As always, Bumbershoot features loads of great music and a lot of it is from local artists, such as THEM pictured above. There’s such an abundance of local music at Bumbershoot it can become difficult to know who to see, especially if you aren’t familiar with a lot of local music.
To help remedy that situation, I’ve selected five must-see local bands playing the second day of Bumbershoot 2023, all of which have the Guerrilla Candy seal of approval.
True Loves (1:25-1:55 Fountain stage)
If you want to get your day started on the right foot then you’ll want to get to the Fountain stage to get down to the funky, soulful tones of True Loves. I mean, check out the sax action at the 2:00 mark and plus they’ve got Jimmy James, aka the best local guitarist you’ve never heard of, as their not-so-secret weapon. What makes your decision to put True Loves first on your agenda for the day even better is that they’re opening the stage for New Orleans’s finest, the Rebirth Brass Band. It’s a perfect one-two punch to begin the second day of Bumbershoot.
Pink Boa (2:45-3:15)
\
For those who like their music loud and local, I recommend Pink Boa. The group delivers blasts of high-voltage rock & roll energy with every song and always give 100 percent on stage. Expect shredding guitars, bombastic drums and a contagious stage energy and a blast of live rock adrenaline unlike anything else offered at Bumbershoot.
Massy Ferguson (4:30-5:00 KEXP)
There are a lot of great local bands in Seattle, so you’re forgiven if you’ve overlooked Massy Ferguson. But now that I’m mentioning them here, you have no excuse to not know about their blue collar, country-tinged rock. And when I say country, think more along the lines of Drive-By Truckers goodness and less “Try That in a Small Town” nonsense. If you dismiss them because you’re afraid of rootsy, rocking country, then you’re doing yourself a disservice. Sure their guitars have a twang to them, but that twang packs a mighty, mean Pacific Northwest punch.
Sol (5:15-6:00 Mural stage)
The local hip-hop scene is filled with loads of talent and Sol has been one of its brightest stars for more than a decade. The globe-trotting rapper is socially conscious, intelligent and for my money he’s one of the most underrated local musicians in town. He’s been a fixture of Seattle’s hip-hop scene since he was a teenager and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a few of his local hip-hop friends pop in on stage for some guest spots throughout his set.
THEM (6:05-6:50 KEXP)
THEM are possibly the youngest act on the bill and definitely one of the most fun bands playing Bumbershoot 2023. This group of young women play the best kind of catchy tunes, which are ones you can have fun singing and dancing along to with your friends. THEM play a style of power pop that perfectly fits Bumbershoot’s end-of-summer vibe.
If none of those acts make your ears’ hearts flutter, here other local acts performing during Day 2 include:
- Fouad Masoud (1:00 Fisher)
- Simone BG (1:00 Mural)
- King Youngblood (1:45 Mural)
- Beverly Crusher (1:45 Vera)
- The Black Tones (3:20 Mural)
- Spirit Award (3:45 Vera)
- Rub (4:55 Vera)
- Band of Horses (7:30 Fountain)
Read more about Bumbershoot and which local bands Guerrilla Candy recommends to see during the first day of the festival below.
