Sharon Van Etten ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

It’s hard to believe that Bumbershoot is just next week. Heralding the end of Seattle summer, Bumbershoot 2011 seems to be coming just when summer decided to say “hi” and I’m nowhere near ready to part ways. But if I’m going to have to say farewell, at least I can do so after a festival full of favorites, local and national alike.

You can head to the Bumbershoot site to make your own schedule, but here’s what my personal schedule is going to look like next weekend and the three greatest scheduling dilemmas I faced, with handy resolution.

Pickwick ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

Saturday

12:00 - Campfire OK (Fountain Lawn Stage) or Shabazz Palaces (KEXP’s Music Lounge) or Tomten (EMP Level 3 Stage)
1:30 - Craft Spells (Fountain Lawn)
2:15 - Champagne Champagne (Fisher Green Stage)
2:45 - Red Fang (Exhibition Hall Stage)
3:00 - Shelby Earl (EMP Level 3 Stage)
5:15 - Why Nerds? Why Old Timey? Why Now? (Words & Ideas Stage)
5:45 - Shabazz Palaces (Fisher Green Stage)
6:00 - Pickwick (EMP Level 3 Stage) or Beat Connection (EMP Decibel Stage)
6:45 - Vetiver (Fountain Lawn Stage)
7:30 - Little Dragon (Fisher Green Stage)
8:30 - Starfucker (Fountain Lawn Stage)
9:30 - Mavis Staples (Mural Amphitheater)
10:00 - Bumbershoot After Dark

The great debate of Saturday: Shabazz vs. Pickwick vs. Beat Connection:

Once you get over the existential debate as to how to start your Bumbershoot (Campfire OK vs. Shabazz Palaces in the KEXP Lounge vs. Tomten), the greatest scheduling dilemma on Saturday comes right around dinner time when you’ll have to choose between three of Seattle’s most buzzed about and beloved bands: Shabazz Palaces (5:45 at the Fisher Green), Pickwick (6:00pm at EMP Level 3 Stage) and Beat Connection (6:00, EMP Decibel Stage). Normally, I’d say catch the first 15 of Shabazz before bee-lining it to the EMP to have whatever dance party you most desire: soul or electro.

Unfortunately, if you want to catch any of Pickwick’s set in one of the smallest stages on the Bumbershoot grounds, you’re gonna have to get there early. So that’s what I recommend you do … if you can’t get in, you can head down stairs and still get your dance on with Beat Connection or head out the The Fisher Green and get elevated with Shabazz.

Whalebones ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

Sunday

12:00 - Sol (Fountain Lawn Stage)
1:00 - Davilla 666 ( Exhibition Hall)
1:30 - Whalebones (Fountain Lawn) or Lonely Forest (Mainstage)
3:15 - Thee Oh Sees (Fountain Lawn Stage)
3:30-4:30 - From Music to Literature (Words & Ideas Stage)
4:45 - From Kitty Cats to Pirate Hats (Vera Project)
5:30 - Pickwick (KEXP Music Lounge)
5:45 - Jessica Lee Mayfield (Mural Amphitheater)
6:45 - Warpaint (Fountain Lawn Stage)
7:30 - Leon Russell (Mural Amphitheater)
8:00 - Macklemore (Main Stage)
9:00 - Joe Pug & The Hundred Mile Band (EMP Level 3 Stage)
10:00 - Bumbershoot After Dark

The Great Debate for Sunday: Whalebones vs. Lonely Forest:

Sunday is a pretty light day scheduling dilemma wise, if not downright dilemma-less. Choosing between Whalebones and the Lonely Forest is all about what you want to see and where. Feeling like scuzzy ’70s Stones rock with a toe-tapping groove? Go check out Whalebones. Feeling like anthemic indie rock and a contender for Cascadia national anthem? Go check out The Lonely Forest. I’m a fan of both, so the debate continues to location, two of Bumbershoot’s new stages: The Fountain Lawn for Whalebones or the Mainstage (i.e. Key Arena) for Lonely Forest. If it’s a nice day and you’re feeling like sitting outside with the chance of getting misted by the fountain … go for the Whalebones. If you’re feeling like seeing arena sized songs in an actual arena … go for Lonely Forest.

While it will depend on the mood of the day, I imagine I’ll end up choosing The Lonely Forest’s first local arena show. In 2009 I said they were the band “most likely to break out of the Seattle scene and be playing arenas in the next few years” and this mainstage performance is a start.

Fitz and the Tantrums ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

Monday

12:45 - Fly Moon Royalty (Fisher Green Stage)
1:15 - Charles Bradley (KEXP Music Lounge)
1:30 - Curtains for You (EMP Level 3 Stage)
2:00 - My Goodness (Exhibition Hall)
2:15 - Grand Hallway (Mural Amphitheater)
4:30 - Lemolo (EMP Level 3 Stage)
5:00 - Mash Hall (EMP Decibel Stage)
5:15 - Why 3D? Why Autotune? Why Now (Words & Ideas Stage)
5:45 - Charles Bradley (Fisher Green Stage)
6:45 - Sharon Van Etten (Fountain Lawn Stage)
7:30 - Ravenna Woods (EMP Level 3 Stage)
7:45 - Fitz and the Tantrums (Mainstage)
9:00 - Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside (EMP Level 3 Stage)

The Great Debate for Monday: How is Larry Mizell Jr. going to rap with Mash Hall and Participate in “Why 3D? Why Autotune? Why Now?” At the Same Time?

The final scheduling dilemma of Bumbershoot isn’t really mine, rather Larry Mizell Jr’s. Mizell Jr. is the man on the mic in every arena of local hip hop: on KEXP as the curator and voice of Street Sounds, at The Stranger as the author of My Philosophy and Slog Blogger, as a rapper himself with Mash Hall, as the man behind Raindrop Hustla and even more avenues I don’t yet know about. For all that he does in Seattle, it’s a wonder that it doesn’t take two of Lar to do it all … and that just might be proven to be true on Monday when he is scheduled to perform with Mash Hall at 5:00 at the EMP’s decibel stage and to participate in a discussion at 5:15 on the Words & Ideas Stage entitled “Why 3D? Why Autotune? Why Now?” How Mizell Jr. will be able to be in both places at once, unless he secretly does have a clone, remains to be seen … but I’m definitely planning on trying to follow the adventure.