Want more? Here’s everything we recommend this month: Music, Visual Art, Literature, Performance, Film, Food, and This & That.
Sérgio Mendes Band – Celebrating 60 Years of Brasil ’66
Aug 6–9
Sérgio Mendes (1941–2024) played a major role in popularizing Brazilian music in the US in the 1960s, fusing bossa nova with Anglo-American pop, rock, jazz, and soul. The bandleader/keyboardist and his talented players and singers—including the distinctively enchanting Lani Hall and his wife of 50 years, Gracinha Leporace—had an uncanny ability to imbue whichever style or song they approached with a carefree beauty that instantly lowered your blood pressure and got your toes tapping. This was apparent from Brasil ‘66’s 1966 debut LP on Herb Alpert’s A&M label, which featured the hit cover of Jorge Ben’s utterly infectious “Mas Que Nada.” Mendes’s ingenious arrangements, especially with vocals, and astute selection of source material have made his records perfect for hot-weather festivities. And Mendes & Brasil ‘66’s version of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” proved that they had the funk, too. This four-night, six-show stand at Jazz Alley promises to be a classy nostalgia wallow. (Jazz Alley, 7:30 pm, plus 9:30 pm on Aug 7 & 8, all ages) DAVE SEGAL
Den Fest
Aug 7–8
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. (It’s kind of like Warhol’s Factory, if you think about it.) 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 lineup features 16 bands across two days, including Coral Grief, Versing, Linda From Work, Pitschouse, and Spiral XP. (Sunset Tavern, 7 pm, 21+) AUDREY VANN
Thunderpussy’s Good Clean Fun! Concert Series
Multiple dates
Seattle’s favorite femme rock band, Thunderpussy, is giving us a gift this August. They’re performing at small venues around the city across three weekends in the doldrums of summer in a mini-festival they’re calling Good Clean Fun! Vocalist Molly Sides (fresh off her run as Mary Magdalene in 5th Avenue Theatre’s Jesus Christ Superstar) and bandmates Whitney Petty, Leah Julius, and Michelle Nuño will be tearing it up with a slew of other local class acts at each show. On August 8, see them at Baba Yaga with dance-punk band Zookraught; on August 14, they play Vera Project with rock bands Black Ends and Sundries; and then the cherry on top will be August 21 at Sunset Tavern with hardcore pop artist TeZATalks and alt-rockers Liberty Strikes. Since it’s Thunderpussy, you can expect costumes and theatrics for this love letter to the Seattle music scene. (Aug 8 at Baba Yaga, Aug 4 at Vera Project, and Aug 21 at Sunset Tavern) NATHALIE GRAHAM
The Mountain Goats, the Hold Steady
Aug 9
This show’s for the writers. The wordsmiths. The tender-hearted poets who have strong opinions about dictionaries (Merriam-Webster or bust), and pore over lyrics while listening to records, because they know that it’s the ~words~ that can make a great song timeless. Both the Hold Steady and the Mountain Goats reliably deliver fortifying rock music with a flair for the dramatic hook, but their songs are more than just songs. They’re worlds full of characters you connect with and people you want to know or regret that you do. Because Craig Finn of the Hold Steady and John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats are also two of the world’s best writers in modern music, telling captivating tales about the dangers of partying with townies (“One for the Cutters” by the Hold Steady), the benefits of touring with one-hit grunge wonders (“Candlebox” by the Mountain Goats), and vampires (both bands have songs about them!). Every English major with a half-finished novel in their notes app will be at this show. (Woodland Park Zoo, 4:30–8:30 pm, all ages) MEGAN SELING
