SOUTH SOUND BLOCK PARTY Announces 2024 Lineup feat. Bikini Kill & X

The first show reviews, concert photography, and artist interviews that I ever did were done while I was living in Olympia, Washington. Not unlike Seattle in the 80s, Oly was affected by the inconvenience and lack of cost-effectiveness for touring bands to make the trip to the Northwest. The result in both cities was a thriving independent music scene generated by a need for culture and entertainment and a willingness to create it for themselves. The Seattle music scene ultimately became a worldwide phenomenon bringing waves of admirers to the city, while establishing it as a destination for major acts to come perform. From K Records, Kill Rock Stars, and the Riot Grrrl movement to Sleater-Kinney, post-hardcore acts like UNWOUND and the Cascadian black metal of Wolves In The Throne Room, Olympia has left its own indelible mark which continues to reverberate throughout the music world. The capital city remains a supportive and thriving community for those wanting to create, experiment with, and perform music, as well as an ideal spot for smaller touring bands. As for larger outside events, they don’t seem to roll through as often as they do in larger cities. This year’s South Sound Block Party looks to be offering a respectable balance of both.

The community-based DIY ethos of Oly is a large part of what makes it so exceptional and allowed for the formation of the now-historical Yoyo A Go Go festival, noteworthy for hosting future indie-icons like Elliott Smith, The Gossip, Halo Benders, The Mountain Goats, The Microphones, Neutral Milk Hotel, Dead Moon, and even Beck. The city is also the home of the very first Ladyfest. When I lived there in the early 2000s, you could still play or attend a house show on any given night, but if I wanted to see larger bands that would mean that, more often than not, I was heading South to Portland or North to Seattle. There’s a ton to be proud of within the scene itself, but it was still exciting whenever any higher profile non-local acts would roll through – on a few occasions, Frank Black even came to town and did bar shows. The beauty of Oly is that, if you wanted something to happen, someone was going to have to make it happen, whether that meant organizing your own event or bringing someone into town to perform. I saw individuals putting in that work while I was there and it’s inspiring. There’s a feeling of accomplishment whenever you pull something off, whether it’s getting Mr. Show‘s Bob and David to appear at the Oly Film Fest or booking Dead Prez for a show at Evergreen State College that unfolds into a riot. Moments that are more common in bigger cities feel extra special, because of the sense that they are being done with the benefit of the community in mind.

South Sound Block Party debuted in 2022 and, although we’ve still yet to make it out, I love seeing this exist for Olympia. Scheduled to be held at the Port of Olympia on August 23 and 24, the lineup features the recently reformed local legends, Bikini Kill; Los Angeles punk pioneers, X; and the genre-defying spaghetti western-meets-punk-infused gypsy folk outfit Devotchka. Other standout names include Whidbey Island band, LAKE, which one writer on this site once referred to as the “twee-pop answer to Fleetwood Mac,” and Seattle group, Small Paul. The fact that no other names on the flyer (pictured above) jump out at me is actually a positive. South Sound Block Party was founded with a mission of respecting and highlighting the enduring legacy of Olympia‘s music scene by booking local independent acts alongside established national and international artists.

Tickets for the festival can be purchased now through the South Sound Block Party website and are surprisingly affordable with GA weekend passes priced at $75. More those feel like getting “fancy,” a limited number of VIP tickets are also available at $125. There’s a great chance that we’ll see you out there.