Seattle summers are unbeatable. The weather is warm, Lake Washington is sparkling in the sun, and the notorious “Seattle freeze” melts away as people become substantially more pleasant. Now, imagine you are singing along to Bon Iver, Leon Bridges, and Willow, gazing up at the Space Needle and a gorgeous summer sunset. Lucky for you, you could experience that (and more) this August at the Day In Day Out Festival.
I was given the opportunity to meet with Kate Harris, Sponsorship and Events Director at Daydream State, which is the parent company for both Capitol Hill Block Party and Day In Day Out. She is highly motivated, an excellent leader, and also responsible for organizing the food, beverage, nonprofit partners, and local booths that make the festival so successful each year.
Deeply impassioned about good music, Harris is most looking forward to seeing Indigo De Souza perform at Day In Day Out this year. After first learning about this smaller artist last year at Neumos in Capitol Hill, Kate is excited to enjoy this singer-songwriter again, especially since De Souza recently released new music. Full circle moments like this is one of Kate’s favorite parts of putting on DIDO annually, as well as seeing how music, arts, and culture come together underneath the Seattle skyline.
So, what is the Day In Day Out Festival?
Day In Day Out Festival is a two-day music festival in its third year. Offering a mix of electronic and indie rock as well as Washington native and national artists, DIDO is an exciting intersection of live music and Seattle pride hosted the weekend of August 12-13th.
What is the appeal for UW students to attend DIDO this year?
Given the prevalent house show scene in U-District, DIDO is a perfect experience for students to explore the up-and-coming Seattle-based artists and some indie rock headliners. Whether you are into underground music or the TikTok audios everyone knows, you can get the best of both worlds this August. DIDO is for all audiences, but the college-aged demographic is highly prevalent in the crowd.
What makes DIDO different from many of the other music festivals hosted throughout the summer?
Not only is DIDO independently owned and operated, their lineup is heavily curated to cater towards what the city is excited about for that year. Throughout the weekend, guests will be able to interact with many health and wellness-focused events. This July, DIDO is partnering with This Must Be The Place to distribute Narcan and educational resources to fight against the fentanyl and opioid epidemic that is plaguing the country. Safety and mental health is clearly a priority for Daydream State.
How can I attend DIDO from the U-District?
Conveniently located in Fisher Pavilion under the Space Needle, DIDO is super easy to get to from anywhere in Seattle whether that be Link/Seattle Center Monorail. Hop on the University District or Husky Stadium Link station, and you can be at the festival within 30 minutes. Or, Uber exists.
Where can I get tickets?
Tickets for the two-day event can be purchased online. Daydream State is now offering a 2023 membership program, where you can enjoy discounted food and drinks at Lost Lake, Big Mario’s, The Comet Tavern; 10% off passes to Capitol Hill Block Party in August; and presale access for future Daydream State concerts and venues.
I can’t go to DIDO! Is there another way I can experience a Seattle music festival this summer?
Yes! Similar to DIDO, Capitol Hill Block Party is July 21-23rd this year and has comparable artists like Louis the Child, Surf Mesa, and Sofi Tukker. CHBP is a bit bigger, focused on appealing to a multi-genre music scene. Kate and the rest of her dedicated team at Daydream State also put on this festival, so you know it will be good.
Day In Day Out sounds like the perfect weekend to me: local and big-name indie rock and electronic artists doing what they love, in such a prime location at the Seattle Center. With an atmosphere as vibrant as U-District house shows, it’s clear that this is also the perfect weekend for any college student passionate about good music, food, and supporting health and safety nonprofit organizations. Buy your ticket, and I’ll see you there.
