Bumbershoot 2010: The Hip Hop Guide

Published by Tyler Hakes on August 30, 2010 at 6:40 pm

Seattle has always had an image of being a city built on grunge and indie rock. An image that, while it may be somewhat true, is an unfair assessment of how diverse the music and culture really is.

And, that same image is often cast on Bumbershoot, the city’s massive, weekend-long music and art festival that’s coming up on it’s 40th birthday this year. With huge names like The Decemberists and Bob Dylan topping most people’s schedules, it’s easy to see why the entire festival is considered a destination meant for the indie rock crowd. But, even though the fest is best known for featuring swathes of lesser-known rockers, it’s got a little something for everyone — including those looking for a weekend full of local and national hip hop acts.

Not convinced? Well, we’d love to show you. That’s why we’ve put together a line-up of events for you (our readers) that’s meant specifically to please hip hop heads in the 206. We sprinkled in some events and some other names for variety, but we also hand-picked each hip hop act on each day of the three-day event. We set everything up chronologically so you can follow along at home.

Keep reading for the full rundown, and you can also print our schedule, created through Sched, by clicking here. Also, cop the official Bumbershoot map to help navigate your way through the crowd.

Stick to our schedule, and you’ll be sure to have a good time at this year’s festivities.

Friday, September 3

There’s no better way to kick off this year’s festivities than to attend the first-day celebration. Hosted by local MC, Macklemore, and organized by Travis Hay, you don’t want to miss this one.

Skip on down to High Dive at 9:00 on Friday to celebrate the FunOfficial Kick Off party, in honor of the festival’s 40th birthday, and check our performances from Thee Emergency, Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground, Sol and Curtains for You. You’ll also have a chance to win prizes and tickets for the rest of the weekend.

9:00: FunOfficial Kick Off Party — High Dive

Saturday, September 4

Show up with around noon and catch Grynch rock a set at the State Farm Stage. After that’s over, take some time to acquaint yourself. Grab some food, check out the Counter-Culture Comix display, the Seattle Street Biennial or the Bumbershoot Piece. Don’t forget to head over to Flatstock and cop some artwork, including posters from shows around the nation.

Take some time at 3:30 to cool off watching “Around the World in 50 Minutes,” then head back to the State Farm Stage to rock out with the Budos Band‘s crafty instrumental grooves. Once you’ve finished up here, it will be about time to head to the Bumbershoot main stage, where you’ll catch Neko Case and Bob Dylan for the next three hours.

Finally, before heading home for the day, stop by the EMP Sky Church to pull in some tracks from local act, Visqueen.

12:15: Grynch — State Farm Stage

1:15: Lunch, Counter-Culture Comix, General Perusing

3:30: “Around the World in 50 Minutes” – One Reel Film Festival Presenteed by Seattle Center

5:30: Budos Band — State Farm Stage

7:15: Neko Case — Bumbershoot Mainstage

9:00: Bob Dylan — Bumbershoot Mainstage

9:45: Visqueen — EMP Sky Church

Sunday, September 5

Come in early for lunch and finish checking out any of the local art vendors or exhibits that you missed out on yesterday. The music won’t pick up until about 2:15, so you’ve got some time to spend.

Come 2:15, you’ll need to be at the State Farm Stage to catch Fresh Expresso rocking the crowd. You’ll want to make yourself comfortable, because the State Farm Stage will be your main zone today. Shortly after Expresso leaves the stage, Georgia Anne Muldrow and Declaime will take over, followed by a 5:45 show from New Orleans wonder-MC, Jay Electronica.

Once he’s finished rapping around 6:45, it may be time to grab your second bite from a vendor, or catch some Blues music from James Cotton (Muddy Waters) at the Starbucks Stage.

Just after 8 o’clock it will be time to meet up for The Physics‘ set at the EMP Sky Church, followed by Fatal Lucciauno on the same stage. If you’re looking to catch something outside the genre, Weezer‘s set kicks off on the main stage around 9:15, but it overlaps with Luciano’s, so you’ll have to make a tough choice.

12:00: Food vendors, General Perusing

2:15: Fresh Espresso — State Farm Stage

4:00 Georgia Anne Muldrow and Declaime — State Farm Stage

5:45: Jay Electronica — State Farm Stage

6:45: James Cotton Blues Band — Starbucks Stage

8:15: The Physics — EMP Sky Church

9:15: Weezer — Bumbershoot Mainstage

9:45: Fatal Lucciauno — EMP Sky Church

Monday, September 6

Hopefully you’ve remembered to take the day off, because Monday is just as chock-full of hip hop as the other days.

Start out by catching RA Scion (Common Market) performing his solo act as Victor Shade at the State Farm Stage around 12:30. After that you’ve got some time for a late lunch between about 1:30 and 3:30, but then it’s pretty much all music the rest of the night, so take care of business now or take your dog for a walk during this intermission.

Once 3:30 rolls around, it’s to the EMP Sky Church for some music from Helladope, followed immediately by a set from THEEsatisfaction. After their performance ends, it’s time to hustle to the Bumbershoot Main Stage — your home for the rest of the evening. J. Cole will kick off the festivities around 6:00, rocking the stage for a full hour. After that, it’s Drake‘s turn from 7:30-8:30 and the night is topped off with a performance from Bumbershoot’s final act, Mary J. Blige, from 9:00-10:15.

12:30: Victor Shade — Fisher Green Stage

1:30: Late Lunch, General Perusing

3:30: Helladope — EMP Sky Church

4:45: Thee Satisfaction — EMP Sky Church

6:00: J. Cole — Bumbershoot Mainstage

7:30: Drake — Bumbershoot Mainstage

9:00: Mary J. Blige — Bumbershoot Mainstage

Take some time to recuperate, because if you just took in all of these shows, you might need a rest, but, congratulations on making it through the aboveGround Magazine Bumbershoot 2010 Hip Hop Guide! Don’t forget to pick up our printer-friendly version of the schedule before heading out this weekend, and most of all, have fun.