Fourth annual Lopez Island Music Festival celebrates sounds of the Salish Sea region
The fourth annual Lopez Uncovered Music Festival will take place at the Lopez Island Community Center on Aug. 2 and 3. More than 30 local artists and bands from around the North Salish Sea region will play the stages of Lopez this year.
For organizers Doug Poole and Chris Aiken, members of the Lopez Island-based band, The Fieldboats, the festival is more than just live music. LUMF aims to give bands exposure, a platform and a place to share their magic with a live audience.
“LUMF is important because it celebrates original music and local artists,” Aiken said. “In fact, cover songs are not allowed.”
The festival originated four years ago when Aiken and Poole and their band wanted to celebrate coming out of COVID-19 — to rejoice in being able to not only uncover their faces, but also the music that had been created during the pandemic’s lockdown. Over the years the festival has grown to explore the local music being made in the Salish Sea region.
“We are artists hosting artists,” Poole said. “This is a place where bands can rub elbows with other local acts to create collaborations.”
This year’s festival includes some changes, including North Salish bands from Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan counties.
They will also operate on a suggested donation model, a change from years prior. All profits will go to the artists.
The final change is the introduction of the kids’ program. In the morning, activities including crafts, face painting, henna and more will be available under the children’s tent. Local youth songwriters will help to accompany the fun.
One of the bands participating is Cascade Cody and the Unpulled Bootstraps. Cody has been playing Cascade Mountain Folk with his band for around six months, and said he enjoys festivals because of the connection with the live audiences.
“We are just really excited to be able to share these songs with folks,” Cody said. “It’s where music lovers go to hear new music.”
— By Peyton Perdue