Last weekend, Capitol Hill Block Party (CHBP) returned to Seattle for the first time since 2019. This unique festival has been a beloved summer tradition in the Seattle music scene since 1997. It is known for showcasing international, national, and local artists. As well as highlighting popular bars, restaurants and vendors in the community. The CHBP historically draws large crowds – typically around 10,000 people per day – and this year was no exception.
On Friday, a wave of people rushed into the Block Party gates. Everybody seemed eager to let loose and experience a moment of pre-pandemic normalcy. This high energy continued throughout the weekend. It was clear that people were happy to indulge in live music and sweaty camaraderie as crowds smiled and swayed under the sun.
This year, festival founders set out to revitalize the community by expanding their footprint and reach. The CHBP team introduced additional venues that featured over 150 acts – across eight stages: Main Stage, Vera Stage, Neumos, Barboza, Wild Rose, Vermillion, Cafe Racer, and Cha Cha Lounge. The festival grounds offered visitors access to an entire neighborhood of restaurants, food trucks, vendors, coffee shops, water stations, bathrooms, and unique vibes that can only be found in the Cap Hill community.
Providing A Platform For Local Artists To Grow
As one of the last independently owned festivals of its size in the country, a primary goal of CHBP is to support and promote local and regional talent alongside nationally recognized headliners. This year, the lineup featured headliners including Charli XCX, Jai Wolf, Duckwrth, Remi Wolf, Flo Milli, and Diplo.
While I did my best to catch moments of the main stage performances, my main focus was to soak up as many local bands as I could. In today’s climate, it’s hard to find a festival that focuses so much effort on supporting local, and lesser-known artists. After the pandemic, I think it’s more important now, than ever.
This year’s expansive lineup was carefully curated by the CHBP team to give attendees a glimpse into hot artists from Washington State and beyond.
Capitol Hill Block Party Weekend Highlights
The Capitol Hill Block Party returned to the streets of Seattle for the first time since the pandemic and showcased 150+ acts across eight venues. I found myself wandering from stage to stage, trying to soak up as many artists as possible. One thing’s for sure, there was never a dull moment. If anything, there wasn’t enough time in the day to see every enticing act that was calling my name.
Some of my favorite bands of the weekend included The Black Tones, Enumclaw, Claudine Magbag, JusMoni, Lovely Colours, Todd Zack Jr, King Youngblood, Teon Gibbs, Sudan Archives, All Star Opera, and THEM – to name a few.
Since I got home last night, I have been reminiscing on the performances of the last three days. I’ve been trying to narrow down my favorite performances. Honestly, there were too many memorable performances to count. But if I had to choose, my favorite performance is a tie between The Black Tones and Claudine Magbag (with a special guest feature from local rapper Sol).
In all honesty, aside from the local bands, this year’s lineup leaned a little heavier in the electronic and alt-pop direction than it has in past years. Organizers say the parent company, Daydream State, has shifted the bigger-name indie rockers toward their new Day In Day Out Festival. The DIDO festival is returning to Seattle in a few weeks.
For more information about this year’s CHBP event, or to sign up for email reminders for the 2023 festival, check out the offical website here.
