Since 2000, The Sunset Tavern has been a beacon for Ballard residents to flock to for their late-night fun. The front is a cozy bar affectionately named Betty’s Room. You can hang out, drink and commemorate the entire night in their wicked little photo booth. But once you walk into the showroom, you transport to an entirely different world. The way the room is set up, it provides an intimate experience that you can feel fully immersed in. This will be the scene setting the tone for the third annual Seattle World Tour (SWT). Kicking off at the Sunset Tavern, night one of the SWT will be on Tuesday, June 6 with proceeds from the event going to the WA State Musician Relief Fund. Grab a ticket today for $15, then keep scrolling to get familiar with the artists performing on night one of the Seattle World Tour.
Night One of the 2023 Seattle World Tour
Small Paul
Small Paul is a band full of large talents. This Seattle-based super group features Kevin Murphy from the Moondoggies, Chris King and Malcolm Roberts of Chris King and the Gutterballs, along with Seth McDonald of All Star Opera. In the early days of COVID, this group of talented musicians banded together completely by accident, but it worked in their favor as their skill sets mesh together while simultaneously pushing each of them to higher levels. They released their debut ep, Strangeland last summer and are now set to release their debut full-length album on July 28th. You can pre-order the album, Come Alive & Live Again, on vinyl which will ship out early this fall.
I///U
As a seven-piece neo-soul band, I///U is swiftly becoming one of the most cherished bands in the underground Seattle scene. I’ve seen them perform numerous times now and I’m always astounded by the sheer amount of talent that they manage to pack onto some of the smallest stages in the city. At their shows I’ve seen them do some insanely cool original songs as well as some stellar covers of popular songs. You can stream their most recent single “Eros” on all streaming platforms now. Make sure you snag a ticket to the first night of the Seattle World Tour, but if you want to see them again, they will also be performing at Capitol Hill Block Party this summer.
Animal Face
Another supergroup that emerged from the depths of COVID is the five-piece ensemble Animal Face. Noah Coinflip shreds on the guitar with Andrew Imanaka slappin’ the bass, ANDREWMILES playing keys, and the ultimate duo of Ronnie and Wffls holding down the drums and percussion interchangeably. This group has only just begun but they’ve already played to sold out crowds. In the few times that I’ve seen them perform so far, the crowd gets so invested in the performance that it becomes a conversation between the audience’s cheering and the musicians’ effortless abilities to improvise with each other, communicating changes to the arrangement through nothing other than a look. If you enjoy the anticipation of not knowing what’s to come, check out Animal Face, because WOW!
Samurai Del
Samurai Del has been a staple of the scene for years now, often popping up to DJ and perform at the most sought-after events. He has this incredible ability to take influence from a variety of different genres and flip them into a cohesive sound that is so distinct to his artist DNA and so damn catchy at the same time. Over the years he has also developed the ability to tell stories throughout his songs, taking you on a journey from start to finish. Often partnering with some of the dopest vocalists in the area, Samurai Del gives you depth in his music, something you can groove to and above all else, simply have a good time.
