A Preview of Capitol Hill Block Party Day 3

With two days of CHBP done and over with, we’re hoping that Sunday ends things with a bang! There are so many artists who we can’t wait to see, but here are some notable mentions:

SassyBlack @ Vera Stage, 5:00 p.m.

With roots in classical & jazz, SassyBlack’s unique, psychedelic-soul rhythms carry an innovative and diverse sound in our local indie music community. Our editor, Craig, describes her music as “a distinct sound that’s an incredibly cool blend of classic jazz and modern soul, and her recent release, No More Weak Dates, will surely bring a very cool sound to Block Party.”

The Ramblin’ Years @ Neumos, 5:15 p.m.

Our very own Seattle University alumni group, The Ramblin’ Years, is coming back to the neighborhood! The previous winner of SU’s Battle of the Bands consists of Katie Sweeney (vocals and guitar), Sean Clavere (vocals and lead guitar), Daniel Dovinh (drums and vocals), and Daniel Dunn (sax and vocals). Listening to them live is a perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon.

Laura Gibson @ Vera Stage, 6:10 p.m.

It’s no surprise that Laura Gibson chose a color like yellow to paint the cover artwork for her newest album, Empire Builder; it’s bright, optimistic, and vivacious. She carries a Marisa Nadler kind of pensiveness in her voice, and the folk singer/songwriter always looks for fresh and bright futuristic themes to sing about, as represented in her song, “Two Kids,”

“Two kids, no tricks, only rich in time,
Saying, ‘Never look back.
Throw out every sorrow we’ve had.’
Sneak a move, trade a roof for the open sky.
Living on luck.”

Manatee Commune @ Neumos Stage, 10:00 p.m.

Delightful, lithe, and colorful are all common feelings one gets while listening to Manatee Commune. The ambient artist is coming to CHBP this year with an extremely catchy new tune, “What We’ve Got.” The song, which features the rising Detroit-native star Flint Eastwood, shows a scale new heights in Commune’s signature shimmery, playful electronic identity.

The Cave Singers @ Vera Stage, 9:00 p.m.  

Seattle folk-trio The Cave Singers are coming up on their tenth anniversary of being a band, and have just recently released their fifth album, Banshee. The band is embracing new-found independence, as this is their first release put out by the band themselves. While guitarist Derek Fudesco was once a member of the defunct Pretty Girls Make Graves, the Cave Singers are a bonafide folk group embracing the true meaning of the word “indie.” Check ‘em out if you’re tired of Mumford and Sons’ major label meanderings and want true northwest folk!

Day 3 of Capitol Hill Block Party will be packed to the brim with music, food and festivities that you won’t want to miss. Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (@kxsuseattle)

MELVIN YUEN + GRIF BENZEL | KXSU STAFF