Western Centuries

In an age when independence is idolized and every person seems to be seeking their own lone wolf career path, Seattle’s Western Centuries believe that the way forward is better together. Collaboration, inspiration and mutual admiration are what Cahalen Morrison, Ethan Lawton, and Jim Miller cite as the heart of their project. Western Centuries are set to release their third album, Call the Captain—a tongue-in-cheek reference to the band’s lack of hierarchy—on April 3rd via Free Dirt Records. In an age when independence is idolized and every person seems to be seeking their own lone wolf career path, Seattle-based roots band Western Centuries believe that the way forward is better together. Collaboration, inspiration and mutual admiration are what Cahalen Morrison, Ethan Lawton, and Jim Miller cite as the heart of their project. Western Centuries are set to release their third album, Call the Captain—a tongue-in-cheek reference to the band’s lack of hierarchy—on April 3rd via Free Dirt Records.

True Loves

Listening to Seattle-based funk & soul group, The True Loves, is like walking down a favorite neighborhood street, slapping-five with friends, checking up with clerks in their stores, admiring your own dark sun-glassed face in their windows, ducking under flowerpots and smelling the familiar smells of your most cherished locale. The band is its own block party. What began in 2014 as a jam session between three of the city’s best – pocket-perfect drummer David McGraw, intoxicating bassist Bryant Moore and otherworldly guitarist Jimmy James – has since blossomed into a global force that now features percussionist Iván Galvez and four horn players: trombonists Jason Cressey and Greg Kramer and saxophonists Gordon Brown and Skerik. Together, the group’s live performances have garnered them acclaim and millions of streams on YouTube.

Kids at Pickathon

Pickathon’s known for innovative and  exceptional kids’ programming, a destination festival for families in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. With twenty years of Pickathon memories, festival-goers who grew up at the festival are now returning with their own kids, and we always provide easy access for youth: kids 12 and under are free when coming to Pickathon with the family, and teens 13-17 are 1/2 price when attending for the weekend. Our stages spill out of barns, roll along next to horse paddocks, and nestle into custom-designed stages in the deep woods. All around you’ll see children playing, listening, dancing, busking, and swinging in hammocks. Kids have little trouble immersing themselves in the magic of the festival, but Pickathon also offers a bounty of programming for families directly, everything from a whole slate of family performances to workshops for all ages in music making and performance. Last year, our family programming included Cedarwood Waldorf School’s Windmill Hill installation, City Repair’s Forest Friends, Pickathon artists and a wide variety of Northwest children’s music bands like Mr. Ben and Red Yarn playing on The Wild Horse Stage, Learning Landscapes Adventure Play Area, BSD Future Bus, Family Yoga & Movement, and My Voice Music’s ukulele and songwriting lessons, jam and open mic sessions, a talent show, and free ukulele rentals.

Trackers Earth

Last year we expanded the popular Trackers programming at Pickathon and we’re hoping to do even more in 2020! Trackers Earth trains children to become stewards of nature, and in 2019 they created the Trackers Earth Village. Here, kids could role-play through the land of imagination as ninjas and spies or wizards and elves, complete with a foam-arrow archery range and wilderness survival school. Trackers Earth took kids on guided tours through the forests and fields of Pickathon, culminating in a festival-wide zombie hunt!