Live music brings the party, always has, always will. Live music at an outdoor venue, double so. Marymoor Park will be hosting many live shows this summer from June 27 to September 17 and the revenue goes toward maintaining and operating King County parks.
Marymoor has the advantage of delivering superior acoustics as an outdoor venue, much like you’d hear at the Gorge, and with its capacity at 5000 people, it has a slightly more intimate setting like The Showbox or The Triple Door.
Kicking off on Saturday, June 27, singer/songwriter/guitarist Keb’Mo’ will be performing his rootsy, delta blues style music. Influenced by and carrying on the tradition of the greats Muddy Waters and Taj Mahal. His parents, originally from the Deep South, helped further his post-modern expression of delta blues, the same musical form that helped evolve modern rock n’ roll.
July 5 sees the arrival of British Rock legends Duran Duran. As leaders of the “Second British Invasion”, having sold over 70 million records during their career and currently working on their 13th album, they are sure to draw a huge crowd as they bring their act to Northwest.
The pace changes on July 11 with The No Depression Festival, an alt-country/roots gathering featuring acts like folk singer Gillian Welch and Iron & Wine. Welch borrows her style from early 20th century Appalachia sound and is highly acclaimed for voice that seems to resurrect this relic of American music. Iron & Wine, stage name of Samuel Beam, is a folk rock singer/writer with an Elliot Smith/Simon & Garfunkel sound.
July 16 starts of a block of four consecutive concert nights beginning with Counting Crows and special guest Augustana. Counting Crows, with an array of influence ranging from Bob Dylan to The Band to Nirvana, have a sound that is an absolute delight to hear live.
Lead singer Adam Duritz has been known to extend and sometimes reword songs during live performances by inserting additional verses and using alternate endings. Augustana is a newer act, out of San Diego, who are best known for their songs “Boston” and “Sweet and Low”.
The following night, July 17, Portland band, The Decemberists will be performing with Andrew Bird and Blind Pilot. The Decemberists are known for their musical range, using instruments not usually seen in band arrangements like accordions, organs and the upright bass. Andrew Bird carries a sound in the same vein; he is a multi-instrumentalist who is proficient with the violin, guitar and mandolin. His sound is influence by jazz, bluegrass and swing. Blind Pilot is an indie rock group out of Portland Oregon, known for their hit single “Go On, Say It.”
The last two nights of the four night block, July 18 and 19, belong to Bellingham boys Death Cab for Cutie who have climbed all the way to national stardom over the past twelve years.
With six studio albums and a whole slew of die-hard local fans, these two shows are sure to have great energy. On the ticket with Death Cab are The New Pornographers and Ra Ra Riot.
After a long break, August 27 brings back the British rock with The Pretenders. For a band that has been around since the dying days of the British punk era, they have done pretty well for themselves, surviving through the drug related deaths of former members and enough personal squabbles to make Judge Judy walk off the bench. Guests will include Cat Power who is a singer/songwriter known for her minimalist style and actress turned singer Juliette Lewis.
It all comes to a close on September 17 with Flogging Molly. This seven piece Celtic punk group made up entirely of Irish Americans will sing your worries away with their trademark songs of drinking, fighting and generally bringing the ruckus. Making use of fiddles, banjos, accordions and mandolins; this bunch of hooligans will be a treat to the ears.
Tickets are still available for all these shows on ticketmaster.com. They run between $50-$80.