Seafair Torchlight Parade in Seattle - Saturday, July 25th 2015 from 7:30-10pm

" Everybody loves a Parade - and none is more magical, musical and thrilling than Torchlight Night. This magnificent parade will include giant helium balloons, precision drill teams representing local communities, equestrian units, comical clowns, swashbuckling pirates and heart-pounding bands playing all your favorite tunes. "

For more info. go here.

8TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF COMMUNITY STREET BANDS AKA HONKFEST WEST IN SEATTLE - NOW THROUGH SUNDAY, JUNE 21ST 2015 - VARIOUS TIMES/LOCATIONS

" Come HONK! with us in Seattle at our 8th Annual HONK! Fest West, June 18th-21st, 2015!

HONK! Fest West is always FREE to the public and FAMILY FRIENDLY, with the exception of some special events and after parties that help offset the costs of producing a HONK! festival. Audience participation and fun, brightly colored costumes are HIGHLY encouraged! 

This is the 8th year of HONK! Fest West, and we are pleased to announce it will be our biggest year yet, presenting you with over 32 bands from all over North America and beyond to fill Seattle’s streets and parks with music. We are once again joining forces with the Fremont Arts Council, to bring joyous music and pageantry to the Fremont Solstice Parade. 

HONK! Fest West 2015 is pleased to present:

New Creations Brass Band - New Orleans, LA
Junkadelic Brass Band - Perth, Western Australia
Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band - Somerville, MA
SambAmore - Arcata, CA
Lovebomb Go-Go - Portland, OR
Chaotic Noise Marching Corps - Seattle, WA
Environmental Encroachment - Chicago, IL
Brass Band Mission - San Francisco, CA
Yes Ma’am Brass Band - Austin, TX
Garfield High School Bulldog Drumline* - Seattle, WA
Brass Messengers - Minneapolis, MN
Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers* - Portland, OR
Gora Gora Orkestar - Boulder, CO
D20 Brass Band - Seattle, WA
Seattle Seahawks Blue Thunder Drumline* - Seattle, WA
Buckshot Brass Band - Tacoma, WA
Bucharest Drinking Team - Seattle, WA
Vamolá - Seattle, WA
Bridgetown Brass - Portland, OR
Extraordinary Rendition Band - Providence, RI
Ten Man Brass Band - Seattle, WA
Roosevelt High School Drumline* - Seattle, WA
The m9 - Seattle, WA
Sound Wave Sounders FC Band - Seattle, WA
Emerald City BOOM Drumline* - Seattle, WA
Black Sheep Brass Band - Sonoma, CA
Artesian Rumble - Olympia, WA
Hubbub Club - Graton, CA
One Love - Seattle, WA
Passion Bucket - Fresno, CA
The Dixie Giants - Santa Rosa, CA
Samba Energencia - Vancouver, B.C.
The Fighting Instruments of Karma Marching Chamber Band/Orchestra - Cascadia, WA
The Carnival Band - Vancouver, B.C.


*Featured in our Friday Night Drumline Battle

================================

Special events this year include Bloco Pacifico, a Samba drum and dance ensemble made up of members of many local, regional, and West Coast samba players. Also, our annual Friday night drum battle has tripled in size this year with Garfield, Roosevelt, Emerald City BOOM Drumline, Blue Thunder, and Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers.

Once again we will be joining forces with the Fremont Solstice Parade, adding a fun, musical aspect to this annual event that marks the beginning of Summer.

Following the Fremont Solstice Parade, HONK! bands will serenade you in Gasworks Park until the sun goes down. "

Festival Schedule:

Thursday 6/18 – Revenge of the Band Nerds benefit for traveling bands @ Nectar Lounge 7pm 21+ $12

Friday 6/19 – Georgetown Takeover and Friday Night Drum Battle - 6pm @ 12th Ave S. and Airport Way

Saturday 6/20 – Fremont Solstice Parade and music in Gasworks park - Music starts at 3:30pm

Sunday 6/21 – Central District (11am-2pm) 23rd&Union
All-Band Revue @ Seattle Center's Fisher Pavillion -3pm

For more info. go here.

SEATTLE ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE - SATURDAY, MARCH 15TH 2014 STARTING AT 12:30PM!

