SEATTLE — The two-day summer surf music festival SurfXSurfwest returns to Darrell’s Tavern for another showcase of instrumental madness! The annual festival is dedicated to surf and rock 'n' roll music.
“We started doing this festival five years ago. We've just kind of grown it over the years,” said Darrell’s Tavern owner, Daniel Dyckman. “It has grown to be an underground phenomenon. It's super chill, and the music is really fun.”
The 21+ multi-day event features live performances from surf and instrumental bands like Seattle’s own “The Boss Martians,” as well as national and even international bands like Banzai Surf from Mexico City.
“Thirteen bands over two days pretty much guarantees that you'll come to a festival like this and find at least one or two or more bands, so you can say, 'God, this is awesome,'” said SurfXSurfwest promoter Tian Doan. “You don't have to know the songs and you don't have to be a surfer either.”
This festival offers many amenities that will up the summer mood for concertgoers including food trucks, a DJ, and, of course, booze. Bands perform on one of two stages, outdoors during the day and indoors at night.
“I can't tell you how grateful we are and how fortunate we are to have a really killer festival locally,” said Evan Foster, a founding band member and guitarist from The Boss Martians. "There was nothing like that going on; you know, back in the day when we were younger and first started.”
Surf Music is rock music associated with Californian surf culture, particularly in Southern California. It was a popular movement from the late 1950s to the early 1960s.
“It was a phenomenon that occurred in the early 1960s. It was just about the fundamentals of what rock and roll meant,” said Foster. “It was kind of associated with youth energy, teen energy, kids going to the beach, and surfing.”
Darrell’s is a popular dive bar on the north side of Seattle with carpet on the walls and classic decorations, it looks like a tavern straight out of the late '60s and early '70s - perfect for a festival like this.
Friday night, July 19th, $20 at the door and $15 in advance. Doors at 7 and music at 8 pm. 21+.
Saturday, July 20th, $30 at the door and $25 in advance. Doors at 1 and music at 2 pm. 21+.
Whether you're looking to meet new bands, dance to good music, or just have fun with friends, the SurfXSurfwest Festival will sure have something for you.
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