TV Star, Lightheaded, Research Vessel
Aug 11
“We make music for heads” is something TV Star just started saying one day, until it became their tagline. “The phrase just kind of materialized, not even from a specific thing or person,” guitarist Che Hise-Gattone told me in an interview back in April. “Heads,” of course, refers to the band’s abundance of musical references, ranging from ’90s psych rock and Britpop to alt-country and jazz. A music obsessive could perhaps identify that the band name itself comes from a Butthole Surfers song. Or that their swirling guitars and vocal harmonies take inspiration from bands like Lush and the Stone Roses. However, being a music fan isn’t essential to enjoying their music. “Heads” can also be read literally: they make music for living beings. Their lyrics are profoundly human and rooted in life experiences, as deep as the sunflowers that bloom on the cover of their debut album, Music for Heads. They will support the album alongside New Jersey jangle-pop band Lightheaded and indie-pop project Research Vessel. (Sunset Tavern, 8 pm, 21+) AUDREY VANN
Deradoorian
Aug 11
Multi-instrumentalist Angel Deradoorian came to most people’s attention during her tenure with Dirty Projectors (2007-2012), using her stunning voice in tandem with Amber Coffman’s to beautify David Longstreth’s abstruse compositions. Since then, she’s gone solo and also formed the excellent krautrock-flavored electronic duo Decisive Pink with Kate NV. Adept with guitar, bass, and flute, Deradoorian has released six albums under her surname. Her 2015 debut solo LP, The Expanding Flower Planet, abounds with artful, minimalist electronic pop featuring Deradoorian’s pliable, pleasurable voice to the fore. Her work’s also shown flashes of neo-krautrock locomotion, plus ambient and minimalist brilliance. Eternal Recurrence is bathed in a holy penumbra of droning synths and multitracked vocals, while Disembodied Improvisations Vol. 1 features tranquilly oscillating, Terry Riley-esque meditations. Last year’s Ready for Heaven found Deradoorian composing in danceable, song-oriented mode, with strong ESG and Danielle Dax influences. Now that’s versatility. (Substation, 7 pm, 21+) DAVE SEGAL
Corinne Bailey Rae
Aug 13
If you were glued to the TV every morning in the early 2000s like I was, watching music videos, then you probably first saw Corinne Bailey Rae as a VH1 You Oughta Know Artist, riding her bike around a scenic park in the video for her 2006 summertime hit “Put Your Records On,” which turned her into an overnight success. I was 10 years old when I first heard it, and I immediately begged my dad to drive me to Target so that I could get her self-titled CD—the first album I ever bought with my own money. I played this album to death for the next several years, floating around my room and lip-syncing in the mirror. To this day, I put on the album when I’m feeling untethered and need to remember who I am. This August, I’m turning 30, Bailey Rae’s debut album is turning 20, and I feel like the stars have aligned. She will celebrate the album’s anniversary by playing it in its entirety. (Moore Theatre, 8 pm, all ages) AUDREY VANN
The Breeders, Team Dresch
Aug 20
