One of the real gems of this summer will be Doe Bay Fest, a concert weekend August 14-16 on Orcas Island, Washington headlined by The Long Winters and featuring The Maldives, Hey Marseilles, Friday Mile, David Bazan, Weinland, The Moon Doggies, Slender Means, Drew Grow and the Pastors’ Wives, Spanish for 100, The Lonely Forest, Goldfinch, Tito Ramsey and more.
Word is the El Dubs might play some of the new material they’ve been working on since Putting the Days to Bed. What is certain is that they will unveil a new drummer – if only a temporary one until the position is shored up more permanently for touring purposes. The rest of the bill rounds out pretty well. I’m excited to see Slender Means – a band I saw many times a few years ago, but not a lot of since, and Friday Mile, who always put on a great show. Also not to be missed is a solo set from Phil O’Sullivan from Friday Mile, playing in the Cafe.
I attended this event last year and Doe Bay resort is really something else – it’s a beautiful piece of forest and pasture dotted with little shelters and gardens, surrounding the cold and tranquil waters of Doe Bay. Unlike camping at The Gorge, there is little chance you’ll wake up to some guy blasting Dave Matthews Band music out of the back of his 4-Runner at 7am. No, here the premium is placed on relaxation. It is a bucolic and wonderful place and it makes me wonder how the compound will deal with double the expected turnout this year, but I am confident they are up to the task.
The tickets are $30, which is a steal for a weekend’s worth of music in such a great setting. Be sure to camp and enjoy all that the grounds have to offer. They have trails, a rocky beach from which to swim in the bay, some (clothing optional) jacuzzi tubs and saunas, and some of the best views in the Puget Sound area.
