With over ninety-something options vying for your attention from opening gates until the closing bell, making the most out of your day(s) at Bumbershoot definitely takes a little bit of planning. All the normal festival rules apply: pack light, wear layers, don't forget the sunscreen (and remember pace your drinking!).... but on top of all that -- first and foremost -- get that schedule out and go over it with a fine-toothed comb. We did, and came up with a handful of can't-miss acts and installations to help make your Saturday the best it can be:
Flatstock {all weekend, Fisher Pavillion}
A true no-brainer for the concert-lover in all of us, Flatstock fuses memories of some of the greatest shows on earth with track-stopping-ly gorgeous graphics. For as far as the eye can see -- almost literally -- and for all three days of Bumbershoot, Flatstock displays row after row, booth after booth of a staggering per-square-foot amount of artistic content. With so much talent in such a small space, and no additional costs to check it out once you're on Bumbershoot grounds, you'd be silly to pass it up.
Most TIG readers realize that Colin Meloy knows his way with a fetching narrative whether in song (on oodles of albums by his band The Decemberists among others, including under his own name) or in memoir (his superb 33 1/3 book on The Replacements' Let It Be, which has been unfairly lost in the shuffle over time). And now those fans who either dip into children's literature for its affection for good, straightforward storytelling, or wish to get their own kids or others' kids hooked on the book, can get them Meloy's own debut in the field, as part of his new Wildwood series.
A "tale of adventure, magic, and danger," Wildwood is a trilogy in collaboration with fawned-over illustrator Carson Ellis. HarperCollins won the rights to the series after five other publishing houses competed in the auction for the rights. The first novel should be in stores in autumn of 2010.
Latest comment by: Imaginary Kiku: "I am a huge fan of this combination of great things. I cannot wait to see this! Maybe children will stop reading the Twilight"
Download "The Rake's Song" and don't miss the Decemberists NPR spot today!
Latest comment by: keenan dowers: "Oh man, it always kills me when Sean pulls back from the mic. That silhouette photo at the top is AMAZING!"
Full frontal PNW deliciousness! At a student center! With exclamation points!
Latest comment by: Kirk: "Tim is thinking of the HUB Ballroom. That is where concerts in the HUB usually are. But the Auditorium is an actual auditorium, with a stage, theater seats, and excellent acoustics. "
Colin Meloy photos by Chona Kasinger
Latest comment by: imaginary dana: "I feel like I'm always writing this comment... but DAMN girl, these photos are GREAT!! Sounds like it was a great show. I've never heard of someone being a Colin Meloy fan but not a Decemberists fan... that was interesting to read. Anyone else have a ...
"It was fun watching those picks gradually disappear throughout the night."
Latest comment by: Kyle Johnson: "chona rocks. and anyone who hasnt heard tarkio. needs to. that is all"
Latest comment by: elle: "You know, I just could never get into the Decemberists. I can't put my finger on why, they just don't do it for me. But, my co-worker has a copy of Colin Meloy's live solo performance from NPR he did awhile ago and...wow. I could not stop listening for about a week ...
This week's new releases, featuring Colin Meloy, Foals, Jim Noir, Tapes N Tapes, and The Breeders.
Latest comment by: JessicaSeattle: "Nice list! Although i confess my heart skipped a beat when i dyslexically misread "Futureheads" for "Featureds". (even though their new album was put out nowhere near Seattle & was self-released; it was a nice moment, nonetheless :-) Cannot wait to get ...
I was at the Decemberists show on Thursday night and thought the band sounded better than any of the previous four times I had seen them.
But I need someone out here to confirm something about Wednesday's show.
Latest comment by: Imaginary Mimi: ""I Was Meant for the Stage" is very frequently a song they do for an encore that goes on FORever. It's really cute, actually. In 2005, I think Seattle was the last stop before they got off one of their 27 million tours and they jammed on that one for at least ...
Recent comments
Imaginary exclusive! More Than Shapes, starring John Roderick of the Long Winters
For the (whole) love of Wilco
Imaginary exclusive! More Than Shapes, starring John Roderick of the Long Winters
Imaginary exclusive! More Than Shapes, starring John Roderick of the Long Winters
Imaginary Mixtape: Shuffle Surprise!
Imaginary Mixtape: Shuffle Surprise!
Imaginary Mixtape: Shuffle Surprise!
Imaginary Mixtape: Shuffle Surprise!
Imaginary Linkage: Stuff We Spied Online This Week {1/28-2/3}
Imaginary Linkage: Stuff We Spied Online This Week {1/28-2/3}