Bumbershoot 2025: For the Fans, For the Northwest

We reeled in the summer this past Labor Day weekend in Seattle at the iconic Bumbershoot festival, celebrating 52 years of music, fashion, art, community, and all the people who make the Northwest scene so incredible. No signs of rain, plenty of sun, and back to back to back sets of incredible music made for a memorable weekend for all who showed out.

Indigo De Souza

The main stage - known as the Fountain stage - featured standout performances from Indigo De Souza, Say She She, Bright Eyes, Car Seat Headrest, and headliners Weezer to ring in day 1.

Weezer

Weezer fans showed up - some waiting at the main stage since doors opened. Waiting for the moment they took the stage and got the crowd on their feet, with a combination of songs across their entire discography, alongside their tried and true songs everyone knows and danced to.

Aurora

Day 2 brought in stellar performances from Bebe Stockwell, The Linda Lindas, Digable Planets (maybe one of our favorite sets), Jenelle Monae, and Aurora headlining to close out the festival.

Mural and Vera stages were also packed with incredibe talent and vibrant sets. We caught performances by Bibliotka, Amelia Day and The Cloves, Avery Cochrane, and The Jaws of Brooklyn at the Vera stage, inside the Vera Project. Each performace packed the room and filled the air with good vibes. Whether you were a fan or not, there's no doubt that you left the room adding each artist to your Spotify rotation.

Biblioteka

The Mural stage had standout performances from Kyle Dion, Scowl, Tank and the Bangas, Vika and The Velvets, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, and The Murder City Devils. Bob the Drag Queen closed out the stage with a fantastic DJ set filled with classic hits, colorful lighting, and high spirited banter.

Scowl

Of course, it wouldn't be Bumbershoot without the art, local vendors, fashion, Bumbermania, and Gravity Park! In between sets, no matter where you wander, there's a little bit of something for everyone across the Seattle Center's campus. Levity Arts showed off their incredible acrobatics, and even hosted workshops to join them in the fun. We also loved exploring the Fashion District, with vendors selling clothes, jewelry, haircuts, and more!

Levity Arts

Bumbershoot definitely delivered this year. A perfect festival to wrap up the summer season and enjoy the talented community we have here in the PNW.

Already dreaming about next years lineup!

No Pressure, Just Process: Danny Balentine Finds His Sound in the PNW

In a fully digital world, where views make careers, and art can be shared globally, it can be easy to get caught up in virality. In getting your work out there, having it be seen, be heard. We all want our creative passions to resonate with the world, but there’s something to say about making art solely for arts sake, and pushing it out becomes secondary. Taking a step back to examine who you are as an artist, what kind of music you want to create, and what music does to you. Is it an outlet? Is it your lifeline? Is it your motivation? Whether you’re consuming or making music, there’s no doubt that it carries a unique place in all of our lives. 

Danny Balentine’s bringing a refreshing take to his art - he’s creating because it’s what he does, what he’s always done, and what he will continue to do. Without social media, without streaming, he’d still be making music - it’s what he loves. It’s never been about making it big, but making art he wants to, with the chance it’ll resonate with others. 

Now based in Portland, Oregon, Danny recently released his newest single “Emma 3000”:  a dreamy, heartfelt track that’s as sincere as it is warm. It’s the first of a few releases leading up to his upcoming EP, Summer St., along with a new single Radio Silence, set to release 8/29. Danny’s music feels like the start of something really genuine that is needed in the heart of the PNW music scene. It’s grounded and reminds us of slow summer days, soaking up the beauty around us and embracing connection. 

Though located in Oregon now, Danny hasn’t always been in the PNW. Originally from Massachusetts, he went to college in Bozeman, MT, where he got his first taste of life out west, and met his wife. After time spent back in Boston, the two decided it was time for a change and headed for Portland.

Danny’s been making music for a long time — almost a decade — and it shows in how naturally he talks about his process. He started with jazz piano and drums in school, then got into beat-making using a Maschine and his parents’ desktop setup in high school. From there, he found himself in a music recording class at MSU, which gave him the opportunity to buy recording tools to learn the ropes there instead of typical textbooks.

When he was home for that summer equipped with new technology and knowledge, he found himself and his hometown friends spending their summer months making an album, which he notes was the start of him creating more fleshed out songs, as opposed to loops ad beats previously. 

Though his major changed in college, he kept in touch with his music, using creation as an outlet and finding time to perform with his college cover band at local bars.

