The scramble by Capitol Hill Block Party organizers to work with Seattle officials to add a third day to the music fest has been successful. According to the CHBP Web site (which we’ve been watching like a hawk), the 2010 Block Party will add a third day on Sunday.
Here’s the statement posted to the site about the extra day. No word yet on any concessions the CHBP folks had to make on the community front. There had been discussions about limiting Sunday’s hours and clearing the streets by 10 PM.
We’ve got e-mail out to organizer Dave Meinert to ask about the changes for the festival. The city’s special events coordinator is out of office today so we’ll check in with that side of the story later.
UPDATE:
Organizer Dave Meinert tells CHS that the Sunday addition will definitely be a quieter, shorter day for the Block Party. “We’ll be shutting down the Vera stage at 8:30 and the main stage at 9 PM,” Meinert said. “So the noise definitely won’t go so late.”
Meinert said the approval process with the city went pretty much as he expected on Friday but the situation illustrates one major need — better community outreach for major events.
“Events in general need to do better outreach to local community members,” Meinert said. “The Block Party included. This has brought up a bigger kind of issue for the city.”
Meinert said he thinks promoters need to do more but that there is also not enough special events staff to make sure residents and local business are part of the planning process. Still, he thinks the Block Party can help create some best practices for other Seattle events. We’ll talk with him more about that later.
Here’s a media release from the CHBP folks:
Seattle’s Capitol Hill Block Party to add Third Day!
July 23-25th 2010
Limited Number of 3 Day Passes on Sale Friday May 21st
Single Day tickets available June 4th
Lineup to be announced on June 2nd (per update from CHBP)
SEATTLE, WA – In unabashedly conspicuous celebration of 14 years of independent music and culture, Seattle’s own Capitol Hill Block party announces an unprecedented THIRD Day! After 13 years of it being a two day festival, community support and tremendous talent opportunities initiated the addition of a 3rd day, Sunday July 25th.
About CHBP
As the level of national talent booked at the Block Party continues to grow exponentially, the ticket price continues to be one of the best values in the country. Set in an urban environment, surrounded by all the great amenities you get in the middle of a city, we’re all about independent music and culture, thought, and progressive politics.
CHBP Artists
Full line-ups announced Tuesday June 1st here:
CHBP Ticket Sales Information:
Discounted: $60 three-day passes on sale Friday May 21st.
Discounted: $23 single-day tickets available on Friday June 4th. ($25 day of show, $30 cash at the door)
Advance tickets available here: thestranger.com/blockparty3daypass
It’s funny that the most intrusive block party in the City (and the only one that charges an entry fee) is promoted by someone who doesn’t even live in the neighborhood of Capitol Hill. It is, afterall, a “block party” which should mean it’s for the local folks mostly, but the promoter is not even from the ‘hood. In fact, the promoter doesn’t even live in Seattle.
I actually do live in Seattle, and own a business in the neighborhood. While it’s try it don’t currently live on Capitol Hill, when we started this event I lived 8 blocks away, one of my partners owned a 2 businesses in the neighborhood, and they other lives there and owns several businesses nearby. Your info is incorrect.
Why does this freaking matter? Who cares where he lives. Using that stupid logic then the block party shouldn’t allow access to anyone who does not have their Capitol Hill Resident Card (e.g. skinny jeans).
I love how people in this neighborhood claim to support diversity while looking to exclude people based on their favorite flavor of the day (e.g. not local enough).
Thanks to Meinert for ending earlier on Sunday. I would have wished for a little earlier to get people cleared out but it’s reasonable. Those that live in the area will appreciate it!
Yes, I’m sure all the visitors from outside the neighborhood will be very courteous and careful to make no noise after 10pm so residents will be able to get ready for work Monday morning.
If this year’s lineup is anything like last year’s — this festival has outgrown its neighborhood setting and needs to find a bigger space somewhere; how ’bout concentrating on local and up & coming bands and leaving the arena shows to the other festivals…you know, the ones that actually take place in arenas?
Why would you think those outside of the neighborhood would somehow be any less courteous and careful? I’d be more worried about those in the neighborhood. People form the suburbs are sterile and don’t go crazy and be disrespectful.
The promoters of CHBB need to stop TALKING about working more with the businesses it displaces with its event and more DOING of respecting how much money is lost when a small business has to lessen hours or close entirely for this block party due to noise, crowd, etc. You only say these things to spin the buzz your way.
Exactly. The promoter of this event spews all the right buzz words every year, but it’s all just lip service. He doesn’t live in Seattle. What are the two businesses they own in the area? What are the “several businesses” his other partner owns. Give me a break.
The reality is they make a lot of money off this event. No problem there, except this is branded as a “block party” and it takes over Seattle streets for 3 days while charging an entrance fee. And to the other commenter’s point about why it matters — it matters when someone outside the neighborhood leverages the goodwill of the City and the neighborhood residents to charge money for a festival that’s branded as a “block party”. It matters because it’s dishonest and misleading, just like the rhetoric that we hear every year.
the real complaint here is that it really shouldnt be called a ‘block party’ anymore when it’s clearly a profit-seeking music event/business now.