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Continued from part 1. I’ll post some pictures soon.

Saturday September 1

Day 2 of the Bumbershoot Music And Arts Festival. All threee festival days it was lunch at Veggie Grill, a quick monorail ride, and then Bumbershoot. The first thing among our selections today was a sampling of the Film Festival, this group called Films For Families. These are award-winning short films, usually 6 or 7 in about an hour. We see a sampling every year and it’s always interesting. Next, Petra went to catch part of music set by Skating Polly and then met us at one of the comedy venues for Off Book: The Improvised Musical. This was two people with a guest comedian doing an improv story as a musical. It was about an hour and a quarter of a wildly imaginitive story made up on the fly with spontaneous music numbers (broadway style) throughout. I am very serious when I say this was really really really funny. I was laughing out loud for much of it and marveling at their creativity the rest of the time. It was a major highlight. Next up we saw musical duo Marian Hill, who used samples and prerecorded backing but added a lot to it. Oddly, they played their hit “Down” first but the crowd really liked them anyway. [continued]

Yes, we skipped T-Pain, Little Wayne, Ludacris, and Young Thug. Did you expect otherwise? We went to the KEXP radio station stage and caught some of a set by Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever. What a name, huh? It was crowded there and we eventually headed out. We caught part of set by rapper Maxo Kream, which I have to saw was one of the worst things musically I have seen in a long time. A large guy taking off his shirt and sweating while spewing profanities about bitches and f this and f that over pre-recorded barely music. It was repulsive and I’m being kind. Good news, he arrogantly left the stage ten minutes early and left the DJ to stand there and watch the computer. And that was the high point! But then it went to the other end of the spectrum with The Revolution. That’s right, Prince’s band from the Purple Rain days paying tribute to him. We were right at the front and they were just feet from us, Wendy and Lisa, Brownmark, Dr Fink, and Bobby Z. And they are all still really good at what they do. They played some of Prince’s biggest hits and others, with Wendy and the group singing at times and sometimes joined by the singer from Mint Condition. It was very emotional for them and for every Prince fan in the crowd too. It was a really good set and ended the day on a very high note. Oh, and we got the set list.

Sunday September 2

Day 3 of the Bumbershoot Music And Arts Festival. We started by watching a young singer/songwriter named Kailee Morgue. She was pretty good, just her and a female synth player accompanying. After the set we met her (and her mom!) and Josephine got a picture with her. Next up, I saw a female pop-ish singer, Ella Vos. Josephine and Petra were elsewhere, in the Makers Area. I joined them there and Josephine tried a bit off screen printing and pottery. The pot she made wasn’t half bad, well one side was a little wonky but probably better than I could do. Next, at the main stage, was a family favorite, Bishop Briggs. We had seen her early this year in town here and it was a great show. Well, today she did not disappoint either. She alternately charming and angry but it a very good way. It was a great show.

We stayed at the main stage. As mid-level VIP ticket buyers we have a great section right up front and can get very close, especially if we get there a little early for a set. Next was Portugal. The Man, a band that has been around a while now but just recently hit big with Feel It Still. You’ve probably heard it even if you don’t recognize the title. The were talented and fun. Then we headed to a different stage for seventies/eighties icons Blondie. Yes, Deborah Harry is over 70 now but she can still bring it. They played a lot of old hits, as well as a couple songs off their latest album from last year. I like that, they don’t just settle for being an oldies act, they still put out new albums and they play at least a few more recent songs. Of course, the crowd wanted the hits and they got plenty of them. And it was very good indeed. The festival winded down (for us) with rock band Phoenix. We stayed out of the main stage where SZA was playing and enjoyed Phoenix but it got a bit cold and we called it a night. Another awesome Bumbershoot Festival. Room reserved for next year? Check.

Monday September 3

We took a ferry ride to nearby Bainbridge Island. We do this a lot of years, it’s a relaxing ride on the water and a quaint little town to visit. We spent some time in the Art Museum there and walked the town a bit. Then caught the ferry back (it’s free to come back!) and caught a bus up to Capitol Hill to check out a bookstore. Nice store. Then a bus to the Wayward Vegan Cafe. They have a h-u-g-e menu, all vegan and so varied with all types of meals. It was delicious and I wish I was there now. Then back to the condo.

Tuesday September 4

Last day in Seattle, and a travel day. But before we left, we had lunch at nearly Cafe Yumm! and then a quick monorail ride to the Seattle Center for a walk round to see the festival tear-down almost done. We went to a nearby used bookstore and then back to the condo to pick up our luggage and take the light rail to the airport. We flew home and that was that. Now it’s just the waiting until next year!

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