Music reporters Emma Weaver and Haley Parsons are covering the second annual Upstream Music Festival this weekend. Check out their suggestions for artists to see on Friday!
EMMA: This is my first Seattle-based music festival I am attending, and I am so incredibly stoked. With The Flaming Lips headlining, how can I not be?! There will be more than 50 performances on Friday, the first day of the festival. Here’s the preview for the first day of Upstream Music Festival and Summit.
HALEY: With over 200 live acts taking place over three days, the Upstream Music Fest + Summit is this weekend’s destination for music-lovers all over the PNW! Besides the Headliners (Minguel, Jawbreaker, and The Flaming Lips), here are three artists from each day that deserve a spot in your festival schedule.
Little Dragon @ KEXP Stage – 8:00 PM
Mirah @ Axis 2 Stage – 9:30 PM
EMMA: If you want to break out into some serious dance moves, go see Little Dragon at 8:00 PM at the KEXP Stage. Little Dragon will be the energy zap we need as the night progresses. Their eclectic tunes and pulsating rhythms will form the “disco ball” for us all to dance under and sing along to their very catchy songs. Little Dragon’s music is a little bit of this and a little bit of that- it’s pop, dance, electronic, atmospheric, groovy, you name it! I really really hope Little Dragon performs my favorite song of theirs, “Cat Rider”! Later in the night, Mirah will take the Axis 2 Stage, front and center, at 9:30 PM. Brooklyn-based Mirah brings a new sound to both pop and rock. She uses her strong voice to exude power and prowess. Her music is calming and gentle, but also rough, with jagged edges. Each song is different and consists of a individualized charm and sound.
GENDERS @ Miller Lite Stage at Central Saloon – 9:15 PM
HALEY: Portland-based Indie-Rockers, GENDERS cut their teeth in different bands around the Portland DIY scene, but really took off when they opened for Built to Spill during their 2013 tour. Fans of psychedelic garage rock will love Maggie Morris’s minimalistic vocals and dreamy riffs.
Colleen Green (9:15 PM) & Kyle Craft (10:30 PM) @ Embassy Suites Ballroom
EMMA: If you want more musical fun, go check out Kyle Craft at Embassy Suites Ballroom at 10:30 pm. I saw Kyle Craft at The Crocodile late 2017, and it was amazing. He even covered Leonard Cohen at the end. Kyle Craft is modern rock and folk, with obvious inspirations from David Bowie, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young. At 9:15, the set right before Kyle Craft, Colleen Green will take the stage. Based in LA, Colleen Green is known for her DIY style and overall solo work. She characterized her music as “stoner pop”, and if “stoner pop” music is sugar glazed guitar riffs and vocal renditions, with quite clever lyrics, then her music is most definitely “stoner pop”. Her soft voice is matched with heavy bass, guitar, and drum machines.
PARISALEXA @ Visit Seattle Stage at AXIS 1 – 10:00 PM
HALEY: I don’t think it would be too much of a stretch to call PARISALEX the Seattle SZA. I saw her at this year’s Winterfest and was enamored. The 19-year-old singer-songwriter-producer has talent beyond her years as she masterfully weaves pop and R’n’B influences into songs that tell tales of romantic and self-love.
Gold Casio @ the Starbucks
EMMA: Right down the street, at Starbucks Stage at the Ninety, Gold Casio will be performing at 10:45. Their music is super funky and sparkly. I guarantee you can’t remain still with this music playing. All around you, you’ll find people moving their hands in their air, nodding their heads, and busting out their funkiest moves. Being that it will be 10:45, it will be late and everyone will be tired, but Gold Casio will find the energy in all listeners and ensure you are having a crazy, ecstatic time.
The Helio Sequence @ Embassy Suites Ballroom – 11:45 PM
HALEY: This two-man band from Beverton, Oregon have been signed to Sub Pop since around 2008 but had been releasing music long before that. They formed in 1999 and since then have toured with the likes of Keane and Modest Mouse. They have a truly unique Indie-Rock sound that incorporates keyboards and harmonica into songs that are complex when broken down, but also just plain danceable when taken at face value.
This list is by no means exhaustive, but rather a few friendly suggestions on how you should spend your time at Upstream this weekend! Tickets to the festival are still available here.
EMMA WEAVER | KXSU Music Reporter
HALEY PARSONS | Another weekend, another festival | KXSU Music Reporter