St Patrick's Day Parade!

Every year we try to attend the St. Patty's Day Parade! If the kids have never been, then go and check it out! 

At 12:30 pm the whistle will sound to officially start Seattle's 43rd annual St Patrick's Day Parade which will head north on 4th Ave from Jefferson toward Westlake Park.

" While all marching groups must pre-register, anybody with an Irish connection (and everybody is Irish on St. Patrick's Day!) is invited to walk in the Parade without any pre-registration. Seniors and others are welcome to ride for free in the "Seniors Shamrock Shuttle", a Greyline Trolley which can be boarded at 4th Ave and James starting at 12 noon. 

                                                                     

Parade closing ceremonies will be held in the Armory at the Seattle Center during the Irish festival at approx. 2:30 pm. "

Note: Monorail will be FREE from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm for travel after the Parade from Westlake to the Seattle Center.  (Fee to return, I believe)

For more info. go here.

Meet and Greet with "English Beat" at The Guitar Store in Seattle - Friday, February 21st 2014 at 12pm

Ok, I am showing my age here but if you are a fan of this 80's band or if your kid is into retro (!) English Beat will be in town and you can go and check them out at this meet and greet!

"Join us Friday the 21st at Noon as we welcome Dave Wakeling and The English Beat for a promotional in store appearance. Bring a friend. It's a free meet and greet in a room full of guitars before that nights show at The Showbox. We will also be filming for our TV show and a national ad for Dropcam. "

For more info. go here.

Hilloween 2013 - A fabulous FREE Halloween event featuring a carnival, Caspar Babypants, Recess Monkey and TONS more fun at Cal Anderson Park in Capitol Hill in Seattle - Today, Saturday, October 26th 2013 from 12-3:30 with trick or treating and pizza party to follow until 7pm!

Saturday October 26
12:00 - 3:30 Carnival
3:30 - 7:00 Broadway Trick-or-Treating
5:00 - 7:00 Pizza party

 VULCAN STAGE
12:00 PM - DJ LA Kendall begins her set and Fonzie the Dancing Dog performs
12:30 PM - Halloween Tree Story Times
1:45 PM - DJ LA Kendall
2:00 PM - Halloween Tree Story Times
2:30 PM - DJ LA Kendall 
3:00 PM - Thank you to our sponsors 
3:10 PM - DJ LA Kendall plays her last set

BROADWAY BIZ STAGE
12:50 PM - Thank you to our sponsors
1:30 PM - Caspar Baby Pants (45 minutes)
1:45 PM - Thank you to our sponsors
2:30 PM - Recess Monkey
3:10 PM - Chaotic Noise Marching Band and parade participants gather
3:30 PM - Chaotic Noise Marching Band leads the Costume Parade around the Cal Anderson fountain and onto Broadway
4:00 PM - Kids are unleashed on Broadway for Trick-or-Treating
5:00 PM - Pizza Party starts at Pagliacci Pizza - free slice of pizza to kids in costume until 7:00 PM

Special Performances
Animate Objects Physical Theater is bringing two stilt walkers, a juggler and a hula hooper.

Chaotic Noise Marching Band will lead the Costume Parade through Cal Anderson and up Broadway.

Booths and Carnival Games
Ice Cream Truck 
Pumpkin Ring Toss
Trick or Treat Bag Decorating
Hula Hoop Lessons and Contest
Mummy Knock Down
Spooky Fish Pond
Pin the Tail on the Werewolf
Popcorn and Cotton Candy
Dartless Balloon Pop
Monsters in the Park Photo Booth
Photo Booth
Face Painter
Bouncy House
Juggling Lessons

 

For more info. go here.  

Dick's Drive-In celebrates their 60th Anniversary with a Block Party with Local Bands including Recess Monkey, plus a Beer Garden and more at the Broadway location - Sunday, September 8th 2013 from 12-10pm

It's an all day block party with tons of live performances...what fun!

Dick's Drive-In is excited to announce our first ever FREE Broadway Block Party. Come out and help us celebrate our 60th Anniversary in true Capitol Hill style with:

- LIVE & LOCAL MUSIC FOR ALL AGES
- ALL DAY LOCAL CRAFT BEER GARDEN

LOCAL MUSIC:

We can't wait to share the entire lineup with you but we're excited to announce our first 5 bands with more to come!

