Capitol Hill Block Party’s producers are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the annual summer music festival with an earlier than usual announcement of the acts that will take to the stages of Pike/Pine in July.

As usual, the three-day event will bring a mix of big indie acts that won’t completely overwhelm the limited festival space — one of the few ticketed music festivals that takes place on a city’s public streets. CHBP’s full list of performers usually follows in the months leading up to the July festival.

Last year, the Block Party rolled out a new, neighborhood-focused brand. “It’s nice to have our visual mark distinguished with the geography of our footprint and neighborhood,” producer Jason LaJeunesse told CHS in 2015. “The event has become a real part of the fabric of the Capitol Hill over the last almost two decades and we wanted a proper logo and mark that, in the simplest way, could represent us and our neighborhood.”

LaJeunesse hears from business partner Joey Burgess at the 2015 festival (Image: CHS)

The festival’s growth has been a tricky business for producers. The festival takes place in the shadows of Pike/Pine’s continued development. “It’s been challenging to book the types of acts that we want to attract,” LaJeunesse said prior to the 2015 edition of CHBP. “Overall, expenses have doubled over the past five years.” In 2015, Block Party ticket sales were on pace to hit 2014’s mark or around 28,000 over the three days.

While the Block Party in its current iteration has reached its 20th summer, the event dates back even further if you include the early events that were more street fair than massive music festival.

Through its beginnings as a free, disorganized street party to its current glossy, highly produced big festival status, the Block Party has found itself shifted into the establishment and powering local commerce initiatives like the monthly Capitol Hill art walk. For a trip down the memory block and a look at the fun — and the issues — surrounding Block Parties past, check out our CHS CHBP coverage here.

2015’s big names included TV on the Radio, RATATAT, and The Kills. Our 2015 coverage is here: Day One | Day Two | Day Three

Three-day passes for 2016’s July 22nd to 24th festival went on sale Tuesday — $135, or $158 after taxes and fees. You can buy yours and learn more at capitolhillblockparty.com.

2016 Capitol Hill Block Party Lineup

ODESZA
CHVRCHES
Crystal Castles
STRFKR
MØ
Goldlink
Thundercat
The Joy Formidable
The Cave Singers
Sango
Nao
Tourist
Car Seat Headrest
DJDS
Israel Nash
WAND
Pure Bathing Culture
Thunderpussy
Benjamin Francis Leftwich
Phoebe Ryan
Ultimate Painting
Porter Ray
The Dip
Great Good Fine OK
Dilly Dally
Mild High Club