With over 30 acts, this new Tri-Cities music festival could be the next big thing
A new music festival is looking to establish roots in the Tri-Cities.
More than 30 acts will take the stage Saturday, June 3, for the inaugural Uptown Get Down music festival.
From hip hop to country, EDM to indie, punk to blues — this festival promises a little bit of something for music lovers of every genre.
Grammy-nominated rapper, comedian and 2024 hopeful Afroman will headline the festival, with several other talented regional acts performing on five stages at the Uptown Shopping Center in Richland, WA.
The festival is the brainchild of local music promoter Caleb Brown, and is being organized in collaboration with the Emerald of Siam restaurant. They’re looking to make this an annual event in order to expand cultural offerings in the Tri-Cities during the summer.
“We’re thrilled to bring such a diverse lineup to Richland for our inaugural festival,” the organizers said in a statement. “We want to showcase the incredible talent from around the city, region, and around the world, and bring a variety of genres to the Tri-Cities area.”
Among others in the lineup include Portland-based Americana band Hillstomp, Spokane punk band Itchy Kitty, Tri-Cities reggae band Naughty Pine, Yakima rapper Coaster and Spokane DJ Priestess.
Tickets are currently on sale for the one-day festival and range $20-75. The event is noon-8 p.m., but passes for those 21 and older allow special access to later shows and after parties.
The festival also will feature food from area restaurants, food trucks and vendors.
Organizers also are still taking applications through the second week of March for any local musical acts interested in performing at the festival. Uptown Get Down organizers will announce a second wave of performers in the coming months.
Uptown Get Down lineup
Afroman is the witty voice behind the 2000s song “Because I Got High.” The humorous song earned him a Grammy nomination.
He’s also well known for his “Colt 45 and 2 Zig-Zags” bars on his track “Crazy Rap.”
His songs gained prominence online on peer-to-peer sharing applications, such as Napster and LimeWire, as well as in marijuana culture.
