Bumbershoot saved: Big lineup expected to draw huge crowds

Seattle’s signature summer festival gets underway Saturday with one of its best lineups in years, not to mention a dizzying array of comedy, dance, films and other artistic endeavors.

But it turns out there were some serious doubts the festival would even survive after ongoing financial problems nearly sunk what will be the 44th installment.

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For Seattle and Bainbridge Island native John Wicks, playing Bumbershoot with his chart-topping band Fitz and The Tantrums is a dream come true.

“Oh my gosh, it’s the best,” he said. “I lived literally across the street from KeyArena. I used to work at Uptown Espresso over on Queen Anne Avenue and I lived one block behind Dick’s Drive-In. So for me, playing Bumbershoot is one of those ‘I have arrived moments.'”

That moment almost didn’t happen. After years of struggling, the festival and producer One Reel was deeply in the red. High costs, inconsistent attendance and other problems almost made it unfeasible to continue.

“It definitely was needing a different approach, a different model,” said Heather Smith, Bumbershoot’s interim executive director.

Smith returned to the festival fold after concert giant AEG Live agreed to step in and partner with One Reel to save Bumbershoot.

The company brought the bankroll that allowed the festival to pay off its debts and get back on firm financial footing.

AEG’s Pacific Northwest boss Rob Thomas has played an integral part in stabilizing the festival and putting on this year’s edition.

“We’re a part of this community, we own and operate the Showbox theaters as well as do shows out at Marymoor Park and a slew of other shows around town &#8212 so it was just a natural fit,” Thomas said.

AEG’s deep pockets, music smarts, and connections are already paying dividends. The festival boasts, arguably, the hottest act in America right now, The Weeknd.

“Their new record came out this past Friday. They’re probably the biggest band in the country right now. They’re going to have an enormous fall and year to follow and this is their first show since the new record came out, so we’re really excited to host that,” Thomas said.

Other big names include international standouts like Hozier, Chance the Rapper, Ellie Goulding, and the aforementioned Fitz and the Tantrums.

And Wicks promises they’ll put on a sweat-drenched set worthy of the festival.

“None of us are young kids. We all have paid our dues in one way or another and we realize how lucky we are to have this opportunity,” he said.

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It’s also a great opportunity for all the local bands that still make up a big part of the lineup. Thomas says that won’t change under AEG, but festival-goers will notice a few differences he says should make it even better &#8212 like the return of the Broad Street stage and entrance beneath the Space Needle.

“It has a lot more space and it’s a lot less confining,” he said. “We’ve really worked to increase the flow throughout the entire site so people can move around. And there’s lots of new little things for people to check out.”

Then there is the overwhelmingly popular comedy series, film, dance, Flatstock poster festival and more.

And Smith says planning is already underway to make next year’s arts array even bigger – so the festival lives up to its promise as Seattle’s biggest and best arts celebration.

“Rob and I have been talking to lots of different organizations about what we can do differently next year and make the festival more reflective about what’s happening here creatively in our own market,” she said.

It’s a far cry from recent years, when the festival had to worry so much about simply staying in business, making Bumbershoot’s future look brighter than ever.

Bumbershoot runs Saturday through Monday at Seattle Center. A limited number of tickets are still available.