Sasquatch is perhaps the greatest rock festival in all of Washington State.
The festival is a three-day event where many leading and local bands get to play in outdoor stadiums for thousands of listeners.
This year’s Sasquatch is taking place over Memorial Day weekend, May 23-25, at the Gorge in Quincy, Washington. Partiers, campers, comedians, the old and young; everybody is going to be there, eagerly awaiting their favorite band’s performance and finding new favorites in beautiful environment that is the Gorge.
Here are some ups and downs of a few attending bands.
Silversun Pickups: Los Angeles has produced some fine bands, and Silversun Pickups are no exception. Guitarist and lead vocalist Brian Aubert’s unique voice is the driving point in this quartet of friends who will be playing on Monday afternoon, the last day of Sasquatch. Expect to hear “Panic Switch” from their new album Swoon, and as well as other favorites from this album and previous ones.
Erykah Badu: R&B, hip-hop, and jazz are Erykah Badu’s genres, but to define her music in any one genre would be to underestimate her style. Compared to likes of Billie Holiday, Badu’s performance is sure to please many fans on Monday.
The Airborne Toxic Event: Formed three years ago by novelist Mikel Jollett, Airborne has managed to grab the attention of both the media and hardcore indie rock fans.
Performing on Sunday for 50 minutes starting at six in the evening, expect a big crowd and a good time.
The Gaslight Anthem: Drawing comparisons to “The Boss” Bruce Springsteen is no small feat, but it’s one that Gaslight Anthem aimed to do when they formed in 2006. Gaslight will be the second act of the opening day playing in the main amphitheatre, so there is undoubtedly pressure on them to open this festival with a bang.
The Decemberists: One of the biggest bands playing at Sasquatch this year, Portland’s quintet of perfection intends to blend British Folk and metal as they perform for their fifth full album The Hazards of Love. This particular album posed a problem to leading man Colin Meloy, as he wanted to not only write good music, but an inspiring story. Whether he was successful or not is up to the listeners on Saturday.
Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head: With perhaps the most unique band name to ever be created, Seattle’s own electro-pop quartet had no intention of taking themselves seriously. That is, until they performed and were encouraged by impressed fans to go all the way.
Hear this unique band perform late night on Sunday at the Dance Tent.
Mad Rad: To mix things up, a trio of rappers from Seattle will take stage on Sunday. Their new album White Gold released late last year for listeners to enjoy. Sounding similar to the likes of 3OH!3, this band will surely cause a wave of dancing, drinking and fun.
Nick Thune: Not to be out-trumped by the mass of bands, comedians such as Seattle’s Nick Thune will also take center stage this year. Being featured twice on the Jay Leno Show has garnered Thune’s musical skits a good deal of popularity.
Thune will be performing for 45 minutes on Saturday.
A few other big name attendees will be The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jane’s Addiction, Nine Inch Nails, Kings of Leon, Animal Collective, and Ben Harper and the Relentless 7.
With well over 50 big performances, this year’s Sasquatch is intended to be the greatest yet.
Live, love, learn and rock: it’s what Sasquatch is all about.