $8 donation. mountpisgaharboretum.com. Notable acts: Alder Street, Corwin Bolt and the Wingnuts, Tonewood Trio
26–28 Sasquatch! With the option of camping, the Sasquatch! Festival gives you the closest access to the shows you want to see while enjoying the oasis that is the Gorge Amphitheatre. George, Wash. Three-day pass $295 (camping not included). sasquatchfestival.com. Notable acts: LCD Soundsystem, Chance the Rapper, the Shins
26–29 Northwest Folklife Festival This classic festival has run independently since 1972, showcasing music styles from all over the world as well as the wares of a bounty of craft vendors. Seattle Center. Donations suggested. nwfolklife.org. Notable acts: Twin Peaks, Mariachi Huenachi, Paper Moon
Photo by Sara Bernard
:: JUNE
1–4 Music Waste This independently volunteer-run music festival is back. It has yet to unveil its 2017 lineup, but expect an assortment of underground artists devoid of corporate interests. Vancouver, B.C. $15 weekend pass. musicwaste.ca. Notable acts: Braintree, Echuta, Nothingness
2–3 Volume Spokane’s alt-weekly The Inlander has organized quite the festival. Get chauffeured by a party bus among nine venues and an outdoor stage while 100 artists gather in the heart of Spokane. $25. volume.inlander.com. Notable acts: Built to Spill, Nacho Picasso, Chastity Belt
3 BIG BLDG Bash This nonprofit festival will feature more than 40 acts across five stages in a giant SoDo warehouse. Enjoy local beers on tap, food trucks, and FREE PARKING (gasp). Profits will go to the artists and the White Helmets, a volunteer organization that helps victims of the Syrian war. Seattle. $30. bigbldgbash.com. Notable acts: Cloud Person, Moon Dial, Freak Dream
8–12 Genesis Arts and Music Festival Surrounded by the Ochoca Mountains, this festival doesn’t even have a formal address. Still, it brings you not only live music, but live art as well. Featuring all the staples of a normal festival, but with an added pinch of Burning Man, courtesy of some camping and fire dancers. Oregon. $20–$60 (parking and camping not included). genesisamf.com. Notable acts: Indubious, Clockwork
9–11 Elkfest This neighborhood festival in Spokane’s historic district will bring an assortment of artists to the stage, chiefly local. Enjoy the music and $2 beer garden among the beautiful architecture of Browne’s Addition. Spokane. Free. elkfestspokane.com. Notable acts: Afrolicious, the Donkeys, Fat Lady
15–18 4Peaks Music Festival This two-stage intimate festival is located on a farm with open pastures. Camping and entry for children under 10 are free, and venues are only a short walking distance apart. Expect food and more than 10 local brews, ciders, wines, and kombucha on tap. Bend, Ore. $185. 4peaksmusic.com. Notable acts: Moe, Infamous Stringdusters, Sierra Hull
16 Warped Tour Originally at the Gorge, Warped Tour has become a more intimate one-day festival, sure to be full of moshpits, food, and raw music. CenturyLink Field, Seattle. $43. vanswarpedtour.com. Notable acts: GWAR, Hawthorne Heights, Neck Deep
16–18 Meeker Days Arts & Music Festival Fully equipped with food, a beer garden, more than 200 art and commercial vendors, three stages, two planned car shows, and education activities for kids—you’re bound to find something to do within the 15 city blocks of this festival in downtown Puyallup. Free. puyallupmainstreet.com. Notable acts: Limberlost, For de Luna, Second Sting
16–19 What The Festival With an assortment of interactive art activities in their “Illuminated Forest,” like “Dopamine Dreams” and “Enormous Overhead Geometry,” the visuals will match attendees’ wavelengths while they experience the featured musicians. Wolf Run Ranch, Ore. $325 (camping and parking not included). whatthefestival.com. Notable acts: Zhu, Woolymammoth, Gramatik
17 Block Party at The Station Tons of South Seattle artists with a heavy emphasis on local hip-hop. And for the civic-minded, mayoral candidate Nikkita Oliver, otherwise known as KO Nikkita, will perform. Seattle. Free. stationblockparty.com. Notable acts: Guayaba, Dave B, DoNormaal
