Sasquatch Musical Festival 2013

"Attend an outdoor musical festival" can now be checked off my life list.

(And speaking of life lists I really need to make a concrete one.)

Last weekend three of my friends and I caravaned to George, Washington home of The Gorge Amphitheater for the Sasquatch Music Festival (along with about 25,000 other people).

It's close to a seven hour drive from my house so we went up to Portland on Thursday night and went to a Vampire Weekend concert to start the long weekend off with even more music. Perfect way to begin.

This is my friend Amy. I've known her since my freshman year in college (just about 20 years now). If you've been around a long time you might have seen a few layouts that have included her over the years. She was my partner in crime in planning this adventure and she brought her boyfriend Jeff.

I brought Aaron.

He's a pretty big music fan - plays a bunch of instruments, writes his own music, has unique tastes - and it's cool to hear what he looks for/watches/cares about at live music events. Totally stuff I know nothing about. And I like learning. And I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been going to Sasquatch if we wouldn't have been introduced late last year.

Having new friends is cool.

We went for the upgraded camping option which meant a quieter, less crowded area that had little to no lines for the bathrooms or showers, a shuttle service that took you over to the actual music venue, and free coffee and doughnuts each morning. This was totally worth it. The demographic at this event is definitely younger and crazier than the four of us and we all appreciated being able to go to sleep and not have loud partying happening all around us all through the night.

Not that we didn't have fun but, you know, we aren't as young and crazy as we once were.

Well, maybe we are all still a little crazy.

This is looking over at the camping area from the music venue.

The view from our campsite.

Once you get into the actual music venue there were a few different stages set up where you could catch a show. We ended up spending most of our time at the main stage.

The first two nights we sat up in the grass (this shot is looking up from the main stage area).

And then on Sunday and Monday we hung out down on the cement area of the main stage.

My favorite performance of the weekend was Imagine Dragons. I thought they were fantastic. The music, the energy, everything. I was so happy that I had been listening to their whole album in advance so I knew the songs. They were seriously awesome. Here's a video I found on You Tube:





Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros was probably my next favorite. We got right up in the mix of people close to the stage for this one and it was so cool. This is another band I've been listening to a lot lately - being able to sing along makes it that much more fun.

Here's Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros at Sasquatch via You Tube:





Next favorite for me was Mumford & Sons. They were the headliner and I imagined they'd be my favorite and they were great but I enjoyed those other two just a bit more. Their encore was definitely one of the best moments of the weekend because they brought out Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and they all sang Fleetwood Mac's The Chain. The awesome thing about that was that Aaron and I had traveled to Tacoma last Monday night to see Fleetwood Mac - it was the perfect bookend to a week of live music.





And of course I was able to find it on You Tube. I was singing just as loud as everyone else.

I also completely enjoyed The Lumineers and The Postal Service.

Here's who we saw:

Friday:


  • Built To Spill

  • Arctic Monkeys

  • Macklemore & Ryan Lewis


Saturday:

  • Andrew Bird

  • Bloc Party (they had people dancing all over the place)

  • The XX

  • Sigur Ros


Sunday:

  • The Tallest Man On Earth

  • The Dropick Murphys

  • Edwards Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

  • Elvis Costello & The Imposters

  • Mumford & Sons


Monday (my favorite day & in the rain):

  • Imagine Dragons

  • Cake

  • The Lumineers

  • The Postal Service


Something I so loved about the adventure was obviously the view - but more than that I loved how the weather changed, how we got to see the sunset, how it was super hot and then the rain came down. I liked the variety and just being outside no matter what the weather was doing.

Good, good times answering the invitation to find the fun again.

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53 thoughts

  1. Jo-Anne from ZA says…
    05/31/2013

    Looks like you guys had a blast!

    I think it is great Ali that you are taking time out just to have some fun. And even though we are Mommy's and have all this responsibility to know, that there is still room in all of that to have some fun too!

    Have a magic weekend:-)

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Lisa says…
    05/31/2013

    So, so love the last photo in this story. So, so happy to see you having fun again. You wear it very well, Ali. Shine on!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Jasmine Ford says…
    05/31/2013

    Oh so completely jealous, outdoor music festival is on my bucket list too! You go to hear so many of my favorite bands right now. It looks like you all had a fantastic time!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Brooke says…
    05/31/2013

    What kind of Subaru do you have? Saw Instagram and have been wondering. Love that it's big but low to the ground. We are due for a new car (can't wait!!).