“This is kind of just what I do - if no one listened to it I would still do it.”

His latest single, Emma 3000, came out of natural, low-pressure creativity — written for his wife after she jokingly insisted he name a song after her:

“I had started a track called Stacey 3000,” he said. “And then my wife saw that and was like, ‘why are you doing Stacey?’...and so I made it Emma 3000”

With the help of his wife throughout the song writing and production process, the song ended up being a warm, summery indie-pop track with a little banjo, electric guitar, and a whole lot of heart. “It’s a light, carefree, warm indie pop song.” 

What makes Danny’s music so refreshing is that it isn’t trying to be anything other than what it is. He’s just making songs that mean something to him, and connecting with those who find themselves in the songs he writes. 

“I’ve got a day job. But I’ve been doing this for almost nine years now, this is just what I do - if no one listened to it I would still do it.”

That mindset clicked for him even more after reading a songwriting book by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco.

“I read Jeff Tweedy’s songwriting book, and he had this slide about how in order to finish, you just stop trying to make things that are good, and just like, produce your art and just not criticize it so much and not try and make things that are good, just create. We're here to create.

And so after that, that was kind of like a light bulb moment for me”

And it shows. On his upcoming EP, Summer Street, Danny took a more experimental approach, ditching traditional mic setups and recording techniques in favor of whatever felt right in the moment and gave him more depth and connection with what he was creating. 

“I kind of just had more fun with it…not really caring about doing it ‘correct’, and more just messing around and seeing what cool sounds I get.” 

“And I feel like that kind of really did get these new songs, like their own character and their own sound, which I think is cool” 

Danny’s Summer St EP drops soon, with another single and music video coming before. The project will feature “Emma 3000,” a remastered version of his track “Bailey’s Bubble,” and a couple new songs that tie it all together.

And while he doesn’t have a packed tour schedule, he's connecting with the local scene in Portland (he’ll be playing with Chloe Gendrow on August 30th at Kelly’s Olympian in Portland) or even more of the PNW if the stars align.

There’s something comforting about the way Danny talks about music - it’s not just a product, but a part of his everyday life. His songs are lived in and honest. And in a scene (and world) that often feels hyper-curated and polished to death, that kind of authenticity is needed and welcomed. 

You can find Danny’s music on all major streaming platforms under Danny Balentine, and follow along on social media to stay up to date on new music and shows. 

THING Festival: Family Fun, Great Vibes, and a Celebration of Music in the PNW

Food, vendors, amusement rides, lantern decorating, and of course, great music - welcome to THING!

Best described on their website: THING is an eclectic and intimate all-ages music festival that spans the first four Saturdays in August, each day with its own distinct feel and anchored by music discovery—an essential part of the THING experience—a unique lineup of artists, themes, and genres.

Located on Remlinger Farms in Carnation, WA (about 30-45 minutes outside Seattle), THING brings a refreshing kind of music festival to the northwest. Because whether you prefer to camp out in a lawn chair and enjoy the views and experiences, or kill it on the dance floor, THING has a place for everyone. Paired with access and entry to Reminlger Farms amusement park area, it's a great way to spend Saturdays in August as a family.

This weekend, we attended THING, which lived up to the hype and the lineup was unforgettable. Starting the day off with Rose Peak, Chinese American Bear, and Truman Sinclair - the vibes were high and the sun was shining, making it a perfect start to Saturday.

Further into the day, Yahritza Y Su Esencia was up on stage bringing insane energy and lighting up the farm. The crowd showed up and contributed to the energy with every song and cheer following. We were so glad to hear them live!

Medium Build and The Japanese House followed, which did not disappoint either. Both acts had the crowd on their feet, singing along, and truly embracing the music. It was incredibly uplifting to see the crowds engagement and excitement throughout the day and through each act. It was a reminder of how supportive and strong the music community can be!

Following a food pitstop - which had numerous food & drink options - and a walk around the grounds, Rainbow Kitten Surpise took the stage to close out the night. The lanterns made earlier in the day were seen lighting up the venue, alongside RKS's stunning visuals and lighting design. Whether you were in the way back or up by the stage, it made for an immersive set.

Our glimpse into THING was only the beginning though - there's one more THING Saturday left, on August 23rd. You can find tickets here and check out the killer lineup thats coming to the PNW to close out the month and the festival!

Thank you to THING and Remlinger Farms for having us out, and we cant wait for next year!

All photos by Jenna Mitchell Photography