Quirky Seattle ‘city festival’ Capitol Hill Block Party steps it up this year with one of the most finely curated lineups yet; a personal best as much as it my favorite of this festival season.

Festivals are muddy. Or they are dusty. They are filled with crowds, often on a very different page than you are. Equally, they might be filled with a lot of music that you would never be remotely interested in. Take this out of the equation and come to the oasis that is Seattle’s Capitol Hill Block Party. With it’s strongly curated selection of this years best bands and DJS, in a community ‘street party’ setting, it is festival in its purest and most doable form. Though condensed and relaxed, it holds on to its quirk, rendering goers as equally able to see and experience the wild things one might expect of festivals such as (the quickly commercializing) Coachella or Sasquatch. You are able to come and go, through the trendy Capitol Hill neighborhood scape, exploring a beautiful city while gaining access to emerging and widely known bands.

Beginning this Friday, the three-day festival, boasts acts such as RATATAT, The Kills, Toro y Moi, Jamie xx, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Flatbush Zombies and so much more. Owner, Jason Lajeunesse, uses the festival to promote Seattle internationally and benefit its community locally, raising over $25,000 a year for non-profits they support and believe in. Last year the raisings went to City of Seattle Arts and Music initiative called Creative Advantage.

Tickets can be bought via their website where you can purchase single, two day or a full three day pass at prices ranging from $50-125 ($250 for VIP). Listen to local Seattle radio station KEXP, eat at fried chicken spot The Wandering Goose, visit brewery The Peddler and window shop in Ballard and drink at Percy & Co. to warm up for this Seattle-centric fest.

capitolhillblockparty.com
Words, images, playlist by Kate Eringer