    Awesome adventure!!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      05/31/2013

      It's an Outback - it's the second one I've had and love it. This one is a 2012.

  5. ChrisyC says…
    05/31/2013

    Wow Ali !

    I cannot get over the natural surrounds. Looks simply AMAZING.

    Good on you for getting out there, and putting yourself out there. Looks like you enjoyed yourself!

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Sue says…
    05/31/2013

    So happy that you are enjoying being "open" to all things. This looked like a very fun adventure-once in a life time!

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Lisa W. says…
    05/31/2013

    AWESOME....just awesome!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. laura g. says…
    05/31/2013

    looks like fun!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Kelly says…
    05/31/2013

    WHat an amazing event! Radioactive is my fave! Would have loved seeing the concert! You are very blessed! ENJOY!

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Megan Anderson says…
    05/31/2013

    That is such an amazing line up! Sounds like a great time :) I love how you documented the concert: those photos are amazing.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Nicolle says…
    05/31/2013

    This looks so fun, Ali! My heart stopped when I read that you saw The Postal Service... were they amazing?? If you ever get a chance, check out a live Death Cab for Cutie show - it will blow your mind.

    So happy to see you're having fun! I am only 23 years old but have felt that I've lost the "fun" me... it's a horrible feeling, but you inspire me in so many ways. Thank you.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      05/31/2013

      They were amazing. Loved them and I was so happy I'd been listening to them in advance.

  12. Kathy C. says…
    05/31/2013

    I so LOVE this post!! Glad you found your FUN again!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Cathy L. says…
    05/31/2013

    It's been years since I've been to the Gorge. It is beautiful, and a little wild! Camping there is a great IDE, after one concert, it took HOURS to get out of the parking area, it was really unorganized. What a great show, thanks for sharing!

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Colleen says…
    05/31/2013

    That looks like an amazing time! I'm so jealous. Hubby and I would love to go to something like that- we have a lot of those bands in rotation on our playlist. So glad you answered the invitation!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Sarah says…
    05/31/2013

    Oh my Stars! What a line up... Can't wait to live back in WA, so I too can enjoy the Gorge, been there several times and it was always wonderful, wonderful.

    You needed this!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Amy T Schubert says…
    05/31/2013

    That sounds AND looks amazing! So glad you were able to go :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Vanessa Babin says…
    05/31/2013

    That looks like a lot of fun! So glad you got to experience it! :-)

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. CandyW says…
    05/31/2013

    Thanks for sharing Ali! I loved reading about all the FUN you had. Good for you!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Allison M. says…
    05/31/2013

    Looks & sounds like you had a fabulous time. Those photos remind me so much of Canada Day concerts (as well as other various outdoor ones held there) on Citadel Hill in Halifax, NS. Something I haven't done for over 10 years. My friend & I used to go all the time... I would have to say my top two were Bon Jovi back in the early 90's and Great Big Sea with Blue Rodeo (I can't remember what year that one was!) I've been trying to get music back into my daily life as it's been missing for some time now. I'm thinking it might be time for my friend & I to make concert plans again soon!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Stacy says…
    05/31/2013

    I am so, so, so jealous! Macklemore, Mumford and Sons, Elvis Costello and Cake! Plus all the others! And Vampire Weekend! (yes, lots of exclamation points...such a great lineup.)

    I know you are a runner, and you may already have these on your playlist, but two of my favorite, "get-your-butt-moving" running songs are by two of the bands you saw:

    "A-Punk" by Vampire Weekend
    "Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service

    Also, if you like Vampire Weekend and The Postal Service and such, I think you might also like Two Door Cinema Club.

    Again, so jealous! And also glad you had a great time.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Jennifer says…
    05/31/2013

    We went to Boston Calling this past weekend and saw some really great bands (Matt and Kim, Marina and the Diamonds, fun., Of Monsters and Men) but your weekend was even better. What a great line up!

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. cindy b says…
    05/31/2013

    SUPER COOL!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Katina says…
    05/31/2013

    I so love The Gorge - been to many great festivals here! And seriously, what a killer line up!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. kelly says…
    05/31/2013

    YOU look freaking amazing

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. young c says…
    05/31/2013

    Looks like so much fun! Love Andrew Bird and Mumford and Sons. Will definitely have to check out the other bands. :)

    Reply 0 Replies

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