If you can see Mt. Baker, you are part of The Experience
Northwest Tune-Up (NWTU), Bellingham’s three-day cycling, music and beer festival July 12-14 in Bellingham’s downtown waterfront district, just announced its highly anticipated music lineup.
Bluegrass group Yonder Mountain String Band will headline Friday, rapper Lupe Fiasco is set for Saturday, and EDM artist RJD2 will finish out the festival on Sunday.
Other acts include Indigo De Souza (who played on WWU’s campus last winter), Petty or Not and The Lil Smokies on Friday; Emancipator, Magic Sword and Protoje meets Tippy I on Saturday; and Cambodian rock group Dengue Fever, Saxsquatch and The Moondoggies on Sunday.
Festival music director Hunter Motto said this year will include longer, 90 minute headliner sets and free music stages each afternoon.
“NWTU is known for music discovery, legendary performances, and most importantly, as a big, ol’ block party in Downtown Bellingham,” Motto said. “The festival has evolved year-after-year in response to our community and will boast two big changes this year.”
For the first time, NWTU is offering free music – no ticket required – at “Tunetown,” two stages at the Exhibitor Village in the downtown waterfront district. The two-stage venue will showcase local talent each afternoon of the festival, giving listeners a chance to discover new artists from their own backyard.
For those who just want to listen to the music, and don’t need a full day of mountain biking or pump tracks, NWTU is again offering music-only tickets, with admission starting at 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 4 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are already on sale for $59 in advance, but increase to $69 when purchased at the door.
In response to last year’s festival that hosted nearly 10,000 people, according to the press release, over 50 cycling brands will have pop-up shops at the Exhibitor Village to allow access for folks with or without festival tickets. The village will also feature games and a chance at prizes for anyone who strolls in.
For those who do get a ticket, the always-popular bike demos – gravel, mountain, e-bike and kids bikes – from dozens of top brands will be available all weekend.
The three-day festival pass includes unlimited bike demos, shuttles to various trailheads at Galbraith Mountain, spectator access to all cycling events, and admission to every single musical performance.
Early bird tickets are on sale through the end of April: $135 for adults (18+) and $50 for youth (13-17). Staring May 1, three-day passes increase to $165 for adults and $60 for youth. Kids 12 and under get in free with a ticketed adult.
Tickets and more festival information is available at www.nwtuneup.com, and updates will be shared on NWTU’s Instagram (@nwtuneup) and Facebook.
To check out MBE’s contributor Jasmine Long’s coverage of 2023’s NWTU, click the link here to view her beautiful photo gallery. X
