Ballard and seafood are practically synonymous. Before the neighborhood became synonymous with hip bars and a thriving music scene, it was all about fish. Personally, I come from a lineage of family who left their homes and sought out Ballard. My grandfather worked out on a tugboat and his father before him fished for a living. Now I eat smoked salmon and listen to stacked indie rock lineups in the summer — basically the same, right?
Ballard Seafoodfest is a perfect marriage of our neighborhood's nautical roots (not that they're totally gone; have you been to Shilshole?) with its modern day incarnation. Starting this Friday, July 7 through Sunday, July 9, the free event takes over old town Ballard and turns it into a vibrant fish fry and concert. Vendors line the streets with all the delicious seafood you could ever want. Throughout the day, bands will perform to keep the energy going. This year's lineup may be one of the fest's best yet. Philadelphia rockers Strand Of Oaks will headline the festival, touring in support of their excellent psych-infused record Hard Love. Former Seattle band La Luz makes their return, bringing their surf-rock soundtrack back from California. With the punchy sounds of Dude York, Hobosexual, Honcho Poncho, The Dip, and more on the lineup, it's doubtful that there will be a down moment the entire weekend. Check out some of the bands playing below and get ready to gorge on some tasty food.
For a third year, KEXP is proud to once again be part of Pianos in the Parks program, an initiative to bring a little musical magic into hundreds of Seattle and King County's parks and open spaces.
What does your typical lunch break look like? Shoving a sandwich in your face in the break room? Enduring the long lines at your favorite food truck? With summer in full force, maybe it's time to mix it up. The 39th annual Out To Lunch Summer Concert Series, presented by the Downtown Seattle Associ…
