In its third year, Seattle’s Belltown Bloom is feminist punk rock at its finest, with local rockers Thunderpussy, Russian performance art group Pussy Riot and Philly-based Mannequin Pussy topping this year’s lineup.
This two day festival, which takes place in Seattle’s downtown neighborhood of Belltown, is a homage to women in rock and a celebration of underrepresented voices in music in general. The event is organized by local siblings and bandmates Valerie and Veronica Topacio of the indie outfit La Fonda, and all the bands on the lineup are female-led. To the men out there: do not fret, you are allowed in the audience, so long as you are on your best behavior.
Other acts that will grace Belltown’s three stages are the 80s feminist grunge band L7, which first started performing from 1985 to 2001 and then reformed in 2014. You’ll also hear from psychedelic duo Pearl and the Oysters, Portland-based dream poppers Ancient Pools, and Skating Polly, which was started in Oklahoma City by two step-sisters when they were 9 and 14 years old.
At Belltown Bloom, Veronica and Valerie invite everyone on the lineup to attend the festival, so it’s not uncommon to see some of your favorite musicians in the crowd. They say the event is all about sharing the excitement with one another and creating a buzzing, supportive energy. More good news: all stages are indoors so you won’t have to worry about getting caught in Seattle’s perpetual spring rains.
Belltown Blues takes place at The Crocodile, a local dive that doubles as a bar and venue. Unfortunately, the event is 21 and over.
The Specs
- The Crocodile’s capacity is 1,150.
- Tickets are not on sale yet.
- Check out this guide to see what else Seattle has to offer.
