Freakout Fest 2022 @ Various Ballard Venues

November 10 – 13

Freakout has become Seattle’s preeminent fall music festival and a destination point for adventurous music fans nationwide. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with its biggest edition yet, Freakout organizers Guy Keltner and Skyler Locatelli have booked over 120 acts. Their goal is to turn you on to artists you probably don’t know, but should, and they have the track record to earn your implicit trust.

The lineup’s a savvy combination of legendary veterans, established artists at their peaks, and rising newcomers, with a heavy dose of locals. The scope is expansive both stylistically and geographically, emphasizing garage and psychedelic rock, plus major Latin American representation. 

Speaking of the latter, Brazil’s Os Mutantes, Mexico’s Los Dug Dug’s, and Peru’s Papi Saicos of Los Saicos demonstrate Freakout’s commitment to schooling folks about the pioneers of loco rock en español y portugués. If you like the weirder end of the rock spectrum, No Age, Flaccid Mojo (featuring two members of sonic surrealists Black Dice), and ex-Royal Trux member Jennifer Herrema’s Black Bananas will sate your needs. Belle & Sebastian fans can swoon to Isobel Campbell. (UPDATE: Campbell has canceled her Freakout Fest appearance.) Lovers of synth-based retro-futurist cool can slink to L.A. trio Automatic. Grunge nostalgists can shake their manes to Jack Endino’s Purple Strange. The Black Tones, Rachael’s Children, Black Ends, Acid Tongue, Beverly Crusher, and Sunking head up a strong and varied Seattle contingent. 

There’s tons of exciting music to absorb, and Mad Alchemy’s psychedelic visuals enhance the trip. Freakout is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Study the whole lineup right here.

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