The decade-old Music Fest Northwest, promising every year to be bigger and better, grew a day since 2009 (QRO recap), to become a five-day citywide extravaganza for 2010. While there were more days to take a shower with your festival wristband, the 2010 lineup lacked the cornucopia of choice-y acts, and the international flavor of its previous year. Everyone wanted to see The National (QRO spotlight on). The last minute addition of The Smashing Pumpkins (QRO live review at a festival) added the much need spice to its mediocre stew. Other than few sure bets like Ra Ra Riot (QRO spotlight on), Okkervil River (QRO live review), Akron/Family (QRO photos), etc., this year’s MFNW is big on Northwest. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, since this region has produced some of the finest acts in recent music history, but for Portland residents, it would have been nice to catch bands that one doesn’t have the luxury to see every few months.
The five days of Music Fest NW delivered high & lows & everything in between:
New York lit up Portland to close out Music Fest NW 2010. Recap > |
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Music Fest NW got big-time at Crystal Ballroom & Pioneer Courthouse Square. Recap > |
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Alt-country & -folk dominated Day Three of Music Fest NW, with more else as well. Recap > |
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The kids (and adults) were alright on Day Two of Music Fest NW. Recap > |
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Music Fest NW 2010 kicked off with solo electronic artists at Crystal Ballroom. Recap > |
37 Bands, 783 photos:
Abe Vigoda – Day Three, Backspace
Akron/Family – Day Four, Crystal Ballroom
ASSS – Holocene
Bobby Bare Jr. – Day Three, Crystal Ballroom
David Bazan – Doug Fir Lounge
A.A. Bondy – Day Two, Mississippi Studios
The Builders and Butchers – Day Three, Berbati’s Pan
S. Carey – Day Three, Doug Fir Lounge
Deelay Ceelay – Day Two, Roseland Theater
The Decemberists – Day Four, Pioneer Courthouse Square
Devonwho – Day One, Crystal Ballroom
Helio Sequence – Day Five, Pioneer Courthouse Square
Lazer Sword – Rotture
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists – Day Two, Crystal Ballroom
Male Bonding – Day Three, Wonder Ballroom
Dan Mangan – Day Three, Crystal Ballroom
Menomena – Day Four, Crystal Ballroom
Mimicking Birds – Day Three, Doug Fir Lounge
Mogwai’s Burning – Day Three, Bagdad Theater
Murderess – Satyricon
Mynabirds – Mississippi Studios
The National – Day Five, Pioneer Courthouse Square
Mark Olson – Day Two, Mississippi Studios
Okkervil River – Day Three, Crystal Ballroom
Panda Bear – Day One, Crystal Ballroom
Past Lives – Day Two, Crystal Ballroom
Phantogram – Day Two, Wonder Ballroom
Ra Ra Riot – Day Two, Wonder Ballroom
Richmond Fontaine – Day Three, Berbati’s Pan
Surfer Blood – Day Three, Wonder Ballroom
Talkdemonic – Pioneer Courthouse Square
The Thermals – Day Two, Crystal Ballroom
Titus Andronicus – Backspace
Tu Fawning – Day Four, Crystal Ballroom
Laura Viers – Day Four, Pioneer Courthouse Square
Rocky Votolato – Doug Fir Lounge
The Walkmen – Day Five, Pioneer Courthouse Square
Best Bands – The National, Ra Ra Riot, Akron/Family
Best New Bands – Deelay Ceelay, Tu Fawning
Worst Band – Surfer Blood
Worst New Band – Devonwho
Best Venue – Pioneer Square
Worst Venue – Mississippi Studios