Fisherman’s Village Music Fest Recap
We headed north to Everett last weekend to attend our first Fisherman’s Village Music Festival and we only brought the best memories back with us. The festival which takes place across four different venues in downtown Everett attracted a large crowd of music enthusiasts. There were no outside stages or fenced up areas as you would picture in a tradition festival setup but this made it feel unique and laid back.
The vibe was completely relaxed and it seemed that most of the people attending either were in a band or good friends of the band playing. It was more about the community and being able to come out and support all of the great artists that are located in the area. The fans easily walked into one of the venues, flashed their wristband and enjoyed the live music in an intimate space. No stress, no hassle, no lines, surrounded by great people who were there to share the weekend.
Cave Singers
The Everett Music Initiative team landed an impressive lineup for their fourth year and the event surpassed every expectation. It is so important to have a community that supports artists and it’s nice to push for that in a smaller place that is not Seattle. The nourishment and development of talent is vital to a city’s identity and this is a great way to support that.
The festival had a number of memorable performances we enjoyed including Wild Powwers, My Goodness, Cave Singers, The Seshen, Fauna Shade, Spirit Award, Tangerine, Porter Ray, Lake, Carl Blau, The Dip, and Legs. Below is our list of top moments since we can’t include everyone, even though we want to. Also, shout out to Andrew Vait of Sisters who hung around for most of the sets supporting the rest of the artists all weekend.
Thunderpussy
You knew this was coming and there is a reason these ladies top our list when they perform. Headlining Friday night at Tony Vs they completely dominated the room. No one could look away, no one wanted to, no one did. You always get the feeling that whatever stage this band plays on it is never big enough for the show they put on. You can just feel the magnitude of greatness that is there and we can’t wait for them to release their debut and take over the rest of the world. Catch them next at the movie premier for Danger Diva on the 13th or at Chop Suey for the Big BLDG Bash kickoff party April 21st.
The Seattle trio closed out night two of the festival and it was nothing but greatness. They get so into their set that it is hard not to be infected by their powerful live takeover. Their latest EP R.I.P blasts through your ears as every rock/garage band should be doing. Their performance was one of our favorites and we will be watching these guys real close in the future.
Jenn Champion
Champion’s ability to pull you into her world and keep you there for her set is absolutely incredible. Her self-sarcasm and humor are always a fun part of her lives as no one is really expecting it from her. Her band took the stage at the Everett Performing Arts Center which was a theater setup but it made it even more intimate to be a part of. They played songs from Cool Choices along with a few new tunes that emphasize Champion’s melancholic voice and writing. We loved every moment of it. Make sure to catch her around town and be aware of her new project Malidont.
Navid Eliot and Jen Borst took the stage on Sunday night and played an amazing set. As the festival was calming down it was the perfect soundtrack to ease us back into the real life of the Monday coming. It is always great catching their band live and this show was one of our favorites. Their perfectly crafted harmonies and soothing combined vocals always make for a magnetic live.
Planes on Paper
We had no idea what to expect when these guys came onstage but their set was nothing but great. They were dressed in what you think would be country but they rocked the stage at Tony Vs so hard. Their rock blues infused sound surprised everyone there and they were one of the bands people kept talking about the whole weekend.
Sunday night brought many great sets including one by Andrews which we were catching for the first time. Her angelic voice and honest storytelling pulled a large crowd to her stage. Many people were excited to see her there as many were friends since her move to Seattle in 2011. Her latest record Honest Life, recorded in Litho Studios is about being on the road touring and her return to the States and finding a way of fitting in both worlds.
Courtney Marie Andrews
Eric Anderson’s climb in the indie world has been steadily growing in the recent months and his set was one of the most anticipated at Fishvill. His soft vocals and slow melodies are very reminiscent of Death Cab and maybe that’s why we enjoyed it so much. The band plays at the Century Ballroom for the Keepers release party on April 28th and you should be there.
The project which started by Jay Clancy and evolved to include Lance Umble, Kyle Musselwhite, and Jack Hamrick took the stage at Tony Vs late afternoon on Saturday. Clancy wearing a 9:30 t-shirt stood in the center as he hammered guitar riffs along with his vocals. The band currently signed to Swoon Records released their debut EP Certainty last year and since then have gathered a large following.
Sloucher
This was one of our favorites because of Craft’s ability to keep everyone’s attention by performing alone. He was melancholic, calm, possessing the crowd with just his guitar and occasionally his harmonica. His Dolls of Highland debut record released from Sub Pop Records is incredible. Highlight was his cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Chelsea Hotel No 2”, that mesmerized the audience on the last day of the festival.
