The next big THING

Three-day festival returns to Fort Worden

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Port Townsend’s biggest music festival has announced the dates and bands for this year’s return of THING.

And according to the event’s organizers, the eclectic, three-day, all-ages music and arts festival focused intently on gathering what they saw as the right mix of artists on the lineup for its third year at historic Fort Worden from Aug. 25 through Aug. 27.

Adam Zacks​, chief programming officer for THING, said musical headliners including Fleet Foxes, Lil Yachty, Thundercat, Cigarettes After Sex, Sylvan Esso, and Tash Sultana were assembled and “tightly curated” to “invite more people into the metaphorical tent, especially young people and underrepresented populations,” even as the event sought to retain its “intimate” atmosphere.

“There’s been a lot of excitement around Lil Yachty since he released a remarkable new record that’s an extreme departure from his previous hip-hop albums,” Zacks said. “It’s essentially psychedelic indie rock, and quite a bold move for an already well-established and internationally known artist.”

Zacks deemed Fleet Foxes “home-grown heroes and a personal favorite,” citing their interesting connection to Fort Worden, as the father of principal songwriter and vocalist Robin Pecknold played in a band that appeared in the 1982 film “An Officer and a Gentleman.” 

“The family will all be there, to have what I imagine will be a beautiful full-circle moment,” Zacks said.

“We have some surprises in store that I don’t want to spoil, but they’re personally very exciting,” he added.

This year’s THING will be something special to Zacks, as well. It will mark the 30th festival he’s curated after he began producing such events as a student at the University of Oregon.

“Ever since then, I’ve always been excited about the multi-genre approach to booking festival lineups, and turning people on to new things,” Zacks said. “If people are only exposed to one or two types of music, I feel they’re missing out on the full breadth of the human experience.”

This year’s THING offers a diverse selection of entertainment and activities beyond its musical lineup, with comedians Sarah Sherman, Kate Berlant, and Jacqueline Novak, and a wide variety of workshops in visual art, dance, theater (and music, too). There will also be morning yoga and meditation sessions, all available in the free areas of the festival site.

The Suquamish will be one of the nations represented among the event’s indigenous storytellers. On-site podcasters are set to include Amanda Knox and Christopher Robinson, Ken Jennings and John Roderick, and Ben Lee and Ione Skye.

“Podcasts have become an extremely popular medium over the pandemic,” Zacks said. 

“People listen to them on a regular basis, and develop what feels like intimate relationships with the hosts,” he said. “As a result, live podcast shows have become a place for like-minded people to get together with their favorite hosts, and witness the recording of a podcast in person.”

Last year’s festival sold 9,206 tickets over the course of its three days, while the goal for this year is to sell out at 6,500 tickets per day.

One thing that hasn’t changed about THING, in spite of inflation, is its prices. Zacks said ticket prices remain the same as last year, ranging from $129.50 for a single-day ticket to $349.50 for a three-day ticket.

“There are premium options available above and beyond that, as well as camping,” Zacks said. “Tickets are available for locals without a service charge at Fort Worden. People can also volunteer in exchange for tickets. More information about that can be found at THINGnw.org. Kids 12 and under are free.”

A discount for locals only is available at the Fort Worden box office, and not available online. Those interested can receive 20 percent off three-day general admission passes only, with limited availability. No password or verification is needed to purchase. People can simply show up at Fort Worden Commons, and let them know they’re local and want the offer.

The event is presented by the Seattle Theatre Group and Zacks. For further details, visit THINGnw.org.