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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