The sounds of summer at King County’s Marymoor Park wouldn’t be complete without live music – and several thousand appreciative fans, too.
The 2012 Marymoor summer concert lineup includes Primus, Dead Can Dance, B52s and more.
“No matter what genre of music you love, chances are good that you will find a concert featuring your favorite tunes this summer in Marymoor’s beautiful amphitheatre,” said King County Parks Director Kevin Brown.
Tickets are available from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday at the Marymoor Park business office and online at www.concertsatmarymoor.com. The processing fee on tickets purchased at the Marymoor box office goes to support Parks.
Located on the lawn next to the historic Clise Mansion, the Marymoor concert venue offers space for 1,000 reserved seats and 4,000 general admission lawn tickets, including a seating area along an earthen berm.
While more shows are expected to be added soon, here’s the current 2012 summer concert series line-up:
June 14 – Primus
Led by critically acclaimed bassist Les Claypool, Primus is a band that has can’t readily be pigeonholed into any specific genre. Are they punk? Funk? Alternative? Metal? No matter the official name of their sound, the three-man band of Claypool, drummer Jay Lane and guitarist Larry LaLonde are known for their humorous songs (the original theme song for “South Park”) and odd stage presence (remember the penguin tuxedos on “Late Night With David Letterman?”). This summer, the band is touring in support of “Green Naugahyde,” their highly regarded 10th album – and first since 1999’s “Antipop.”
June 21- B52s
One of the best party bands from the late ‘70s, B52s has kept their popularity over the decades by putting on a fantastic live show. The band’s first big hit, 1979’s “Rock Lobster,” remains a mainstay on alternative radio station playlists. “Planet Claire” and “Dance this Mess Around” are two other singles from their debut album that have held their own, along with “Love Shack” and “Roam” from their 1989 album, “Cosmic Thing.” The band features original members Kate Pierson, Cindy Wilson, Fred Schneider and Keith Strickland.
Aug. 3 – Last Summer on Earth, featuring Barenaked Ladies, Blues Traveler, Big Head Todd and The Monsters, and Cracker
This eclectic lineup of acts that all first achieved widespread popularity in the 1990s features the Grammy-nominated, veteran alt-rock band Barenaked Ladies, who last graced the Marymoor stage in 2010. Grammy-winning Blues Traveler is led by frontman John Popper, one of the best-known harmonica virtuosos around. In 2011, Big Head Todd and the Monsters recorded “100 Years of Robert Johnson” – their 13th record, in tribute to the legendary bluesman. Cracker leapt to national prominent in 1993 with their gazillion-selling album, “Kerosene Hat,” featuring their best-known song, “Low.” The band is working on a new album, which would be their 10th studio release.
Aug. 4 – Vans Warped Tour
Tickets are $41.50 and are available at www.vanswarpedtour.com. Interested in supersizing your musical events? Look no further than the Vans Warped Tour, featuring a staggering number of rap, metal, rock, electronica, hip-hop and pop bands. At last count, 78 bands were listed for this music and “extreme” sports extravaganza, including skaters and BMX bikers. There’s so much going on that the Warped Tour will be centered on the event pad in the northeast area of the park.
Aug. 10 — Dead Can Dance
Founded more than three decades ago by Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard, Dead Can Dance perfected an ethereal, ambient, world music style that earned them a large and loyal fan base. The band released nine albums in a dozen years – their last coming in 1996. Perry and Gerrard haven’t been on the road together since 2005. It all changes this year, however, as Dead Can Dance are working on a new album as they head out on the road with an extensive tour.
Aug. 18 — Norah Jones
Touring this summer in support of her fifth studio album, “Little Broken Hearts,” that’s due out May 1, Norah Jones became a worldwide household name a decade ago with the smooth-as-silk debut “Come Away With Me.” Jones’ first album earned her an armload of Grammys (five to be exact), and it has since gone on to sell more than 20 million copies. Her three subsequent releases have each earned “platinum” status for sales of more than 1 million copies, along with a total of four more Grammys.
Sept. 5 — Unity Tour 2012, featuring 311, Slightly Stoopid and The Aggrolites
Veteran rockers 311 anchor Unity Tour 2012. Formed in 1988, the band struck triple platinum success in 1995 with their self-titled album and featured two chart-topping singles. 311 is touring in support of their 2011 release, Universal Pulse. Southern California’s Slightly Stoopid, who along with 311 are veterans of the Marymoor stage, are a bit more challenging to identify musically. They play a broad mix of reggae, ska, hip-hop, funk and blues. Openers The Aggrolites formed a decade ago as the backing band for reggae master Derrick Morgan, and have notched five albums of their own.
