Upstream Music Fest is finally here! Seattle residents are gearing up to discover some new local music and discussions in various formats.
Much like SXSW is to Austin, Upstream is a music festival with live performances and a summit for industry elite to discuss trending topics. Taking over downtown Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood, the event is set to last from Thursday to Sunday. There are a lot of ticket options for the upcoming festivities and some people we’ve spoken to are confused.
VIP Summit+Festival (Thurs-Sat) – $425
Summit+Festical (Thurs-Sat) – $325
Summit (Thurs-Fri) – $225
3 day Festival (Thurs-Sat) – $135
2 Day Festival – $110
1 Day Festival – $65
Our audience had a mixed reaction to the ticket prices initially. Tickets are $65 for a single day and guests get to see local musicians who usually play for far less. I also saw some chatter about Paul Allen’s lack of care for the local scene and desire to build his investment portfolio via Real Estate.
While I can understand both arguments, I think this festival is an incredible opportunity for the local music scene. Regardless of Mr. Allen’s intentions, putting money into our local music ecosystem can only benefit the amount of music opportunity available within the city of Seattle. Plus, $65 isn’t breaking the bank to support a TON of local music artists.
Check out our artist to watch playlist at Upstream Music Fest + Summit!
The upside to being presented by a tech billionaire is the tech infrastructure to provide one of the better festival app’s we’ve encountered. I’ve downloaded the app and it’s laid out pretty cool. There are a TON of artists and things go on during the event so it can be slightly overwhelming on a quick scroll. This is where the menu comes in handy. Quickly find new music, the schedule, tip artists, and find your location on the map.
The digital tip jar is an incredible idea. I seriously like this feature. With the data collected from this event, I think the Vulcan team could be at play to put an app out that revolutionizes local music and events.
At $65 for a one-day music ticket, this isn’t a bad value. This platform has the ability to bring vast value to our scene.
