OK, here's my quick and dirty rundown:

I am, as ever, madly in love with Art Brut. My review coming soon, ChrisB's just posted, if you wanna read for yourself.

The KEXP secret stage ruled. It was quiet and intimate and I saw Art Brut, Gogol Bordello, and BRMC in there when otherwise they were performing in front of zillions of people. It was an amazing addition to Bumbershoot.

I had Roasted Corn -- TWICE!!!

Natalie Portman's Shaved Head are the cutest most awesomeness new local band I've discovered in awhile. Liz, you will definitely want to bite their heads.

Eddie Vedder singing with Crowded House was something very special, even though I think at least half the crowd had no idea who that was onstage during "Something So Strong."

St Vincent is as pretty as she is talented.

The Cave Singers make folk rock really exciting for me, even though I can't define why.

Erik Howk is my hero.

So this was my second Bumpershoot and I guess I just don't get it. It's like a music festival broke out during Bite of Seattle. I know people need to eat, but do we need food vendors set up in every spare corner? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy roasted corn as much as the next guy or gal, but how much fair food can you cram into Seattle Center with out it taking over the place?

I wish they would just decide to go all out and make it a big Coachella type festival or lower the ticket costs and make it all NW bands. I'm sure that of the $35 ticket charge, most of that money went into the pockets of bands I never saw (+44, Panic at the Disco, Fergie, etc. all) as opposed to Menomena who were great.

IDK, I kinda love that Bumbershoot is a bit of everything, music and arts-wise... though with all the corporate sponsors (the Starbucks stage instead of the Mural Amphitheater? C'mon!), it does seem like some relief from ticket prices could get passed down to the fans. $35 is pretty steep and prohibitive for many...

To Tim:

Actually, Bite of Seattle grew out of the first few Bumbershoots. Ah, now the "Who came first: the chicken or the egg?" has been answered!!

But in all seriousness, I do agree with you that ticket prices should be lowered and it should just be a big NW music fest.

I only went to one day of Bumbershoot, because the day I went was so good, I didn't want to ruin it. (and hey, I can't afford the 35 dollars a day either) The best parts of Bumbershoot were:

- The Triumphant Return of The Lashes
- Flatstock
- Running into Imaginary Dana in the line for roasted corn
- Menomena with full choir
- Magnolia Electric Co.

I agree with Dana that having some big major-label acts, with indie bands, then with non-label bands give it variety... And since this is my first time returning in two years, I noticed that the corporate sponsorship allows them to have more stages, more music - there's a significant increase in stages than there were two years ago. My only complaint was that there was no little tiny Busker Stage. I missed that.