LINE UP & SCHEDULE
OCTOBER 8 - 12 • BELLINGHAM, WA
We’re taking over downtown with music, art, comedy, dance parties, and curiosities that push past the expected. Think SXSW, Treefort, and Iceland Airwaves, but with a distinctly Bellingham flavor, community-built, art-forward, and cheekily themed around breakfast, lunch, and dinner: Eat Up!
For our kickoff weekend, venues across the city will be transformed into living, breathing installations where artists and fans meet in the in-between. The fun doesn’t stop there. Programming continues through November 1 with special shows, parties, and pop-up surprises.
Scroll down for more information about each show and links to purchase single show tickets.
BLACK JOE LEWIS & THE HONEYBEARS
ABOUT BLACK JOE LEWIS & THE HONEY BEARS
Black Joe Lewis is the realest motherfucker there is. When Covid sidelined his touring, he started laying concrete to help support his baby mama and his kid. That’s fuckin’ real. When Joe and his band, the Honeybears, popped onto the national stage over a decade ago, many critics embraced him but still, there were some that maintained that they hadn’t paid their dues. Joe’s still here. Still going. Still cashing checks and snapping necks. The dues of hard work; the delirious heights of the industry as wellas the disappointments and low hanging fruit.
Through this all, Joe’s only honed his mastery over gut bucket blues guitar and his true voice. It’s a vital and distinctly American voice that never anticipated the attention he wound up receiving, never went looking for it either. It just started happening. The garage, the blues, the propulsive and synergistic live performances that inhabit the spaces of James Brown, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and the MC5...those things happened naturally from the very beginning and could only be accurately communicated in the live experience, not a press release or a slick brand campaign.
Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley, Cedric Burnside and Lightnin Malcolm, The Dirt bombs, DetroitCobras, the Strange Boys; these are some of the artists that Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears shared countless bills with; almost a roll call of the most influential soul and garage bands of the last twenty five years. Has the soul blues garage explosion from that era been commodified or worked into the overall template of pop rock? Sure. But the ground floor was avital space for people that like guitars and grease and at this point Black Joe Lewis is one of the last standing that was there. Last of a dying breed. Or maybe a missing link. Does this make him a throwback? A throwback to a throwback? It’d be tempting and easy for Joe to go along with that but nah, we don’t think so. We know that Joe Lewis is genuinely doing his thing and that he’d do it regardless of what’s coming down the pipe. A stone cold original and a veteran at that. If you like whistling in your music and some floppy hat, quaky kneed dudes cloyingly singing at you, then you might not “get it” but whatever...there are enough intrepid, degenerate weirdos that do. Those are the folks Joe cares about. Not the glad handing set. Not the fair-weather friend set getting down with the flavor of the month. Like the title of his last album says,“the difference between me and you” is Joe defining for himself that there’s the belabored wannabes and then there’s dudes that actually “HAVE the blues”...whatever the hell THAT is!Joe’s concrete pouring boss is going to miss him.
WITCH PERFECT
The hysterical and multi award-winning spooktacular, Witch Perfect, is a live-singing, comedy parody based on the cult-classic and audience favorite Disney film, Hocus Pocus. Featuring Emmy Award winning stars from RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 13's Tina Burner as Winifred, Season 11 and All-Stars Season 6 Scarlet Envy as Sara, and Season 9 and All-Stars Season 8's Alexis Michelle as Mary. The show features hits from pop icons, parodies of Disney classics and Broadway standards, including the infamous show stopper, "I Put a Spell on You."
MAGOO
Magoo is a progressive bluegrass quartet based in Denver, CO, redefining the boundaries of traditional bluegrass with a fresh, contemporary approach. Known for their electrifying live performances, the band creates a unique experience that blends extended improvisations, intricate original arrangements, and tight three-part harmonies. Their foot-stomping grooves and energetic stage presence leave audiences both inspired and enthralled.
Rooted in respect for the legends of bluegrass, Magoo pays homage to the genre's rich history while fearlessly exploring its modern evolution. Their sound is a vibrant fusion of tradition and innovation, combining heartfelt storytelling with virtuosic instrumentation. From delicate melodies to powerful instrumental jams, Magoo's music takes listeners on a dynamic journey through the past, present, and future of bluegrass.
The band’s success is a testament to their exceptional talent and dedication to the craft. Dobro player Dylan Flynn brought home the top prize at the Dobro Competition at RockyGrass Festival 2024, showcasing his soulful and resonant playing that forms the emotional backbone of Magoo's music. Guitarist Erik Hill, who claimed second place in the Flatpicking Guitar Contest at the same festival, provides dynamic energy and innovative rhythms that drive the band’s arrangements. Mandolinist Courtlyn Bills, with his fiery solos and intricate precision, adds a distinct vibrancy to the band's sound, while bassist Denton Turner’s steady groove and impeccable timing create the rhythmic foundation that powers Magoo’s signature style.
Magoo’s collective achievements reflect their growing reputation as a standout act in the bluegrass scene. In 2024, the band took 1st place at the UllrGrass Band Competition in Golden, CO, and won the Clash of the Strings battle of the bands, presented by Winter WonderGrass & Bandwagon. They also earned 2nd place at the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition, further establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with. Their sold-out headlining performance at Globe Hall in Denver on November 1, 2024, showcased their ability to captivate audiences, both musically and emotionally. In addition to these accomplishments, Magoo has graced the stages of renowned festivals like Winter WonderGrass, Grand Lake Folk Festival, RapidGrass Festival, and Huck Finn Jubilee, leaving a lasting impression with every performance.
Magoo’s unique ability to honor the roots of bluegrass while forging a modern path has earned them a loyal fan base and critical acclaim. Their combination of technical skill, heartfelt passion, and relentless innovation ensures they remain a leading force in the progressive bluegrass scene. With their impressive achievements, award-winning musicianship, and fresh energy in every performance, Magoo is redefining the future of bluegrass music.
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