It’s been a big week for music on Capitol Hill. Wednesday, the organizers behind the annual Capitol Hill Block Party announced the launch of Day In Day Out, a new annual music festival at Seattle Center.

While the group’s original Block Party festival has been postponed another year with plans to return in 2022, the clubs behind CHBP are also sparking back to life despite uncertain times for the industry and ongoing concerns about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic amid the state’s economic reopening.

Neumos celebrated reopening with its first live show in over a year last Thursday with locals Spirit Award rocking the club.

CHS reported here about how the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program is hoped to aid the recovery of Capitol Hill clubs and stages. Others are lining up for reopening including Chop Suey with a planned August return. New life will also join the Pike/Pine scene with a new home for Cafe Racer on 11th Ave.

As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and businesses and venues are allowed to return to full capacity in Seattle, the clubs and their patrons hope they are enjoying more than a temporary reunion.

There are worrying signs that the pandemic is far from over including news that the upcoming Olympics will take place under a state of emergency and without spectators as Tokyo faces a new wave of COVID infections.

Infection rates remain low in King County though, on average, there are still 71 new cases per day reported.

For some, that will mean wearing a mask to enjoy the return of live shows. For others, it will be a longer wait before they, too, can enjoy the reopening.

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