Big Changes for Fisherman's Village Music Festival

Everett Music Initiative has been turning downtown Everett into a festival of art and music for five years now—F isherman’s Village Music Festival (May 16-18) has put artists from the Puget Sound and beyond into traditional venues like the Historic Everett Theatre and Tony V’s, and not so traditional spaces like Narrative Coffee and the Normanna Lodge.

This year, however, EMI is shaking up Fisherman’s from top to bottom. Date, venues, attractions and even the lineup itself has been looked at by EMI founder Ryan Crowther and team to make the sixth Fisherman’s Village Music Festival the best one yet.

Kevin Morby performs at Fisherman’s Village // Nate Watters

The biggest change? Fisherman’s is moving from the downtown core to the Station District to 33rd and Cedar—the home of The Scuttlebutt Taproom & Brewery—which will house the second biggest of the three stages on the block.

“We want to consolidate the stages. We’ve had as many as five, if not six stages last year,” Crowther said. “We’re really excited to do something different.”

Everything being contained to their own space east of Broadway for the bulk of the festival will allow Crowther and crew to create a more consistent experience for Fisherman’s, including erecting an outdoor mainstage without closing off a major street in downtown.

Sid Jensen from Everett band Sleepover Club at Fisherman’s Village 2018 // Christine Mitchell

A massive beer garden pouring four new Scuttlebutt brews (among others) and a large curated list of food trucks, including Seattle favorite The Grilled Cheese Experience and Everett’s own Los Tamaahles, will be waiting for hungry and thirsty festival goers.

However, Fisherman’s still plans to use some of the venues in the downtown core on Thursday night. The kickoff for the festival will be at three different venues: Black Lab Gallery, Narrative Coffee and the Schack Art Cen ter.

“We have a lot of national touring bands that have played some great festivals all over the country including Desert Daze and South by Southwest to name a few,” Crowther said of the as-yet-to-be-revealed lineup.

There will be a lot of Everett love at this year’s Fisherman’s as well.

“Over 20 of the acts are from Everett,” Crowther said. “More local acts than we’ve ever had play the festival.” Over 50 acts will be revealed at the Fisherman’s Village Music Festival Lineup Party with The Moondoggie s, Spirit Award and NEWFORMS March 16 at Scuttlebutt Taproom & Brewery.

Some of those local bands will be playing on a stage located at what could be the biggest addition to the festival, The Fisherman’s Village Night Market.

Spanning an entire city block, the night market will be packed with makers, vendors and visual artists curated in part by Kristen Keenan and the Everett Makers Market team.

“We’re hoping (to have) between 40 and 50 vendors,” Crowther said. Beer and food trucks will be hanging around the Night Market as well.

Lalin St. Juste of San Fransisco band The Seshen at Fisherman’s Village // Nate Watters

With the addition of the Night Market and recruiting more business support for the festival, Crowther and team hope to continue creating a true community festival, citing festivals like Boise’s Treefort Music Fest and Reno’s Off Beat Festival as examples of events with broad community support.

“I hear lots of appreciation and applause for Fisherman's Village Music Festival and its effort to raise the flag for Everett and build community, " said Crowther. "But these events take the support and attendance from community members to stay alive and create the kind of impact we all want them to.

“I encourage anyone that hasn't been able to attend yet to get it on their calendar and purchase their wristbands."

Three-day “Early Bird” wristband passes are on sale now. Grab ‘em before they’re gone.