Go Forth and Seek Your Fortune!

What do three days of music, dance and sunshine have to do with the British slang for umbrella? A lot, as it turns out. Bumbershoot, an English term for an umbrella, is also the name of a three day music and arts festival in Seattle. And I, being in Seattle to redirect my belongings back south, was staying at my parents home, mere blocks from the spectacle. My father, a hoopie-frood in almost every way, had flown my cousin in from California to attend. So my grandfather, my father, my cousin James and I headed down Queen Anne hill to Seattle Center to see what we could see.
I was the only Bumber-rookie in the group, as it was Dad's fifth, Grandpa's third and James's second Bumbershoot. I have been to a few music festivals and have been disappointed in the past. The mellow and eclectic vibe of Bumbershoot was an eye opening experience. Everyone was there, from families with little children dancing on the lawn, to too-cool-for-school teenagers moshing, to crazy old hippies with streamers dancing on the lawn. I heard more great bands than I could mention. Luckily they have a website for you to see for yourself. To prove that Bumbershoot is a complete hodgepodge of sonic goodness, I saw Lucinda Williams and T.I. perform on the same stage, separated by a mere 24 hours.

Other highlights included:

Band of Horses
The Staxx Brothers
Darondo & Nino Moschella
!!!
Nick Vigarino
Vicci Martinez
Nada Surf
Keyshia Cole
Star Anna
Tyrone Wells
Dale Watson
Paramore
The Offspring
Choklate
Bedouin Soundclash
Vince Mira
Langhorne Slim & The War Eagles
Blitzen Trapper

Trying to keep up with my father, wheeling my grandfather recklessly like a bat of hell.
Letting Dad buy the CD's and him letting me rip them.