17–18 Fremont Fair This year, the Fair will come together with the Fremont Solstice Parade to offer the neighborhood the “freedom to be peculiar.” As always, they recommend bringing cash in case you find a treasure among the 400 unique artist, craft, and food booths… or if you just want a drink from the beer garden. Seattle. Free. fremontsolstice.com. Notable acts: Orgone, Club Sunshine ft. DJ Indica Jones, Cascade Crescendo
23–24 Paradiso Another festival at the scenic Gorge, with three full days of EDM. This year USC Events is emphasizing safety, #themessage being to pace yourself and drink water; while the music may not stop, attendants should. George, Wash. $183. paradisofestival.com. Notable acts: Porter Robinson, Zeds Dead, K?D
24–25 Shoreline Arts Festival While the lineup has yet to be released, there will be a food-truck court, a photography exhibit, activities for kids, and an extensive art marketplace. Shoreline. Free. shorelinearts.net. Notable acts: TBA
23–July 2 JazzFest The Victoria Jazz Society presents 10 days of the best jazz, blues, and R&B from around the world in five different venues. Victoria, B.C. Prices vary. jazzvictoria.ca/jazz-fest. Notable acts: Ziggy Marley, Mavis Staples, Elvis Bishop Band
30–July 4 Waterfront Blues Fest This festival has been raising money to help the homeless since 1987, and it’s acquired quite a reputation. With multiple awards under its belt, it’s considered the nation’s best blues festival. Portland. $40. waterfrontbluesfest.com. Notable acts: Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles, Canned Heat, Bokante
GIF By Sofia Lee
:: JULY
3–28 Seattle Chamber Music Society Summer Festival With free pre-concert recitals to tease your senses, you won’t want to miss this month of classics. July 29 offers free Borodin and Beethoven in Volunteer Park. Single tickets $52. seattlechambermusic.org. Notable acts: Bion Tsang, Craig Sheppard, James Ehnes.
13–15 Timber! Enjoy live music plus all sorts of outdoor activities, provided by REI, like kayaking, hiking, paddle-boarding, and stargazing at night with astrophysicists. Classes and workshops will be offered—among them, a Bob Ross-themed painting lesson. Carnation, Wash. $75 (camping not included). timbermusicfest.com. Notable acts: Acid Tongue, Balto, Cataldo
13–16 Cascadia NW Arts and Music Festival Unique to Cascadia NW are festival villages: Choose from five different ones to camp at, each with its own stage and theme. Granite Falls, Wash. $180. cascadianw.com. Notable acts: CloZee, Dubtribe, Andreilien
13–16 Pemberton Music Festival Four music-filled days headlined by the most popular names in the game, all under the shadow of the mighty Mount Currie—a one-of-a-kind festival. Pemberton, B.C. $369. pembertonmusicfestival.com. Notable acts: A Tribe Called Quest, Major Lazer, Chance the Rapper
13–16 Vancouver Folk Music Festival In its 40th year, this premier seaside festival brings you the most renowned folk and roots artists around. Enjoy a folk bazaar alongside food vendors. Vancouver, B.C. $155. thefestival.bc.ca. Notable acts: Barenaked Ladies, Tomato Tomato, the Sidesteppers
14–16 West Seattle Summer Fest Filled with rides, kids’ activities, and options for shopping and eating in the heart of the Junction, this neighborhood festival will feature three days of local music. Seattle. Free. wsjunction.org. Notable acts: TBA
14–16 Vancouver Island Music Fest Surrounded by big maples on a refreshing riverside, this festival offers six different stages, each with its own personality. One-hundred performers of all different genres will play over three days. Vancouver Island, B.C. $179. islandmusicfest.com. Notable acts: Emmylou Harris, Ania Soul, DakhaBrakha
21–23 Capitol Hill Block Party returns with as much fun as it can pack into six blocks, three venues, and two outdoor stages, with over 100 artists vying for your attention. Seattle. Single ticket $60, three-day pass $135–$300. capitolhillblockparty.com. Notable acts: Run the Jewels, Naked Giants, Diplo
21-23 Summer Bass Listen to electronic music from Canada’s West Coast at this year’s fifth annual festival. Each artist applies to perform and is handpicked for your viewing pleasure. Kootenay Boundary, B.C. $50. Notable acts: TBA
21–23 Darrington Bluegrass Festival Presented by the Bluegrass & Country Music Makers Association, this festival has been going strong for 40 years, and is now a trademark event of the community. Darrington, Wash. $65. darringtonbluegrass.com. Notable acts: Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Special Consensus, Gold Heart
