Soundcheck is offering four days of music, arts, and culture across multiple venues throughout the weekend in Port Townsend prior to THING festival. From poetry readings to dueling DJs on the dock, family-friendly artist-led activities to bewitching burlesque shows, Soundcheck boasts something for everyone.
Returning for its third year, Soundcheck promises an incredible array of performances and activities showcasing the dazzlingly diverse artistry this city has to offer, writes George Pacifera in his piece for The Leader.
Originally created in response to the inception of THING festival in 2019, Soundcheck was formed by a group of local volunteers who wanted to introduce early-arriving festival-goers to the Port Townsend arts scene.
“Having THING in town meant we’d be hosting a relatively young, art-loving audience who may not have visited before or might not know a whole lot about Port Townsend. It seemed like we should have some activities going on to properly introduce them,” Pacifera writes.
The festival, which will take place Thursday, Aug. 17 through Sunday, Aug. 20, begins with an expanded “Concerts on the Dock” featuring music from 2 to 7 p.m. by local bands Cosmiphonics, True Reckoning, and North Beach at Pope Marine Park.
Throughout the weekend, many of Port Townsend’s musicians will perform in over a dozen local venues, including bars, breweries, wineries, and open-air stages.
The festival includes a number of other events, including PT Reels, a collection of film shorts exhibited at Key City Public Theatre; a poetry reading by local authors; Water Street Beats, a DJ event spanning two adjacent dance floors; and the Uptown Street Fair, a celebration of Port Townsend's historic uptown boasting a local parade and 60-plus vendors at the Port Townsend Farmers Market.
The festival will wrap up Sunday with a 50th Anniversary Celebration at Fort Worden, with a rockin’ show at the Bishop Hotel featuring The SHIFT, Andy Fischer-Price, and Jus Wright, as well as a saucy “Mean Girls” Burlesque show by The Sky Dancers at Brigid’s Loft.
Soundcheck is a signature event that supports the Port Townsend Creative District. It is made possible by the generosity of its local sponsors.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Contact ptsoundcheck@gmail.com for more information. The full schedule of events is now available at ptsoundcheck.com.