In the throes of a killer party at the Neptune last night, we were thrilled beyond belief to find out the details on another most excellent year for the Sasquatch! music festival, taking place out at the Gorge on Memorial Day weekend {May 25-28}. Sasquatch! is by far one of our favorite fests every year, and 2012 is going to be no exception.

We're particularly excited about partying down with the likes of Jack White, Beck, Tenacious D, Beirut, Girl Talk {hell yes!}, The Head and the Heart, Tune-Yards, Wild Flag, Blind Pilot, Mark Lanegan Band, The Cave Singers, Grouplove, Ted Leo, Deer Tick, Alabama Shakes, We Are Augustines, Shearwater {!!!!!}, Charles Bradley, Pickwick, Hey Marseilles, Sallie Ford, Dyme Def, Fresh Espresso, and Katie Kate -- but by no means does that even scratch the surface of the seemingly-zillion fantastic bands included on this year's lineup. As usual, there's a thoughtful mash of notable locals and squee-worthy headliners, so much so that slapping down the ticket price to spend the long weekend with twenty-plus thousand of your closest friends is an absolute no-brainer.

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There's still time-a-plenty to get your Friday donewith and head on down to Portland for this year's installment of what's quickly becoming our favorite regional city-wide music festival, MusicFest Northwest. For four sweet nights (well, five technically, if you count the goings-on around town that started Wednesday) some of the best local and national-worthy acts sweep in and take over our hip sister city. There's a little something for everyone, and we can state from direct experience that you will have a hell of a weekend should you make the venture down south! The price is reasonable (although we can't recommend the line-skipping VIP wristband privileges enough), the city is bikeable, driveable and parkable, and there's plenty to do in your late-late off-hours around town to keep things... well, let's just say 'entertaining.'

Sleep in, fill your sunny days with KEXP in-studios at the Doug Fir {full lineup available here}, and get your nightlife on at our recommended {** = MEGA recommended} shows below -- scheduling conflicts included:

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Another beautiful Labor Day weekend has passed, and with it came three days spent at our annual Seattle Center-ed music and arts festival, Bumbershoot. While we didn't catch every single act on our dance cards, we managed to get ourselves in front of the stages of a lot of long-standing and new-style favorites: bands like Lemolo, Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside, and Pickwick, just to name a few. Between the bands, sunshine, the yummy eats, and KEXP's gorgeous semi-secret music lounge -- it was a weekend to be reckoned with!

Here's a few bright spots from the weekend...

Kasey Anderson & the Honkies:

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As you meander around the last day of this year's Bumbershoot festival -- happy, sun-kissed, ears and heart full of new tunes and old familliar places -- buy that poster, get that cool recycled banner-turned-messenger-bag, and make sure you take the time to get to see these face-melting ladies and gents do what they do. Here's your no-regrets list for Monday afternoon:

Lemolo {4:30, EMP Level 3 stage}

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You can get with this, or you can get with that -- but whatever you pick, you've got a heck of a time ahead of you this Thursday.

First off, you can get your hangtime on out at the Tractor, where Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside, Pancake Breakfast, and Joshua Morrison will be taking the stage around 9pm. (Not all at once, of course.) Sallie & Company are out on the road fresh behind their newest release, Dirty Radio, which hit the shelves last week. Get ready for more big jangly guitars, more of Sallie's distinct modern-yet-throwback-y vocal sound, and more of all those things they do that we love.

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Technically, you can get your Musicfest Northwest (MFNW) on starting tonight -- there will be a few gigs going on around town down in Portland to warm up the masses -- but our imaginary coverage will officially begin tomorrow and we can't hardly wait!  There's quite a few acts and sorta-showcases that we're espcially stoked to see... so without further ado, here are some of our picks for the best-of-the-fest shows for the next four days.

Please note: the approximate start times are listed for the first band only and are subject to change -- always check your internets before heading out!

Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside
Thursday, 10p @ Berbati's Pan

Having seen and heard a lot about these darlings since their 2009 blip on our Seattle radar, it's going to be quite a treat to catch them at a hometown show. Full of good ol' fashioned big-bodied electric sound and a pair of lungs that just won't quit, Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside are as swoon-tastic as it gets!

David Bazan + band / Joshua Morrison
Thursday, 9p @ the Doug Fir

Does this even need an explanation? Hot on the heels of two stellar performances at Bumbershoot, David Bazan (along with the current installment of his band) have fine tuned their sound to some true indie rock perfection. Achy and anthematic to the core, we're super-stoked to catch them at a venue like the 'Fir. Add in local favorite-home-safe Joshua Morrison, and you've got a night on your hands to remember.

The Thermals
Thursday, 10:30p @ the Crystal Ballroom

The Thermals killed Bumbershoot, the new album rules, and we'll be there with bells on. 'nuff said.

Okkervil River / Bobby Bare, Jr.
Friday, 10p @ the Crystal Ballroom

One of those lineups that makes you grateful that the bookers are playing close attention: a headlining set with OKR and a warmup by local favorite Bobby Bare, Jr. sounds like the next best thing since sliced bread. The boys of Okkervil have been hard at work, following up their last album with some amazing work next to the great Roky Erickson, and judging by the sound of the twitterverse, on to the next recording of something beautiful.

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While everyone is prefunking Bumbershoot, we'd like to take a moment to officially get the prefunk to the prefunk for Music Fest Northwest going. Starting today.

If you've never been, MFNW is like a crazier, spread-out-ier Bumbershoot -- spanning four days and venues all over town -- or a tinier, cleaner SXSW. Minus the industry hoo-ha and power-showcases and seminars. Beginning on Wednesday, September 8th, our sweet sister-city will be hosting a veritable slew of amazing bands all over town. Acts like Okkervil River, Menomena, the Decemberists, the Cave Singers, Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside, the Thermals, Dave Bazan, Bobby Bare, Jr., the Walkmen, the National, and the Tallest Man On Earth -- among many, many others -- will be bringing an extended weekend of bliss to Portland for our listening and viewing pleasure.

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Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside are playing tonight at Chop Suey, and you don't want to miss it. Seriously. Here's why:

A. First off, Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside rules.

Really. I've raved about them before, but in case you missed it: these talented folks are the by-product of listening to all the right records. They've got a basic fifties-era guitar sensibility, with modern, dark (but not too dark) lyrical content -- more alt.indie.thinker than alt.indie.brooder -- and a voice that's been filtered through a Gramophone. Think of it this way: If Buddy Holly and Amy Winehouse were cousins, and existed in a time warp, and had a younger half-related sibling, it would be the sound of SF&TSO. Only better.

B. One-two punch: it's a benefit for Noise for the Needy.

In fact, it's kicking off all the amazing NFTN shows, which run through Sunday at various venues about town. Your hard-earned, well-spent eight dollars will be put to good use, as all the proceeds from this year's NFTN are benefitting the fine folks over at Teen Feed.

C. Furthermore, it's at Chop Suey.

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There's a little band making their way up from Portland this Friday, to open up for Southern Culture on the Skids at the Tractor. They're called Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside, and if you haven't heard them yet -- well, look out. You're in for a treat.

I had the pleasure of catching Sallie Ford in the round with Hey Marseilles at the Fremont Abbey recently, and this girl completely blew my mind. It's rare these days that a performer will move me to the point of spending my last ten dollars on a poster or EP, and by the second song I was at the merch table grabbing everything I could get my hands on. I'm sure critics have made plenty of lateral comparisons to her post-fifties drawl or her younger, fresher, Amy Winehouse-y-ness, but I hesitate to back that up because really, these performers don't sound like anyone else but themselves. They're a refreshing breeze in the land of hangers-on to the next big sound, and well worth your time and money this Friday night.

The Tractor's site shows the start time as 9:30, so be sure to get there a little early so you don't miss the set. I promise, it will be the best fifteen dollars you spend all weekend. See you there!