As a fangirl of the Deal sisters who has obsessively followed their solo projects and bands (the Pixies, the Amps, the Kelley Deal 6000, etc), I will never miss an opportunity to hear Kim and Kelley play together as the Breeders. The alt-rock four-piece has released just five albums since their formation in 1989—each one flawless—showcasing their mastery of restraint. This control is also reflected in the music itself, which is never overworked, overproduced, or overcomplicated. The Breeders aren’t supporting a particular album on this tour (they haven’t released an album since 2018’s All Nerve), and according to recent setlists, you can expect to hear many songs from their seminal 1993 album, Last Splash, along with a few covers and deep cuts sprinkled in. You’d be a fool to miss the opening set by pioneering queercore band Team Dresch, supporting their first album in 30 years, Furthermore (out September 18). (Woodland Park Zoo, 4:30 pm, all ages) AUDREY VANN
Dylanfest
Aug 29
Writer, designer, and “Music Person” podcast host Dylan Tupper Rupert is the mastermind behind this scrappy DIY annual music festival, which takes place in the backyard of the James Beard-nominated restaurant Houlme on Orcas Island. The weekend kicks off with a welcome party on Friday night, followed by a stacked lineup on Saturday: ’90s indie rock/slowcore cult favorites Ida, Oakland alt-country-ish band Mildred, Olympia-born ensemble Gun Outfit, Minneapolis lo-fi indie project Walker Rider (“queer love songs leaning into limerence”), and LA-based “digital twang” singer-songwriter Deloyd Elze. You can expect “luxurious hot dogs,” a steady flow of wine, and a potential dip in the Salish Sea—does this not sound like the makings of a perfect summer weekend? Camping is also available by way of nearby Alder Vulture, a privately owned 10-acre property on the island. (Houlme, Eastsound, WA, 2–11 pm, all ages) JULIANNE BELL
Linda’s Fest: Helms Alee, Suzzallo, Filth Is Eternal, Sux, and More
Aug 29
Let’s break down the greatness that is this year’s Linda’s Fest lineup because there is not one dud on the list. We’ve got Helms Alee, whose atmospheric and supersonic heavy rock can tear a hole through space and time; Suzzallo, the guitar-driven, anthemic rock band that is a must-see if you like the Sunny Day Real Estate songs where Jeremy Enigk is especially pissed; and Filth Is Eternal, whose new album Impossible World is loaded with surging guitars and brain-pummeling drumming that I blast into my headphones when I’m cranky and don’t want to feel alone in my rage. Sux are on the other end of the hardcore spectrum—guitars also surge, drums also pummel, but it’s delivered with a wink and bratty punk attitude that sounds like it time-traveled from Gilman Street circa 1988. And last but not least, Linda From Work, who also have ’80s vibes, but think bigger, poppier, and crunchier, like if the Go-Go’s went glam rock. There are at least two other bands performing, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy. Trust me when I say, they are exciting additions to this already packed bill. (Linda’s Tavern, 4 pm, 21+) MEGAN SELING
Brian Noyes, Tomo Nakayama, E. Ellison, DJ Mike Nipper
Aug 29
Brian Noyes is a deft multi-instrumentalist who’s contributed greatly to Seattle group Tomten’s five nuanced, tuneful psych-pop albums from 2012 to 2023. His 2020 and 2025 solo LPs, Brian Noyes and Seelie Court, don’t deviate much from the Tomten sound, but the songs are livelier, with hints of Syd Barrett and the Clientele’s melancholy beauty in the melodies. This is the release show for Noyes’s new album, The Ringing World, which shows he’s still a natural-born songwriter of exquisite craft. Low-key, Noyes is creating Father John Misty-style baroque-pop gems with a fraction of the budget, as well as finessing lovely and literate Nick Drake-like bedroom ballads. Get to Clock-Out early for DJ Mike Nipper, former Stranger receptionist/icon who possesses more fantastic, obscure records than you’ve had hot meals. (Clock-Out Lounge, 8 pm, 21+) DAVE SEGAL
