THING Festival Is Upon Us!
Thing Festival Guest Article By Jordan Barsness
THING Festival is upon us. This year it takes on a new shape with performances happening 4 Saturdays in row August 2nd – 23rd at Remlinger Farms. A place where families pick pumpkins in fall, becomes the cultural epicenter of Seattle’s eastside neighborhoods this summer. Traffic jams and long beer lines in Carnation are a small price to pay for what Adam Zaks has curated for THING this year.
What Adam Zaks has accomplished in festival lineup curation over the years is not talked about enough. When Coachella was struggling to sell out 2 weekends, they started booking the biggest Pop acts in the world. Sasquatch was the festival where performers like Kanye West, Lizzo, and countless other future arena acts gained their performance chops.
As the festival world started to grapple with rising costs, Zaks created a more intimate festival concept with THING on the grounds of Fort Worden in Port Townsend, Washington.
De La Soul, Orville Peck, Khruangbin, Violent Femmes, with actor John C. Reiley performing folk standards with the likes of Andrew Bird were some of the highlights from 2019. Peck was on his first 9 city tour. Kruangbin had not become the darling of every millennials spotify playlists.
That was 2019. Watching the growth of these artists has been special. Many fans discovered them at THING. That is the mindset every attendee should have when walking Remilinger Farm this summer
THING festival has always brought musical genres and culture together in a package that works. Here are 5 artists you cannot miss at THING 2025.
Father John Misty:
Father John Misty performed at THING in 2022. His album Chole and the Next 20th Century had just been released. He performs with a stoic style of heartbreak only a man like Misty can convey on stage. FJM delivered the perfect sunset set with a wall of sound from his backing band that takes you to an NYC jazz club in the 40s. Ingrid Bergman and Humphry Bogart would feel at home watching Father John Misty Perform knowing the songs he sings couldn’t keep their love together … but that’s the way love works sometimes.
FJM is a world class song writer. Most people don’t know he wrote Beyonce’s “Hold up”. His craft is something to behold and his live shows are meant to be focused on. Every note and lyric matters.
His new album ‘Mahasmashana’ is a sweeping epic of self reflection, loathing, and confusion of the opposite sex. I’m excited to swoon about when he plays the title track only to be hit with a hipster dance party that will surely ensue when “She cleans up” starts. At some point he might make you cry as he sings something so close to your own experience you wonder if FLM was in the room when you found (or lost) the love of your life.
Father John Misty headlines 8/2
Orville Peck:
Giddy up, cowpokes!! Orville Peck is back at THING. The meteoric rise of the masked country singer started at THING 2019. Pony was released on SubPop records and instantly drew attention to one of the hottest genres in music, country.
For some, country music represents some very ugly aspects in American culture. But country music has produced some of the greatest tunes in all of music. The doors of The Grand Ole Opry have been kicked down by artists like Orville Peck, Sierra Ferrell, Jenny Lewis etc. bringing the genre to rock and hip hop fanbases. THING represents inclusivity. Country acts belong on the bill and fans will love it.
The Gay Country Crooner could perform without a microphone if he wanted because he carries one of the strongest voices you’ll hear in music today. Songs like “Queen of the Rodeo” will play cinematically in your head. It will be you riding a bucking bronco in Orville Peck’s sonic fantasy.
At some point it will be Orville and his acoustic singing to us as we sit around the collective campfire. A tear or two might be shed during this time especially if he performs “No Glory in the West”.
However, energy is what Orville Peck delivers in quantities. By the end of the show you’ll be stomping your boots and booking your tickets to Watershed for you will be a convert if country music has not quite been your “thing”…yet.
Orville Plays sunset 8/2
Glass Beams:
The mysterious trio of Glass Beams will hit the stage this summer at THING. One of the hottest tickets in town this winter as only a few lucky fans could cram into Madame Lous to witness the psychedelic sounds produced by the band.
A fully instrumental outfit heavily influenced by eastern sounds of India across the desert to Morocco. Dreamy soundscapes will take you briefly away from the physical realm into ancient worlds of the past.
Their musicianship will be on full display as they tightly weave bass and guitar riffs with an almost metronome’esque drummer who keeps the songs on track amongst the psychedelic chaos.
Glass Beams have mastered blending sounds from around the world that could make a fan out of the toughest critic. With only 2 EPs released, I expect the band to showcase new tunes while expanding the works they’ve already put on track. Wear your coolest threads and beads from your travels abroad and do not miss Glass Beams.
Glass Beams 8/23
Chinese American Bear:
THING is a festival of diversity. An act every attendee should check out is the Seattle based Chinese American Bear. An indie DIY pop duo creating dreamy multilingual tunes that blend retro synth and modern pop together that will make for a lovely afternoon dance party at Remlinger Farms.
“Take Me to Beijing” feels like a song a Bladerunner would write to their Replicant lover. “Kids Go Down” creates a fresh take on indie pop music of the late 2000’s. Low-FI guitar riffs with clever hooks seem to flow effortlessly through the Duo.
Again, fire up the duo lingo and learn some new words in Mandarin so you can sing along with Chinese American Bear. I’m excited to see what they do for a stage setup. Anything from their own art work to dancing animals and people. We just do not know what they are capable of yet as they build their project of passion.
Chinese American Bear 8/9
THING festival provides a space for music lovers to explore their favorite artist without the anxiety of conflicting sets. Remlinger Farms is a setting where a person can get up close and personal to the artist, or frolic through the fields behind the crowd. Families will enjoy the amusement park and trails when young fans need a break from the music. Adults will have access to Remlinger Farms Brewery and other libations.
Get to THING early and take your time leaving safely. This “Outer-Urban” festival will have plenty to take in. Don’t forget to stop and support local businesses in and around Carnation. Pack out what you pack in!!