Freakout returned to Ballard this year to take over familiar bars and venues and turn it into a one-of-a-kind psychedelic explosion. The annual music festival is known for showcasing both local talent and up-and-coming artists from around the world, many on the Freakout label. This year, Freakout catered to all audiences with its billing spanning all genres from floaty indie dream pop to aggressive industrial noise bands.
The festival kicked off on Thursday and didn’t waste any time filling its venues with music. Over the entirety of the weekend, attendees were able to jump to any of the 8 stages concurrently playing music to find the sound they were looking for. Whether you wanted to headbang to Mengers in the lower half of the Salmon Bay Fraternity of Eagles, snap along to the jazzy sounds of Brittany Davis in a packed Cafe Umbria, or take a load off and sit with a beer in Conor Byrne while SuperMother jams out, the options teetered on overwhelming.
GOON taking on the intimate Conor Byrne stage
Over the four nights of the festival, I often found myself starting off the evening at the free, all ages stage hosted by Ballard Smoke Shop. While I rarely knew what I was walking into, I found myself leaving the stage with notes about multiple artists to check out and songs to hunt for when I got home. One of the most memorable sets from the weekend was stumbling upon Dark Chisme, a badass mix of new-wave, pop-punk, and house influence that killed their set doing everything from New Order covers to original anthems.
The real treat of the weekend was any and all shows being played in the top half of the Salmon Bay FOE. This main stage was visually treated by the Mad Alchemy Light Show which is a psychedelic, analog, liquid light show that painted the walls and stage of the venue with its showman meticulously mixing and lifting bowls to fit the atmosphere. Videos and pictures of this experience don’t do it justice and this alone may have been the highlight of my Freakout experience.
The Allah-Las playing under Mad Alchemy's light show
The format of the festival lent itself to this type of spontaneous discovery. Throughout the weekend, these were my favorite artists that I went in blind to and ended up leaving enlightened.
- Chokecherry
- San-Fransisco based, shoegaze grunge-pop duo with a larger than life stage presence and a catalog to back it up. Also worth checking out Fauxes, a psych rock side project that also played the festival.
- Ex-Heir
- I don’t think words can succinctly describe the full body experience of seeing Ex-Heir perform. The solo industrial ebm act left everything they had on the stage and more.
- FRANKIIE
- Ethereal psych rock group that packed out the Sunset Tavern playing cuts off of their new album Between Dreams.
Peyote Ugly playing the Sunset Tavern
The Freakout Festival once again proved itself to be a highlight of the Seattle music calendar. From the mind-bending performances to the sense of community that permeated every venue, this festival was a trip of genre-breaking music discovery. As the final notes echoed through Ballard, the spirit of Freakout lingered, leaving festival-goers eagerly awaiting what next year's edition will bring. Until then, you can relive the magic of Freakout at the Freakout Weekender coming up in March.
About Ryan L.
Ryan is a seasoned writer and music connoisseur. With a deep-rooted passion for melodies that move the soul, Ryan possesses a remarkable ability to articulate the intricacies of music with eloquence and precision. His reviews and features are a testament to his extensive knowledge of various genres, from jazz and blues to alternative and folk. Ryan's attention to detail, coupled with his insightful analysis of artists and their creative journeys, ensures that his readers are consistently exposed to exceptional music recommendations and gain a deeper appreciation for the Seattle music scene.