Ballard has never looked better.

photo by Josh

More from the completely mad Monotonix Matinee later today …!

Truckasaurus at Sasquatch ::: Photo by Josh

Named the same as the Seattle Weekly’s Music Blog, the Reverb Music Festival takes over many of the establishments on Ballard Avenue for a day long extravaganza of local music which this year is happening on Saturday October 4th. The final lineup and set times were announced this week over on the Reverb Blog, and to our delight we saw local flavor of the moment Moondoggies in the top spot at the Sunset. The line-up for the remainder of the night is varied and interesting, somehow managing to fit rapper Grayskul next to hard rockers Madraso next to 80’s hip-hop diva’s Team Gina. Also that night at the Sunset is an Audioasis broadcast featuring Police Teeth and Brother’s of the Sonic Cloth, a 1-2 punch of volume which sounds very enticing.

Maybe the best part of this particular fest is the attention to giving the minors among us a bevy of quality options. Among five venues caterting to the All-ages crowd, Mr. Spot’s Chai House will have Husbands Love Your Wives, the Triple will have Truckasaurus(!), and Salmon Bay Eagles hosts a list of excitement worthy pop bands including BOAT, Lonely Forest and Panda & Angel.

Here’s the complete list of acts:

Greyskul - Onry Ozzborn & The Gigantics - See Me River - DJ B-Girl - Truckasauras - The Braille Tapes - Wizdom - 17th Chapter - The Moondoggies - Red Jacket Mine - Little Penguins - Elder Mason - Husbands Love Your Wives - Blood Red Dancers - Man Plus - Hazelwood Motel - Michael Vermillion - Kublakai - The Lonely Forest - The Curious Mystery - Neon Nights - Emeralds - Black Whales - Thee Sgt Major III - Aqueduct - Knox Family - North Twin - Massy Ferguson - Piece - Blood Red Dancers - Man Plus - Orbitron - Canary Sing - Guns N Rossetti - Dragstrip Riot - Pufferfish - The Quit - The Rainieros - Zach Harjo - Black Whales - The Crying Shame - Bob Wayne & The Outlaw Carnies - C-Leb & A-Bro - Arbitron - Keg - Kate Tucker & The Sons Of Sweden - Little Penguins - Lonesome Rhodes & The Good Company - The Monday Mornings - Rypynt - Truckasauras - Shim - Panda & Angel - At The Spine - The Valkyries - Sage - Herman Jolly - Police Teeth - Team Gina - Gatling Gees - Bacchus - Mono In VCF - Ian Moore - Trombone Cake - Sweet Potatoes - Diminished Men - Boat - Brothers of the Sonic Cloth - Madraso

See a detailed list of set times and get cheap tickets over at the REVERB Fest site.

It was a bit of a long week at Sound on the Sound headquarters, so we are glad that Thursday’s work is done and all we have between ourselves and Friday is tonight’s drinking. We’re also super excited, as well as facing a large dilemma, because there are a ton of great shows going on around town tomorrow. I myself, will be trying to figure out how to split myself in little pieces and attend all of them.

Tell me you don’t need banjo on your friday ::: photo by Josh

The Maldives and Jesse Sykes - FREE (6pm at Mural Amphitheater)

A free show on what is sure to be a gorgeous Seattle summer day with two of Seattle’s most talented bands–what more could you want from a Friday? If you’re poor like me, this means you can spend the money you would eagerly pay to see this line up on a beer and enjoy a rare outdoor Seattle show. Extra bonus? Since it is early and free, you can spend your hard earned cash and late night, checking out one of the following shows.

 
Portugal. The Man w/members of Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground at SXSW ::: photo by Abbey

Portugal. The Man and Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground (El Corazon)

Portugal. The Man was one of my favorite new discoveries of SXSW and I’ve been eager to see them ever since. Also, there is no such thing as a bad Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground show — this band is putting out some of my favorite music in the country today and you should catch them now before Pitchfork steals them from Seattle and makes them international stars ala the Fleet Foxes.  It will happen, and soon folks, so get on the psychedelic bus now!

Cancer Rising, Champagne Champagne, Caves (Sunset Tavern)

Or maybe you’ll find me out in Ballard for what is sure to be a crazy racous night with Cancer Rising and Champagne Champagne. We haven’t caught Champagne(squared) yet, but we have yet to hear a single negative thing about the band. If we decide tomorrow night is a night to party — this is the show we’ll end up, cause it is going to get rowdy.

In the Hood-to-Hood challenge this year, Ballard came out triumphant with more support for the station than any other neighborhood. Traditionally the winning neighborhood gets an entire day of live music, KEXP DJ’s broadcasting live, and sweet happy hours and this year is no different. If you’re looking for something to do on a nice spring day, head to Ballard, grab a drink and take in a band. KEXP has put together a really great lineup this year, and I might have to go hang out with Quilty at the Conor Byrne since I haven’t caught Whalebones in a while. Anyone else planning on playing hooky?

See the full schedule of events here.

The Seattle contingent at SXSW continues to grow:

BALLARD party at SXSW!!! Friday March 16th, 12pm-7pm The Big Red Sun 1102 E Cesar Chavez St Austin, TX 78702

Featuring:
Little Brazil
Jon Langford & The Sexy
The Tripwires
Ian Moore
The Nice Boys
The Cops
The Presidents Of The United States Of America
Schoolyard Heroes
Carolyn Mark
The Trucks
Rachel Flotard (of Visqueen)
Kinski
Grand Champeen

Refreshments courtesy of New Belgium Brewery!
Brought to you by: The Sunset, The Tractor, Sonic Boom Records, Seattle Weekly, Seattle Mayor’s Office of Film + Music, NW Branch The Recording Academy, ASCAP, New Belgium Brewery, Thingmakers, Mt. Fuji Records, Righteous Pursuit, Pork Chop Screen Printing and Archie McPhee