The summer is always packed with a ton of music
festivals—Sasquatch!, the Capitol Hill Block Party, Bumbershoot,
Warped Tour, et cetera. But not all worthy events require you to spend
hours in the blistering sun to see your favorite acts.
For the fourth year, Carousel Festival celebrates the
diversity of Seattle’s DIY music community with a weekend of all-ages
shows (Fri–Sun Aug 28–30), featuring over 30 bands playing
at venues including Healthy Times Fun Club, Gallery 1412, Cairo
gallery, and others.
There’s some great talent on the roster this year, with a little bit
of something to please everyone. On Saturday night, heavy and hard trio
Helms Alee play at the Greenhouse, along with Patrol,
Partman Parthorse, and Weekend (aka Ryann Donnelly of
Schoolyard Heroes and Mark Gajadhar of Past Lives and
Champagne Champagne). Sunday afternoon, starting at 1:00 p.m.,
the uniquely voiced Whitney Ballen plays the Cairo gallery with
1985, Dennis Driscoll, and more. If you’re unfamiliar
with Ballen, imagine a slightly less Muppety Joanna Newsom minus the
harp. She’s incredible.
A three-day pass is just $17, and it gives you unlimited access to
every event. You can also get a one-day pass for $8 or pay $5 at the
door for any show. And in true DIY style, all proceeds will benefit two
very good causes—Urban Rest Stop and Hollow Earth Radio. Advance
tickets are available at Left Bank Books, Singles Going Steady, Wall of
Sound, and 20/20 Cycle. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/carouselfestival. 
Thurs Aug 27: Jay Reatard at Sonic Boom Records
(Ballard), 7 pm, free.
Fri Aug 28: Harvey Danger’s last all-ages show ever
at the Vera Project, 7:30 pm, $13 ($12 w/club card).
Fri Aug 28: To the Sea, Kids and Animals, Invisible
Giants at Ground Zero, 7 pm, $6 ($5 w/canned-food donation).
Sat Aug 29: The Maldives at Sonic Boom Records
(Ballard), 4 pm, free.
There’s local diversity in this line-up?
There’s many more bands playing than listed in this article go to the festival’s myspace page! There’s over 45 bands playing in all. How many would constitute diversity for you?
so the fact that there are 100 plus bands on the warped tour bill means it’s the most diverse festival around? i don’t think so. quantity doesn’t equal quality and it sure as hell doesn’t equal diversity. seattle has a lot more creative art/music going on than these indie-pop-cookie-cutters are leading people to believe. i want more diversity in my stranger music coverage and in my “diy scene”. the diy community in seattle is far larger and segmented than just a bunch of scenester, fixie, straight edge kids eating vegan casserole in a basement off pine. i would like to see the inclusion of music outside their clique before people begin to champion the diversity of a very self involved, exclusive “local diy festival”.