KEXP Suggests: Bigass Boombox Festival 2015

Three cheers! Bigass Boombox – the free, all-ages music and literature festival – is in its second year!

On Jan. 2^nd and 3^rd of 2015, The Crocodile will open its doors and present tons of local music – bands like The Hoot Hoots, Ever So Android, The Jesus Rehab, Inly andStereo Embers will be filling up the main stage and back bar (as well as the event’s second music venue, 2312 Gallery, a few doors down from The Croc.).Additionally, at the quaint loft bar, The Upstairs, across the street from the music venues, there will be readings from some of Seattle’s best poets and writers, from movie director Shaun Scott, to Women Against Street Harassment founder Piper Daniels, to Grantland and Stranger writer Spike Friedman and Washington State Book Award winner, poet Ed Skoog.

Born out of a Portland festival with the same name, Bigass Boombox, which is sponsored this year by Tom Douglas Restaurants, drew quite a crowd in its inaugural Seattle year.

“Last year was packed each night, so we’re looking to keep that fun party atmosphere this year while retaining the awesome sense of community that we had last year,” said festival co-organizer, Adam Prairie, who also fronts The Hoot Hoots. “We truly committed to making this event all about connecting great bands with new fans.”

Prairie’s sentiments are echoed by other performers. Said Jared Cortese of The Jesus Rehab, “I think there are a lot of folks in Seattle that haven’t realized they are living in one of the greatest music cities in the world, and we want to help connect them with this thriving community.”

Robb Benson, of Stereo Embers, noted, “To be a part of a collection of what I consider to be the most prominent up and coming underground acts, as well as some established acts, is super exciting.”

Caleb Thompson, who is co-organizing the literary stage along with Matt Kelsey of Poetry Northwest, said of the reading portion of the event, “Lit folk can tend to be more solitary, maybe especially in the winter, so I like the idea of bringing together a bunch of different writers to share the stage and celebrate the work publicly. Get ‘em out of the house!”

Fore more information, click here. To get hyped for the festival, watch some of these videos of BABB performers here: