HONK! Fest West 2023 — This Week in Seattle

Let's get louuuuuud 🥁

Published May 31, 2023

June

1-4

Too Late — You Missed It!

Thursday, June 1st – Sunday, June 4th

If you’ve ever enjoyed joining a second line or a baraat, you’ll know that street bands have a superpower: they give people permission to party. Maybe we need a collective commotion of brass in our faces occasionally to remind us of our capacity to celebrate.

This weekend, experience that brand of unbridled joy at HONK! Fest West, a free annual music festival of street bands. From Friday to Sunday, 38 bands representing traditions from samba to punk rock will infuse city streets with their personal brands of funky public programming. If you live in one of these neighborhoods, check out festival maps and schedules here and reap the benefits of a good vibe:

Thursday, June 1st • 7 pm – 10 pm (Ballard) — Preview Party @ Bad Jimmy’s
Friday, June 2nd • 6 pm – 10 pm (Georgetown) — 4 stages
Saturday, June 3rd • 12 pm – 8 pm (Columbia City) — 4 stages
Sunday, June 4th • 12 pm – 6 pm (Yesler Terrace Park) — 2 stages

Some hometown talent to see: Filthy Femcorps, a high-energy band of women and nonbinary performers that only plays songs written and performed by women; 8 Bit Brass Band, known for geek classics like the Legend of Zelda theme song; and Seattle Kokon Taiko, where drummers practice full-body self-expression. Sports fans, look out for team marching bands: Blue Thunder, Reign City Riot, and Sound Wave.

📸: HONK! Fest West

Meghna Jaradi

Meghna leads with her curiosity when writing about travel, food, and beverages. She previously wrote about cookbooks at Kitchen Arts & Letters, and has managed events & communications at Book Larder, Peddler Brewing Company, and Cascade Bicycle Club. She is newly pescatarian and a Seattle native. Follow along at @wanderingthali.