THROUGH THE LENS: Fisherman’s Village Music Fest and Jackalope Jamboree

This week’s column features two roots music festivals located in America’s Pacific Northwest: the Fisherman’s Village Music Fest in Washington and Oregon’s Jackalope Jamboree. 

Now in its 11th year on Washington State’s Puget Sound, Fisherman’s Village took over the streets of Everett and provided music on four stages during the evenings of May 16-18.

Jackalope began in 2019 as a one-day event at the historic Happy Canyon Arena and in downtown Pendleton that drew a modest attendance of 800 fans. Since then the Jamboree has blossomed into a three-day fest that featured music on three stages June 27-29. 

Frequent Through the Lens contributor Peter Dervin attended both festivals, and his reports are below.

Fisherman’s Village Music Fest 2024 by Peter Dervin 

This year’s fest featured an eclectic mix of Americana, indie rock, and singer-songwriters in my adopted hometown. After all the traveling I do it is extremely nice to have a festival in my own backyard.

This year Drive-by Truckers, Allen Stone, Shovels & Rope, Jenny Don’t and the Spurs, and Courtney Marie Andrews gave headline performances at the APEX Arts & Cultural Center, home to one of the most audacious graffiti arts mural collections in the Pacific Northwest.

Molly Parden, who sometimes plays with Darlingside, was wonderful. Jenn Champion provided a great set of her songs. Tomo Nakayama and his three-piece band presented a set of electro-pop. Local musicians Ben West and Joseph Pennell each gave an intimate performance in the Zamarama Art Gallery. And Andrew Vait’s band Little Wins played to an adoring audience to the Black Lab Gallery.

I had seen Maya Marie as a solo artist, but in this performance as The Maya Experience, a guitar-bass-drums power trio, she and her collaborators had a Cream-like energy that embraced the psychedelic grooves vibe of the late ’60s. Marie’s stage presence was electrifying.

Jackalope Jamboree 2024 by Peter Dervin 

The 2024 Jamboree was full of new surprises. I saw lots of great musicians and bands, including many who were new to me.

Coming off his highly touted new album $10 Cowboy (ND review), Charley Crockett showed why he has become one of the best live acts in the land. The Randy Rogers Band played their Texas red-dirt brand of country music, and fans loved every song. Formerly known as Mike & The Moonpies, Nashville’s favorite hometown band, Silverada, performed much of their self-titled album (ND review), signaling an amazing new direction in their new music.

In debuting songs from her new album, Roadrunner!, Kaitlin Butts (ND’s Spotlight artist for June 2024) gave her many fans an enthralling performance. Emily Nenni played an early set and drew a sizable crowd to hear her wonderful songs. Jade Jackson also had an amazing set. I had heard a lot about Bella White, and I was mesmerized by her songs and delivery. She was everything and more my pal Amos had told me. Cat Clyde and Samantha Crain were my two surprises.

With their high octane energy, Vandoliers yet again killed it in their performance on the main stage. Another Nashville band, IV & The Strange Band, had fans stompin’ for more. James Dean Kindle & His Country Combo played a cool set of jazz-tinged songs that were absolutely groovy. Lance Roark, Colby Acuff, and Cody Canada & The Departed also played outstanding sets to audiences that were more than pleased. 

Click on any of the photos below to view the gallery as a full-size slideshow.