Offbeat festivals offer music for all tastes

Four weeks ago, the Georgetown Music Festival launched the Northwest festival season in a small but spirited way. The next two months offer many more under-the-radar music events for every taste, age and budget.

Here's a list of six offbeat or first-time festivals taking place throughout the region this summer. Each is many orders of magnitude smaller than Seattle's beloved/beloathed behemoth, Bumbershoot, and some are even smaller than that — so we paired our picks to give you perspective. Happy festing.

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West Seattle Summerfest, ends today, West Seattle (www.westseattlefestival.com)

This time of year, Alki Beach is the best reason to go to West Seattle, so it's a minor tragedy that the area's only major music festival is completely landlocked. That said, at least it's adjacent to the shopping and dining of the California Street corridor in the heart of West Seattle's commercial district. Also, it's free. The three-stage lineup is terrific, finishing with the Lonely Forest, Hockey and others today. And once again, it's free.

But you've never heard of...

Maritime Music Series, various dates and locations around South Lake Union, Seattle (206-447-9800orwww.nwseaport.org)

This ongoing series provides the totally nautical experience that SummerFest doesn't, thanks to Northwest Seaport, the nonprofit education and heritage group that works in conjunction with the Center for Wooden Boats on the south shore of Lake Union. All year long, they offer free, participatory "chantey sings" on the second Friday of the month, and maritime concerts on the third Saturday of the month. Last Friday's chantey sing was "Pirate Night" (!) and the July 26 concert features yarn-spinning folk singer Hank Cramer. Most events are at the Center for Wooden Boats, but due to venue conflicts some take place at a nearby church. Check the Web site for details.

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What the Heck Fest, Friday-next Sunday, Anacortes (www.whattheheckfest.com)

It's hard to imagine a more homegrown festival than What the Heck Fest. Now in its seventh year, WTHF coincides with Anacortes' Shipwreck Day, unofficially known as "the world's biggest garage sale." In true Northwest DIY spirit, events go on day and night at offbeat spots all over Anacortes and some come complete with home-cooked meals. Come hungry for Friday's opening ceremonies and dinner show at the Croatian Club, the all-day sushi show at Causland Park on Saturday, and the brunch show at Anderson's General Store next Sunday. Presale tickets are sold out, but more will be available for walk-up purchase at shows.

But you've never heard of...

Doe Bay Music Festival, Saturday, Orcas Island (360-376-2291 or www.doebay.com)

So Anacortes is too conventional for you? The Doe Bay Music Festival is so shoestring it makes What the Heck Fest look like Bumbershoot. This first-year fete is all about intimacy: Promoters expect around 300 people and most everyone — including the bands — will stay in cabins and tents at the Doe Bay Resort, a slice of hippie heaven in a gorgeous natural setting. And the bands! Here you have a gathering of the Northwest's best alt-country talent, including the Maldives, 17th Chapter, Tim Seely and Friday Mile from Seattle; Indian Valley Line from San Francisco; as well as someone known as "Sandman the Rappin Cowboy."

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Pickathon, Aug. 1-3, Portland, (www.pickathon.com)

If twang is your thang, Pickathon is your hang. Ten years strong, the weekend-long hoedown at verdant Pendarvis Farm outside Portland is the West Coast's premiere festival for "indie-roots" — that burgeoning genre of (mostly) acoustic folk and Americana music. This year's lineup sparkles with young national stars like Jolie Holland, Langhorne Slim, Paleface, Sean Hayes, the Everybodyfields and Seattle favorites the Cave Singers. The Bad Livers and the Gourds — pioneers of the indie-roots scene — round out the bill.

But you've never heard of...

Subdued Stringband Jamboree, Aug. 8 and 9, Bellingham (www.stringbandjamboree.com).

Like Pickathon, the Subdued Stringband Jamboree encourages festivalgoers to bring instruments and dig into their own campfire-jam sessions once the official bands wind down. Unlike Pickathon, the Jamboree's scope is predominantly local and the lineup sticks to the traditional side of bluegrass. But if you like square dancing to the Tallboys at the Tractor, you'll love it under the stars at the Deming Log Show Grounds.

Jonathan Zwickel: zwickelicious@gmail.com