Recognized by national media as one of the “top 5 reasons to visit Seattle,” Bumbershoot has announced the official lineup for its 46th annual festival at the Seattle Center over Labor Day weekend, Friday Sept. 2 through Sunday Sept. 4. Headliners include Seattle natives and hip hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, alternative rock band Death Cab for Cutie, and critically acclaimed Norwegian producer KYGO, among others.
More than 140 additional artists will perform throughout the weekend on more than a dozen indoor and outdoor stages spread throughout the 74 acre festival grounds, including both Memorial Stadium and KeyArena.
“Bumbershoot is Seattle’s Festival, which, to me, means it’s the first of its kind in the region and the one that has held steady for multiple generations,” said AEG’s Vice President of Talent and Bumbershoot Booker Chad Queirolo. “Same grounds, similar feel to when I was a kid attending in the 80’s and 90’s. Beyond music, we still have the art, the film, the comedy, and all the weirdo elements that have made it what it’s famous for. On top of that, and aside from being Seattle Centric, it’s one of the first American festivals and one of the longest running fests. That…is cool.”
Arts and Culture Programming Highlights
In addition to a diverse music lineup that includes 90 acts, from international headliners to emerging local artists, Bumbershoot programming includes comedy, film, dance, theatre, words and ideas, youth activities, and more.
“Bumbershoot is a place for families and friends to not only see their favorite acts together but also to try new things and expand their horizons,” said One Reel’s Executive Director Chris Weber. “It’s a one-stop shop to view, listen, taste, touch, smell and discover local, regional, national, and international arts and culture.”
Comedy: Ron Funches from NBC’s Undateable as Shelly will bring his comedic talents to Bumbershoot along with Comedians of Comedy alum Morgan Murphy, The Improvised Shakespeare Company, and Seattle native Nick Thune.
Film: With something for every age and taste, the 1 Reel Film Festival — curated by the Seattle International Film Festival — will serve up a selection of the year’s best short films.
Dance: Returning in 2015 after a few year hiatus, Bumbershoot’s dance programming offers a strong lineup of talent in 2016 including MaximumVELOCITY, a showcase of top contemporary choreographers and dance groups and the Northwest’s premiere breaking and street dance competition, Reign Supreme, which drew huge crowds in 2015.
Theatre: Curated by Theatre Puget Sound, 2016 theatre performances will include Are You There God? It’s Me, Karen Carpenter, a musical that juxtaposes classic coming of age novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret with the music of the Carpenters and an unforgettable performance from Tattprov, which includes one member of the comedy group getting a tattoo based on a suggestion from the audience.
Words & Ideas: Words & Ideas guests include local poet, writer and filmmaker Sherman Alexi, podcast sensation Chris Allen, Seattle’s premiere political comic (according to Seattle Weekly), Brett Hamil, and the writers of Amazon series Transparent.
YOUNGERSHOOT: Returning for its 6th year the Seattle Children’s Museum presents YOUNGERSHOOT, a place for children ages 10 and younger and their guardians to enjoy the festival together with kid-focused entertainment, hands on activities, and performances.
Food: Other stand out features this year include B-Eats, a new food program created in partnership with Dan Bugge of Matt’s in The Market and Radiator Whiskey to curate a diverse mix of gourmet style cuisine from local chefs.
Community Involvement
Seattle-based nonprofit Center for Infectious Disease Research (CIDResearch) is the official non-profit partner of Bumbershoot 2016. As part of the relationship, Bumbershoot will donate a portion of each pass sold and encourage fans to donate as well, helping spread global health awareness.
“Partnerships like this are critical to raising awareness for global infectious diseases and supporting the center’s mission to develop lifesaving treatments and cures that can deliver hope and the promise to the millions of people around the world affected by infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria,’ said Edward Jenkins, Chief Public Affairs Officer for CIDResearch. “This collaboration is especially meaningful because Bumbershoot has been helping the Seattle community for more than 40 years, just like we have.”
“Planning for Bumbershoot 2016 has been the ultimate collaboration of resources and support from our community,” said Regional Vice President of AEG Live Pacific Northwest Rob Thomas. “The result is a festival experience that will give you the best three days of arts, culture, and community you can get in Seattle all year.”
Event Pass Information and Lineup
Passes for Bumbershoot are now on sale:
- 3-Day Passes, starting at $180
- Gold Passes, $400
- Emerald VIP, $700
Visit Full Lineup for details on Bumbershoot 2016!