- motopony
- Don't Talk To The Cops
- Tilson XOXO - http://vimeo.com/73185544
- Radio Raheem
- Sammy Witness & The Reassignment
- F2D (Funky 2 Death)
- Dick's Facebook Block Party Band Winner*
- Recess Monkey [Kids & Family's] 2:00 PM
- 2 Special Guests to Go!


BEER GARDEN:

Don't miss out on our great local Change for Charity Beer Garden featuring $5.00 beers from delicious local breweries INCLUDING:

- Elysian Brewing
- Georgetown Brewing
- Silver City Brewery & Taproom
- Hilliards Beer
- Fremont Brewing Company
- Two Beers Brewing Co.

For more info. go here.

 

6th Annual Festival of Community Street Bands AKA HONKfest West in Seattle - Friday through Sunday, June 21-23rd 2013 - Various times/locations

For more info. go here.

Chinatown Seafair Parade - Sunday, July 22nd 2012 from 7-9pm

Chinatown Seafair Parade will feature lion and dragon dances, martial arts, drill teams, bands, floats, local community groups, the 100 foot dragon and more!


For more info. go here.

23rd Annual Free Summer Concerts & Events at the Locks in Ballard - Saturday, July 21st and Sunday, July 22nd 2012 - at 2pm both days!

 

Bambula will play traditional Brazilian and Caribbean Songs on Saturday and then on Sunday, the West Seattle Big Band will be performing swing and jazz music!

For more info. go here.

23rd Annual Free Summer Concerts & Events at the Locks in Ballard - Saturday, July 14th and Sunday, July 15th 2012 - at 2pm both days!

The Greenwood Concert Band will play marches and music written and arranged for bands on Saturday and then on Sunday, the Coal Creek Jazz Band will be performing traditional dixieland jazz!

For more info. go here. 

2012 SUMMER CONCERTS IN THE PARK in Edmonds - Sundays - July 8th through August 26th 2012 at 3pm

Edmonds City Park will host the annual Summer Concerts in the Park starting Sunday!

Summer 2012 Schedule:

 

July 8	Duwamish Dixieland Jazz Band, Toe-Tappin’ Tunes
July 15	Show Brazil, Traditional and Contemporary Brazilian Music & Dance
July 22	“Twelfth Night”, Seattle Shakespeare Company/Wooden O  *1 3/4 hr performance
July 29	David Correa and CASCADA, Latin Guitar World Music
August 5	The MoodSwings Jazz Band, Big Band Songs
August 12	Tingstad & Rumbel, Contemporary Instrumental
August 19	Adrian Xavier Band, Reggae
August 26	Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band, Marches

FYI - In the event of rain, concert will be canceled at 2:30 pm.


For more info. go here.

23rd Annual Free Summer Concerts & Events at the Locks in Ballard - Saturday, July 7th and Sunday, July 8th 2012 - at 2pm both days!

The Puget Sound Symphony Chamber Players will play classic wind instrumentals on Saturday and then on Sunday, the Greenwood Concert Band will be performing marches and more! 

For more info. go here. (new updated website!)

"The Next 50 Plays the First 50" Musical Performances at the Mural Amphitheater at Seattle Center - Saturday, July 7th 2012 from 2-8pm

Tons of performances featuring original music and amazing covers of historic musicians!

For more info. go here.

Patriotic Music and more at the Ballard Locks - Wednesday, July 4th 2012 at 2pm

In celebration of the 4th of July, the Seattle Civic Band will be playing patriotic marching music and more at the Ballard Locks tomorrow!


For more info. go here and click on "Summer Events"!


(Also, check out the previous post showcasing 20+  "4th of July" celebrations happening around the area!)

23rd Annual Free Summer Concerts & Events at the Locks in Ballard - Saturday, June 30th and Sunday, July 1st 2012 - at 2pm both days!

 

The Eastside Modern Jazz will play a mix of Latin, funk, jazz, rock fusion, and contemporary jazz music on Saturday and then on Sunday, the 85th Street Big Band will be performing swing favorites from the 30s, 40s, and 50s! 