More
Summer Sounds: La Fonda Aug 5, 999 Third Ave, noon, all ages
Den Fest Kickoff Party with Black Ends, M.A. Sampson, Small Paul Aug 6, Tractor Tavern, 8 pm, 21+
Sux, the Gobs, Shitty Dudes Aug 7, Add-a-Ball, 8 pm, 21+
Vandoliers, Hutchie, Old Coast Aug 8, Tractor Tavern, 8:30 pm, 21+
Porcelain, Museum of Light Aug 8, Clock-Out Lounge, 8:30 pm, 21+
Acid Bath, Russian Circles, Twin Tribes, devora Aug 8, Paramount Theatre, 7 pm, all ages
Monsterwatch, Destrends, Stetson Heat Seeker Aug 9, Add-a-Ball, 7 pm, 21+
Helado Negro, Reyna Tropical Aug 9, Neptune Theatre, 8 pm, all ages
ZZ Top, Cheap Trick Aug 11, Marymoor Amphitheater, 6 pm, all ages
Tomahawk, Melvins Aug 11–12, Showbox, 8 pm, 21+
Spyglass, Dandelioness, Halley Greg, Old Man of the Woods Aug 12, Rabbit Box Theatre, 7:30 pm,
all ages
Man Man, American Tomahawk Aug 12, Neumos, 8 pm, 21+
Kellie Payne Celebration of Life hosted by Pho Bang with Fall-Outs, Cheliceral Kiss, the Hyphens Aug 13, Slim’s Last Chance, 8 pm, 21+
Passion Pit, Arden Jones Aug 13, Showbox, 8 pm, all ages
Men at Work, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Shonen Knife Aug 14, Remlinger Farms, 6 pm, all ages
Perennial, Trash Sound Conglomerate, Pyramid Scream Aug 14, Belltown Yacht Club, 8 pm, 21+
The Chloroforms, Ichi Bichi, Trash Panda Go Kart Aug 14, Royal Room, 7:30 pm, all ages
Midpak, mega cat Aug 14, Sunset Tavern, 8 pm, 21+
Belltown Blast: Muñeca, killbuzz, TeZATalks, Beautiful Freaks, Biblioteka, Plash, Black Ends, Anthers, AJ Suede, and many more Aug 15, Second Avenue between Lenora and Battery, noon–2 am, all ages
Jejune, Racecourse Aug 15, Vera Project, 7 pm, all ages
Drew Martin, Dog Mom, Bryan John Appleby Aug 15, Sunset Tavern, 7:30 pm, 21+
Sugar, J. Robbins Aug 15, Paramount Theatre, 8 pm, all ages
The Divorce, Planets in the Ocean, Chimestone Aug 15, Tractor Tavern, 8 pm, 21+
Quicksand, Bane, Soul Blind Aug 19, Showbox, 7:30 pm, all ages
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings Aug 19–20, Moore Theatre, 8 pm, all ages
Tracy Bonham Aug 20, Rabbit Box Theatre, 7:30 pm, all ages
Summer Sounds: La Luz Aug 20, Occidental Square, 4 pm, all ages
The Sword, Red Fang, Spoon Benders Aug 21, Showbox SODO, 7:30 pm, all ages
KEXP BBQ: Ty Segall, Arlo Parks, Angine de Poitrine, Los Mirlos, Packaging, Sea Lemon Aug 22, Northwest Courtyard at Seattle Center, 2 pm, all ages
The Guess Who Aug 22, Climate Pledge, 7:30 pm, all ages
Ida, Storey Littleton Aug 23, Sunset Tavern, 8 pm, 21+
Cake Aug 23, Remlinger Farms, 7 pm, all ages
J. Cole Aug 25, Climate Pledge, 8 pm, all ages
Summer Sounds: Them Aug 26, Occidental Square, noon, all ages
Bill Callahan, Lonnie Holley Aug 26, Neptune Theatre, 7 pm, all ages
Mutual Shock, Ghost Fetish, Overripe Aug 27, Sunset Tavern, 8 pm, 21+
The Strokes, the Garden, ÖLÜM Aug 28, Climate Pledge, 7 pm, all ages
Black and Loud: Iniko, King Youngblood, Cyril Neville featuring Omari Neville & the Fuel, Making Movies, Peter Collins, and more Aug 29, Neumos, 6 pm, 21+
Eagles of Death Metal Aug 29, Neptune Theatre, 8 pm, all ages
waltzerr, Justin Harden, Zailee Haze Aug 29, Sunset Tavern, 8:30 pm, 21+
Conan Neutron and the Secret Friends, theNull, Yellfire Aug 30, Belltown Yacht Club, 8 pm, 21+
Sweet Pill, Bike Routes, Deux Visages Aug 31, Neumos, 8 pm, all ages
Nitzer Ebb, Lead Into Gold with Paul Barker Sept 1, Neumos, 7 pm, 21+
Tame Impala, Dominic Fike Sept 1–2, Climate Pledge, 7 pm, all ages
Find all these listings and more on our sister site, EverOut Seattle! EverOut.com/Seattle.
