Vampire Weekend, Hold Steady amongst Capitol Hill line-up :: Music News :: Articles

[Above: Blue Scholars at last year's block party]

The Stranger and KEXP are rewriting the books on what constitutes the quintessential block party. Needless to say, Aunt Gertrude’s green-bean casserole isn’t getting anywhere near this thing.

“This ain’t no burnt-wiener-and-potato-salad kind of block party,” the Seattle Weekly said in a recent statement. “No, this one is more like a sweaty, boozy, scaled-down version of Sasquatch, only during the dog days of summer and right in our own backyard.”

The event takes place over July 25-26, with over 50 bands appearing on four stages. The line-up displays a penchant for northwestern up-and-comers, of course, but also showcases artists everywhere from New Yorkers Vampire Weekend to Olympian Kimya Dawson (no, not that kind of Olympian). Les Savy Fav, The Hold Steady and The Dodos are also confirmed, with more acts to be announced soon.

The party will take over South Capitol Hill, stretching from 12th Avenue to Broadway down the Pike Corridor. For those not in the Seattle area, this may not mean much; however, the performances also will be broadcast via The Stranger’s music blog.

Tickets went on sale this Friday, April 18, and they're nearly as cheap as the Kentucky Reggae Festival, at $18 a pop. Make a weekend out of it with a two-day pass for $34. Part of the proceeds will benefit Home Alive and the Vera Project.

That big, sweaty, boozy lineup:

July 25
Vampire Weekend
Les Savy Fav
Girl Talk
USE
The Dodos
Jay Reatard
Akimbo
Pwrfl Power
Past Lives
Black Eyes and Neckties
Champagne Champagne

July 26
The Hold Steady
Chromeo
Kimya Dawson
Darker My Love
The Builders & the Butchers
The Hands
Valella Valella
The Physics
Man Plus
Little Party and Bad Business