For more info. go here.

23rd Annual Free Summer Concerts & Events at the Locks in Ballard - Saturday, June 2nd and Sunday, June 3rd 2012 - at 2pm both days!

Saturday starts the beginning of the Free Summer Concerts and Events at the Ballard Locks! The Boeing Employees Concert Band will be kicking it off with its lively marches to show tunes and classics at 2pm and then on Sunday, Cascadia Jazz Band featuring funk, Latin jazz, and rock music will round out the weekend!


For more info. go here.

Honk Fest West - Friday-Sunday, June 1st-3rd 2012 - Various locations and times!

Special Announcement:

In honor of our friends we lost this week in Seattle, we are planning two memorial events during HONK! Fest West.

The first will take place at the start of the procession from Oxbow Park to Georgetown at 5:45 on Friday night. There will be 60 seconds of silence at 5:44pm, followed by the joyous noise of HONK! marching down the street.

The second will be on Sunday at Seattle Center, and this will be the proper second line sendoff. We will exit EMP at 4pm as a mass band playing this piece - 

New Orleans Jazz Funeral - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krJW2qMVv4M&feature=youtube_gdata_player

We will gather at the International Fountain for 60 seconds of silence at 4:20pm then at 4:21, we begin the most raucous second line and send these boys home. At 4:40pm, we are due to play Mini Maker Faire at Seattle Center, so the procession will keep moving!

All are welcome to come and play our friends home.

*************************

"  HONK! Fest West 2012 is a free, three-day, community-supported music festival devoted to marching bands, drum corps, samba lines, and anything acoustic and mobile that makes a ruckus. We revel in celebration of street band culture by taking mirth and music to the streets and parks of Seattle.
Always family-friendly, always free :: fanciful costumery and audience participation are *highly* encouraged!

Friday evening, June 1st, we’ll be back taking Georgetown by storm in or around the intersection of 12th Ave. S. and S. Vale St. from 6–10 pm http://g.co/maps/r8xmf
 
Saturday June 2nd, we’ll be back in Gas Works Park (Wallingford/Fremont) for a free & family-friendly day of fun, from noon till 6 pm.  http://g.co/maps/pas94

Sunday June 3rd, we’ll be in the EMP Sky Church (Seattle Center) from 2–4 pm. Following that, we’ll be rompin’ around Seattle Center grounds! http://g.co/maps/wsjmr

Wow, with so many times and places, we hope everyone finds something to enjoy! And we hope that many of you will keep coming back for more — remember, there are nearly 25 bands to see! "



For more info. go here.

Rare, FREE Travis Larson Band performance at Northwest Guitars in Bellevue - Tuesday, April 24th 2012 at 7pm

Image courtesy of Northwest Guitars

Got older kids that are into guitars or instumental rock music? Then head to see a rare, FREE Travis Larson Band (a fusion/progressive/rock band) all ages performance at Northwest Guitars in Bellevue.

" They have played in front of thousands at a time, toured with UFO and rock the stage. They have agreed to come to Northwest Guitars and play for FREE! This is an insane opportunity. A FREE major rock band for all ages! Come by and check it out April 24th 7PM Here at your local Guitar shop. "


FYI - This store is located right next door to Bellevue Art and Frame in Bellevue.



For more info. go here.


For more info. on Travis Larson Band and to preview their music go here and here.

"Festival of Trees" at Edward D. Hansen Conference Center at Comcast Arena in Everett - Wednesday, November 30th from 12-8pm

Go and see the beautifully decorated holiday trees and wreaths at the Festival of Trees in Everett. You can sip on refreshments and enjoy cookies, watch local community groups perform and children can create festive holiday crafts (from 3-6pm) and have a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus too!

   

FYI - $1 Donated for Every Person who Attends!

For every person who attends the Community Open House, Frontier Communications will donate $1. Help raise money for Providence Children's Services just by attending the event!

 

For more info. go here.

 

 

Greenwood Seafair Parade in Seattle - Wednesday, July 27th from 6-8pm

The Greenwood Seafair Parade is the oldest neighborhood Seafair parade in the region and features over 90 entrants that include bands, drill teams, floats, pirates and more!


For more info. check here.