With the passing of July, the countdown to Bumbershoot 2006 has reached a mere 30 days. So what's on the agenda for this year's bash?
The musical portion of the festival will be highlighted by hip-hop sensation Kanye West, who is scheduled to take the main stage at 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 3. The former producer has become one of the most popular rappers around after two successful albums and a handful of Grammys.
Yellowcard and local talents the Blue Scholars and Rocky Votolato will also be among the groups to play during the three days.
Comedy will be well represented with a variety of humorous acts. David Cross, Todd Barry and Jon Benjamin will present their creation "Tinkle," and Comedy Central's Zack Galifianakis will also be in the house.
"Trapped in the Closet" features several comedians who will sit down and take a humorous look at R&B artist R. Kelley's recent urban opera. According to Bumbershoot's press release, the act will provide an "outrageous roundtable that will have you laughing until you cry."
In the visual arts department, festival attendees can expect to find an array of different things that bring a variety of art styles together. In particular, many of the exhibits explore "the intersection and overlap of technology-based art and the recent surge in the craft movement." A couple of exhibit names to conjuree with: "Softly Threatening: Artwork of the Modern Domestic" and "Experimental Housing Project."
Theatre Puget Sound will be setting up in the Center House Theatre and introducing performances such as "NAKeD PUPPeTS" by DArK EArTH and "Macha Monkey Productions" by The Cowgirl Play.
Montreal's Rubberdance Group and Seatown's Pacific Northwest Ballet highlight the dance portion of the event.
In the special exhibition section, attendees will have much to look forward to. The 2006 Bumberbout Flat Track Derby Invitational will be in KeyArena on Sept. 2, featuring eight national teams. Mark "Buphalo" Tomkiewicz will also wow the crowd with his "11-feet-tall, 20-feet-wide pyrotechnic sculpture."
And topping off the deal, Bum-bershoot's 1 Reel Film Festival, curated by the Seattle International Film Festival, will show more than 110 videos ranging from short documentaries to music videos.
-Jesse Baumgartner
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