Seattle's Bumbershoot may be a bit lesser known than some of its summer festival cohorts like Lollapalooza and Coachella, but that doesn't mean we should be any less excited about it! The annual international music and arts festival has been around for over 40 years, and is scheduled to take place this year from September 2-4 at the Seattle Center in Washington. Bumbershoot has an eclectic lineup this year with headliners ranging from Halsey to Billy Idol, and a solid lineup of indie faves like Father John Misty, Tame Impala and Death Cab for Cutie. Here are our 3 picks for the most essential emerging acts to catch @ Bumbershoot this weekend.
WHO: G-Eazy
WHEN: Sunday, September 4th @ 5:50pm - Memorial Stadium
WHY: Rapper G-Eazy got his big break late last year with a feature on Grace's hit cover of "You Don't Own Me", and has since kept his name in the forefront with the release of his own sophomore album When It's Dark Out and a number of other high profile collaborations. The 27-year old isn't just another suburban rapper though - his music can be deceivingly serious despite it's fun, often up-tempo sound, and is well crafted and produced. Live, G-Eazy manages to find a sweet balance between his upbeat hits and slower jams, and almost always includes a few surprise guests who jump on stage to amp up the audience. Don't miss G-Eazy, hot off of a VMA performance with Britney Spears, at Bumbershoot this weekend.
WHO: Kamasi Washington
WHEN: Sunday, September 4th @ 8:00pm - Starbucks Stage
WHY: The unbelievably talented Kamasi Washington rose to notoriety this year with the release of his debut studio album Epic, through Flying Lotus' Brainfeeder label. The jazz saxophonist and frequent Kendrick Lamar collaborator received rave reviews for his take on 21st century jazz, with many crediting him for making the genre accessible to today's younger listeners. An LA native, Washington has been surrounded by jazz his entire life, spending his highschool and college years honing his craft - and even before Brainfeeder discovered him he had played with legends like Lauren Hill, Chaka Khan and George Duke. He's a force live, and fans never fail to be blown away by he and his band's astonishing collective talent.
WHO: TOKiMONSTA
WHEN: Saturday, September 3rd @ 6:00pm - KeyArena
WHY: LA producer/DJ TOKiMONSTA (real name Jennifer Lee) may not be a name you recognize yet... but there's a good chance you have heard her work before. She's remixed everyone from Justin Timberlake, to Lupe Fiasco to Mariah Carey, and is proving to be a real force as a producer (she recently released the stellar track below with the fast rising hip-hop artist Anderson .Paak). Lee's backround in classical piano and West Coast roots come through in her music, giving her beats a lighter, more refreshing sound that is still very high energy. Her DJ sets are always a packed house, and she keeps the audience on their feet with heavy beats and unexpected samples. Watch out for this up-and-comer, and don't miss the dance party @ her Bumbershoot set this year.
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