R.E.M., Wilco, Modest Mouse Highlight Bumbershoot Fest

The spotlight that was on Seattle in the early '90s may have shifted to New York, but the Pacific Northwest has been, and will always be, an excellent breeding ground for creativity (musical and otherwise). And what better way to prove it than by holding an enormous annual music and art festival built to boast NW talent? And then do it for 33 years in a row?

This year's Bumbershoot fest is highlighted by performances by R.E.M. (Peter Buck has lived in Seattle for years), Wilco, The Shins, Nickel Creek, Modest Mouse, Macy Gray, Rhett Miller, and Solomon Burke. Bumbershoot will take place Labor Day weekend, August 29 through September 1; it will host more than 2,500 artists, showcasing music, contemporary art, theater, comedy, film, dance and poetry.

"Bumbershoot is a showcase of the best the Northwest has to offer in almost every genre of art," Festival Producer Sheila Hughes was quoted as saying in a press release. 'We teamed with some of the best artists and arts producers in the region to craft this year's celebration. Richard Hugo House, On the Boards, Cinema Seattle, Theater Puget Sound, SOIL, and many others worked with Bumbershoot to create an arts playground."

The festival will feature performances by Leftover Salmon, Hip-Hop 101 with Common and Black Eyed Peas, Donovan, Chico Hamilton & Euphoria, Kim Richey, Wanda Jackson, Robert Walters' 20th Congress, Alberta Adams and Chuck Prophet. Also scheduled are Charlie Musselwhite, Magic Slim, Maktub, Bobby Bare Jr., Ian McLagan, Carbon Leaf, Duffy Bishop, Kathleen Edwards, Matt Nathanson, Karsh Kale, Benevento/Russo, & Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey.

Bumbershoot also ventures into various artistic areas beyond music. This year, non-music events include the Heavyweight Poetry Bout, dance hip-hop and breakdance sessions, and the 1 Reel Film Festival, featuring more than 100 new American-made short films. There will also be visual art exhibits, improv theatre, Laughingstock Comedy Festival, Flatstock 3 (an exhibition of concert posters by 60 of the best underground graphic artists) and zine writing workshops.

A full listing of musicians playing Bumbershoot will be available July 11 at the Bumbershoot Web site.

Tickets to Bumbershoot can be purchased at the festival Web site.They are $15 per day if purchased by Aug. 22 and $20 per day thereafter. Two-day passes are $28 ($35 after Aug. 22). Four-day passes, good for the whole festival, are $48 ($54 after Aug. 22). — Jenny Tatone [Friday, May 16, 2003]