Kay Redden is a modern-day Andy Warhol of sorts, gathering the coolest-of-cool artists in Seattle for her cassette-only label Den Tapes, releasing over 100 albums since it launched nearly 11 years ago. Each year, Redden organizes Den Fest, which is not just a celebration of the label itself but an emblem of the excellent music coming out of our city. Ranging from shoegaze and indie folk to hardcore and sound collage, the fifth annual Den Fest features 16 bands across two days (August 7–8 at the Sunset Tavern, with a pre-fest party on August 6).
This is your guide to every band playing Den Fest, because I genuinely recommend them all.
N3ster
Mix a little My Bloody Valentine, a pinch of the Swirlies, a dash of Codeine, and you get something like N3ster. There is a great video of them playing live on YouTube, filmed on an iPod Video.
Westmoreland
This is the indie-folk solo project of Philly-raised musician Zach Alva (who also plays bass for St. Yuma). Imagine sitting by a campfire, wrapped in your grandmother’s quilt. That’s what Westmoreland sounds like.
Don Piano
Do you worship David Berman and Bill Callahan? Are you often sad? Listen to Don Piano.
Fluung
A guitar-forward, hard-rocking trio that sometimes throws (flings?) in an unexpected twang.
Linda From Work
Linda From Work remind me of ’90s indie-pop bands like Cub and that dog., but with a vicious, early-Sleater-Kinney bite.
Laminate
Post-hardcore band Laminate sound like what 2000s screamo would have been if it were informed by Pavement and Dinosaur Jr.
XOË
A surprising blend of ’90s R&B, jazz, goth, and psych rock. Imagine: Erykah Badu fronting a Paisley Underground band. Or, Corinne Bailey Rae backed by the Bad Seeds.
Stetson Heat Seeker
If Motörhead were a Cramps cover band, they’d sound like Stetson Heat Seeker.
Kennero
I just know this band grew up listening to Blink-182 (complimentary).
Coral Grief (two-piece)
Do you wonder what could’ve been of Broadcast if Trish Keenan hadn’t died in 2011? Listen to Coral Grief. They aren’t just an interpretation of psych-pop’s past, but a glimpse into its future.
Versing
If you were listening to local music in 2016, then you probably already love this band. With every whirring amp is a delightful pop jangle.
Boudain
Intricate sound collages made with vinyl samples, singing, guitars, synths, and toys. I hear a lot of inspo from J Dilla’s Donuts.
222
Frontman Teddy Keezer has that Alex Chilton vocal quality that singers spend their entire lives trying to achieve.
Pitschouse
This band is reverbed to the gods. Think of dreamy indie-rock bands like Yo La Tengo or the Clientele, but with a Cleaners From Venus fuzz.
Constant Lovers
Organized chaos. Something in between no wave, new wave, and metal.
Spiral XP
This band shares members with Coral Grief, but sounds entirely different. They are grungier and noisier, and have perfected that swirly My Bloody Valentine–esque tremolo that makes you feel like you’re falling down the rabbit hole.
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