The crowd during a sunny CHBP 2014. (Image: Jim Bennett/CHBP with permission to CHS)
Capitol Hill Block Party has expanded its inside offerings for 2016 — an indoor panel discussion at Grims kicks off the festival Friday followed by a slate of indoor shows — but unlike last year, the sun will be shining on the streets of Pike/Pine.
With temperatures reaching the mid 70s through the weekend, this year’s forecast looks ideal for three full days of outdoor music. Nobody is likely happier than Block Party producer Jason Lajeunesse, who recently told his only regrets in 10 years of putting on CHBP were the times it rained.
The 20th installment of the annual festival features a lineup skews a little more electronic, with headliners like ODESZA and CHVRCHES, but there is plenty of not-too-huge indie acts to fill out the schedule.
This year’s Block Party is also set to feature free nightly shows at Unicorn, shows at Vermillion, a special Badwill Market at Rhino Room, daytime performances and Sunday morning yoga at Chophouse Row, and a poster show at the V2 space as part of Thursday’s Capitol Hill Art Walk. CHBP has compiled the free, outside-the-fence “neighborhood” events here.
Saturday has been announced as a sell-out but tickets for the other days remain.
CHBP producers say the logistics around this year’s three-day festival inside the fences will be similar to recent setups. Block Party will shut down Pike from Broadway to 12th, 10th from Union to Pine, and 11th from Union to Pine. Organizers say fences will begin to go up at 2 AM on Friday, July 22, and breakdown begins Sunday, July 24 at 11 PM. As part of the cleanup, garbage from the festival will be removed and the streets will be power washed.
Three day passes are still on sale for $173. Single day tickets and weekend tickets are also available. As with past years, residents and businesses within the festival gates will receive free festival passes.
Parking will be especially tough this year with continued construction in the area. Luckily several new options can get you within blocks of the festival without driving your own car. For the first time, Block Party-goers can arrive underground via light rail at the recently opened Capitol Hill Station. The First Hill Streetcar, Pronto bikeshare, and two carshare services will also be in operation — and the streetcar is free all weekend. Block Party is also a time for corporate brands to show off how they definitely get it. Lyft is offering discounted rides over the weekend using the promo code SAFESEATTLECHBP and Verizon says it is boosting cell coverage for the weekend event.
Here’s a CHBP 2016 playlist to familiarize yourself with some of the bands you could be hearing while waiting in line for beer or a bathroom. Or, load up the songs while you head out to five other festivals happening in the region.
CHBP 2016 Lineup
Friday
Washed Out // Crystal Castles // MØ // Emancipator // Sango // The Dip // DJDS // Head Wound City // Dilly Dally // Mild High Club // Iska Dhaaf // Pillar Point // Dick Stusso // JET // Zoolab x King Snake // Wild Powwers // DoNormaal // Nail Polish // The Echolarks // Sebastian & The Deep Blue // Into Violence // Great Falls // Donzis // Merso // Heavy Petting // Shapes in Space // Sundog // Astro King Phoenix // Amy Viking // Pale Noise
Saturday
ODESZA // Big Wild // Tourist // Car Seat Headrest // Thunderpussy // Israel Nash // Porter Ray // WAND // Pure Bathing Culture // Great Good Fine Ok // On An On // Woods // Ultimate Painting // Good Co. // Tangerine // Prism Tats // JET // The Grizzled Mighty // Ramblin’ Years // Duke Evers // Bardot // Tilson xoxo // Down North // Erie // Bread & Butter // Acapulco Lips // Boyfriends // Steal Shit Do Drugs // Dude York // Mommy Long Legs // Lisa Prank // Scott Yoder // Moon Dial // JusMoni // Screens // The Good Wives // Tape Stacks // Sego
Sunday
CHVRCHES // STRFKR // Goldlink // The Joy Formidable // Mick Jenkins // NAO // The Cave Singers // Phoebe Ryan // Laura Gibson // Oh Pep // Cardinox // Benjamin Francis Leftwich // Absolute Monarchs // Bad Future // Paralyzer // Sashay // Big Trughk // Wolfgang Fuck // Stallion // Stefan Paul George // Joe Gregory // Colorworks // Jamie Aaron Aux // Sister Girlfriend // Sassyblack
Meanwhile, we did our take on the 20+ year history of Block Party — here’s a timeline CHBP put together:
UPDATE: The Block Party folks just let us know about a new live streaming feature for select performances and interviews from this year from the CHBP grounds.
Full schedule:
I was a little surprised to find that this much public sidewalk and street could be blocked to pedestrian traffic. Without paying for a ticket some extra walking was required to get around. Between construction and events in this city, I am not sure that that public streets should be vacated for events that require payment. At least there has to be a limit to amount of time and area