2013 Sasquatch Festival Guide

For all those Sasquatch rookies out there, here's a little info about the fest, where to be, and what to avoid.

The Acoustic Tent

For the past few years, one of my favorite places has been the Acoustic Tent, situated right in the middle of the festival grounds. Simply by scanning a bar code with your smart phone and entering your e-mail address, you can win access to the tent for the whole day. Many bands, before they perform their full sets, stop by the tent to play for 15 minutes or so to about a hundred lucky fans. I've been able to catch intimate shows from The Decemberists, Alabama Shakes, Givers, Foster The People, Flogging Molly and Fitz and the Tantrums. Keep an eye out this year for how to gain entry. It's well worth your while.

The Walk

For Sasquatch first-timers, keep something in mind. If your favorite band is playing at 1:30, don't leave you tent at 1:25. The walk, from the average camping site into the festival, can take up to 20 minutes in crowds. And that won't be a happy 20 minutes if you miss bands you want to see. Just by entering the festival a little early, you might be surprised by some bands you don't know yet, and you have a greater chance of getting in the prized acoustic tent.

The Stages:

Sasquatch Stage

The Sasquatch Stage, of course, is where the big guys play. This festival has a unique feature here though: the view. While watching any group perform at this stage, you will have the pleasure of seeing the beautiful Columbia River in the background. If you're tired, I recommend setting down a blanket on one of the amphitheater's grassy ledges and camping out to watch great act after great act. For those of you who need to be close to the stage, luckily, the main stage at Sasquatch due to its size and layout, is very easily accessible. It is often very easy to get a great spot for some awesome bands.

Bigfoot Stage

The Bigfoot Stage is the second largest stage at The Gorge, and this year, will host Vampire Weekend, Primus, Empire Of The Sun, Rusko, Grimes, Alt-J, and many more. Situated right near the entrance to the fest, Bigfoot is a great place to catch a glimpse of an act you're unfamiliar with on your way in or out of the grounds.

Yeti Stage

The Yeti Stage is a very intimate stage, which means it is a great place to go if you want a great view of some of the smaller bands on the bill. This year, Killer Mike, Shad, Surfer Blood, Shovels & Rope, Youth Lagoon, and many more will grace this little stage with their presence. 

El Chupacabra

El Chupacabra, formerly known as the Banana Shack, is a large tented stage that is reserved for electronic acts and comedy. The innovative lighting rigs always make it a perfect place to dance the night away and the shade allows attendees to relax if they want to break up the constant music with a few laughs. This year, Steve Aoki, Disclosure, Laidback Luke, Baauer, Baths, Nick Offerman, Mike Birbiglia, and more will pay a visit to the tent. 

Cthulhu

This stage is in its second year in 2013. The sole purpose of the Cthulhu Stage is to get young Northwest hip-hop artists attention. With Seattle hip-hop bigger than ever these days thanks to Macklemore, dozens of other artists are waiting in the wings. Nacho Picasso, Brothers From Another, Knowmads, Tilson XOXO, and other locals will be hoping to build some buzz after their performance at The Gorge.

Most importantly, relax, have fun, and enjoy all the great things Sasquatch has to offer.