21–23 Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival This nonprofit festival supports an assortment of art programs, associations, and charities, making public support a vital piece of the puzzle. It received a “Keeping the Blues Alive” award for its commitment to the blues by not only showcasing talent, but giving back as well. Winthrop, Wash. $100 (camping not included). winthropbluesfestival.com. Notable acts: Delbert McClinton, Sugaray Rayford, the Delgado Brothers
21–23 PDX POP NOW! On a stage below the legendary Hawthorne Bridge, support over 35 Portland bands of all age who submitted their music for an all encompassing DIY blowout. Enjoy local record shops and a street fair among other things, like Portland’s famous food trucks. Portland. Free. pdxpopnow.com. Notable acts: TBA
28–30 Watershed It only makes sense to have a country festival in the arid, desert-like conditions of eastern Washington. Take full advantage of the fairground and witness the gorgeous views. George, Wash. Three-day pass $199. watershedfest.com. Notable acts: Bailey Brian, Chris Stapleton, The Cadillac Three
28–30 Pixie Dust Be surrounded by forests while listening to interdimensional beats, primarily from musicians from the depths of SoundCloud. Proceeds from the fest’s beer garden will benefit Chance Fashion, an organization that creates opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds in fashion. Shelton, Wash. $70. pixiedustfestival.com. Notable acts: Mad Hatter, Sam F, DJ Bibi McGill
Photo by Sara Bernard
:: AUGUST
3–6 Pickathon At Pendarvis Farm, expect an assortment of up-and-coming artists. The festival includes food vendors and options for those with kids, like the Wild Horse Meadow educational course. Happy Valley, Ore. $310 (parking not included). pickathon.com. Notable acts: Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, Dinosaur Jr., Ty Segall
10–13 Summer Meltdown Amid the Cascades, this festival offers shade under Douglas firs and plenty of hiking trails if you want to take a break from the music. Darrington, Wash. $215. summermeltdownfest.com. Notable acts: The String Cheese Incident, the Floozies, Tauk
10–13 Doe Bay Fest Food, drinks, and camping, all by the beautiful Doe Bay Resort beach. For its 10th anniversary, the festival is inviting previous performers. Orcas Island, Wash. $195. doebay.com. Notable acts: TBA
11–14 Shambala Feel the “shambalove” of the underground electronic-music scene. What started as a grassroots party has been running strong for 20 years, and 2017 is its biggest yet. Salmon River Ranch, B.C. $395. shambalamusicalfestival.com. Notable acts: Adventure Club, Ivy Lab, Black Tiger Sex Machine
17–20 Willamette Country Music Festival In a town with an old-timey feeling, and food, camping, and rolling hills echoing with guitar tunes surrounding you, you might forget you’re in Oregon and not Nashville. Brownsville, Ore. $155 (camping and parking not included), willamettecountrymusicfestival.com. Notable acts: Keith Urban, High Valley, Thomas Rhett
18–20 Hi, Society This relatively new nonprofit festival offers more than 100 musicians on three stages, affordably. Beaverdell, B.C. $150. hisocietyentertainment.com. Notable acts: Truth, SpaceBoots, Logo
26–27 MusicFestNW/Project Pabst A joint effort of Willamette Week and SXSW, this festival fills Waterfront Park with a solid two-day lineup. Portland. $99, projectpabst.com. Notable acts: Father John Misty, Iggy Pop, Nas
GIF By Sofia Lee
:: SEPTEMBER
1–3 Bumbershoot You can’t have a complete outdoor-music guide without mentioning Bumbershoot and its history packed with music, food, art, and vendors. Seattle Center. $249. bumbershoot.com. Notable acts: Flume, Weezer, Solange, Odesza
8–10 Chinook Fest Created by musicians from the central Cascade area who felt it lacked a festival while the rest of Washington had dozens. Naches, Wash. $95. chinookfest.com. Notable acts: TBA
29–Oct. 3 Wicked Woods End the season at this birthday party-turned-full-on festival. With a mix of bass-heavy DJs, funky hip-hop, and house music, there’s something for everyone in this forest. Kimberley, B.C. $125. wickedwoodsmusicfestival.com. Notable acts: TBA
