Summer for music fans is an endless traveling adventure of concerts and festivals, taking us all over to see great music. This past weekend, however, Seattleites got to party in our own backyard for the annual Capitol Hill Block Party. From banging artists to rich venues and delicious summer cocktails, we were treated to another great Capitol Hill Block Party from show runners Daydream State.
CBHP has undergone some changes over the years, but the 2024 edition was a masterclass in staying true to your roots.
The Experience
Lines & Stages
Right from the jump, lines were manageable and straightforward, and security teams were patient and friendly. Easy to understand guidelines and efficient staff expedited concertgoers funneled in through the two primary entrances.
The layout of the festival stayed largely the same as previous years, which works well. However, Daydream State did make one tweak this year, re-orienting the 21+ area fencing to cut off closer to the intersection, reducing the amount of viewing space from the 21+ area (supplemented by video screens), but greatly improving the crowd flow space. This seemingly small change to the layout of the main foyer – while not completely mitigating issues with massive evening crowds – made a substantial impact on safety and consideration for crowd control. We applaud the adjustment.
What has been traditionally the Vera Stage in previous years was re-branded for the event as the Coke Studio Stage. The stage was excellent and featured some of our favorite performances of the weekend, but we also hope this staple local arts organization makes a comeback at future CHBP editions.
Food & Drinks
This year’s food truck roundup had a fun variety of pizza, Thai, bao, donuts, and more. As always, another great benefit of Capitol Hill Block Party’s location is the many local restaurant options within and right outside the festival. Whatever you chose, there were great mid-concert fare to offer patrons an energy boost.
The 21+ festival bars had a fun selection of (strong) drink options. Many of the local bars within the grounds had excellent drink specials, and quite a few had delicious blended frozen drinks on tap.
One suggestion for next year is increased access to free water within the festival area. We could only find one free water fill station in the grounds, and while many bars offered their own supply for 21+ patrons, purchasing water was often the most convenient option.
The Music
Now on to the main event – the incredible and diverse lineup of local, regional, and international bands, DJs, and performers at Capitol Hill Block Party.
Day 1 – Friday
Becky Hill took the stage at 7 p.m. on Friday, as the after-work bunch began to arrive and the crowd grew. She had incredible energy and was engaging with the crowd, offering up all the hits, and displaying an impressive live performance. She did a special shoutout to female and queer artists, which resonates with our Seattle hearts.
It became obvious on night one that may people at the block party showed for one artist alone: Chappell Roan. She captivated the crowd with her alt pop sound and impressive onstage performance. The crowd was filled with many members representing the “Pink Pony Club;” the crowd a sea of pink sparkly cowboy hats. Fans sang along to the many hits of her album Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.
Remi Wolf took the stage to the large, chaotic crowd, but was still able to have a blast and bring great performance energy. Her funky, soul pop had a jam band blended feel that lead people dancing into the night. By the end of the day we were all quite ready to rest and recharge for day 2.
Day 2 – Saturday
Vandelux came on at 4:30, with big shoes to fill from Day 1’s great lineup. But fill them he did, with amazing energy, funk, and flow. He got people bouncing around in the evening sun with his downtempo beats and live performance-laced DJ set. A guest vocalist and rad saxophone player set the tone for a Main Stage that continued throughout Day 2.
Local DMNW favorites TeZATalks and Tinsley took the Neumos stage on Saturday evening. TeZATalks blend of nu-metal, punk, and electronic pop, were deep, dark, and wild as advertised, and an awesome presentation of that mix. Tinsley’s more traditional blend of electro pop was buzzy, bright, and free.
Girl Talk made his triumphant return to CHBP with a mash-up medley on par with many in the past – including previous appearances at Capitol Hill Block Party. He mixed in endless hits, engaging the patrons with artists like Jay Z, Megan the Stallion, and Ludacris (his Millennial-ness definitely showing – to our liking). The crowd went wild and all harmoniously belted Kelly Clarkson’s Since you Been Gone.
Elderbrook’s atmosphere fit right into his sunset set time, with a mix of moody ambient tracks as the sun went down, and club anthem sing-alongs to bring in the evening. The end of his set culminated in all his best hits that the crowd seemed to know by heart, like When I Talk and Elderbrook’s incredible remix of Temper Trap’s Sweet Disposition. By the end of day 2 our hearts were full of dance and we were reeling for day 3!
Day 3 – Sunday
The Beaches was our first stop of day 3, and after two prior long, hot days, they were the type of energy we needed to get into the groove. With fun, poppy beats we shook off the tired drag of the morning in no time and were ready to finish CHBP strong.
To mix up our musical pallet we popped over to Frost Children; a wildly energetic electropop duo from NY. Their cross-genre blending of pop, punk, screamo, and other genres got their crowd jumping, dancing and screaming along.
Cobrah was up next; an absolute powerhouse. The electropop Swedish singer/song writer delivered hard with popular songs like Feminine Energy and Activate. The bass was dirty, the show was hype, and it was an amazing way to dance out the afternoon energy. The crowd was down – and got down – for Cobrah.
After taking in those big sounds we popped into Nobi and The Force in Neumos, seeking respite from the sun. This self-proclaimed “Psychedelic Progressive, Soul-Shaking, Sound-Bending, Alternative Hip-Hop Band,” kept the energy going in a powerful, groovy flow, which support from almost a dozen musicians on stage.
Kaytranada took the stage at the end of the night, and gave us just what we needed for our last show of the weekend. His sounds were funky, energetic, and the perfect way to round out the day. He left guests on a high, packed with wonderful dance vibes to carry us to our next summer party.
The Verdict
In all, this was another Capitol Hill Block Party to remember, and we rate the 2024 edition up there with the very best. It was three days of glorious sun, fun, and joyful musical bliss.
Capitol Hill Block Party unites music fans of all genres and ages, banning them together in a supercharged weekend of musical discovery and reverie. Attendees brought glorious outfits, positive energy, and shared love of live music, while stage crews, security, and vendors exuded professionalism, quality production, and great vibes.
We also want to give a shoutout to all the house DJs in bars like Poquitos, the Coke truck, and the VIP area, as well as the hard-working media teams churning out amazing content throughout the weekend. Wherever we went, there were continuous dance vibes and smiling faces to move us throughout the venue and keep the beat going.
The weekend was full of amazing moments and extraordinary musical performances, and we can’t wait to see what next year’s Capitol Hill Block Party has in store.
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