The Fringe of Treefort
“Treefort is too indie!” I’ve heard this exact statement from too many friends in the past month. Maybe, just maybe, there is some truth that. Treefort has a strong indie vibe. If true, is this really a problem? What does indie even mean? I fondly remember my friend in middle school convincing me it meant ‘music from India’. We were adorable kids, but we were just a little mistaken. The indie label originally intended to signify artists that maintained an independent status separate from major label contracts. Unfortunately this is no longer the word’s operational definition. Indie, for most of our audience, means guitar strumming with a human voice. Whether it’s lo-fi, alternative, post-rock, blue-grass, folk, punk, folk-punk, my friends are right! Treefort has a TON of guitar playing bands with vocalists.
I totally understand if the instrumentalist songwriter vibe just isn’t your jam anymore, but don’t fool yourself into thinking that Treefort doesn’t have what it takes to satisfy your taste. I took on the dangerous responsibility and searched far and wide through the 400+ artists to compile a list of artists that I think are capable of proving my indie-phobic friends wrong. Treefort might be hella indie but it’s also hella not. Plug in the headphones. Get yourself a comfy seat. I’ve provided a specific playlist for each group of artists, listed in the same order as in this article. So pour a stiff drink and get to know these fantastic artists that compose the rhyme, rhythms and soul of Treefort Music Festival.
Hip-Hop / Lyricism
Kate Tempest
Sunday – 5:30pm – 6:30pm @ Mainstage
A storm of poetry, Kate Tempest has quickly earned a place in my favorite artists of all time. I even purchased a vinyl of her debut album Everybody Down without even owning a record player, which makes almost no sense. Not only a rhythmic rhyme sayer, Kate Tempest is an award winning author. Her latest book, The Bricks that Build the Houses, is a continuation of the lives and stories featured in her debut album. If there is one artist that I recommend seeing over any other during Treefort, IT IS THIS ONE. Her lyrics eviscerate the modern life with such care and compassion, leaving the listener longing for a better world.
Open Mike Eagle
Thursday – 10:15pm – 11:00pm @ El Korah Shrine
Open Mike Eagle is self-described Art Rap. This is an artist that embodies the street-suburb hybrid of internet-era America. The music is filled with obscure film references, clear social commentary, and a strong flavor of apathetic realism.
Lizzo
Saturday – 7:00pm – 8:00pm @ Mainstage
“classically trained flautist, and passionate advocate for feminism and black empowerment.” SAY NO MORE, YES PLEASE.
Sapient
Friday – 10:15pm – 10:50pm @ The Reef
Definition of Sapient [sey-pee-uh nt] : “having or showing great wisdom or sound judgment”. When it comes to sound, the judgment couldn’t be any more wise. With sharp lyricism and relevant rhythms, Sapient has established a comfortable kingdom in the Northwest.
MORE ARTISTS BY DATE
THURSDAY 3/23 @ THE SPACEBAR
E&J( Eleven and Jason D) [LOCAL] 12:00am – 1:00am
Dedicated Servers [LOCAL] 11:10pm – 11:50pm
Roo Nostalgia [LOCAL] 9:50pm – 10:20pm
FRIDAY 3/2 @ THE REEF
Sol 11:45pm – 1:00am
Abhi the Nomad 11:00pm – 11:35pm
Custö [LOCAL] 9:35pm – 10:05pm
Andy O & Weighn [EARTHLING] 9:00pm – 9:30pm
SATURDAY 3/25 @ THE SHREDDER
Kosha Dillz 1:00am – 1:45am
Fresh Kils w/ PremRock 12:10am – 12:50am
Wheelchair Sports Camp 11:15pm – 12:00am
Arthur Maddox [LOCAL] 10:20pm – 11:00pm
Zee Will 9:35pm – 10:15pm
Les Fortunate [LOCAL] 8:50pm – 9:30pm
Cauzndefx 8:10pm – 8:45pm
Zero [EARTHLING] 6:45pm – 7:10pm
Axiom the Wyze [EARTHLING] 6:15pm – 6:40pm
Zekeultra 5:40pm – 6:10pm
Illumneye Crew [LOCAL] 4:50pm – 5:30pm
Voice / Grooves / Soul
Rituals of Mine
Thursday – 9:00pm – 9:50pm @ El Korah Shrine
Previously known as Sister Crayon, Rituals of Mine impressed the Treefort crowd in 2014 and 2016 with passionate singing and subtle synth work over a live drummer that kicks out some seriously smooth west-coast influenced rhythms.
Xenia Rubinos
Friday – 11:00pm – 12:10am @ The Linen
Her voice has soul power. Catchy melodies over a high octane multi-genre band will loosen your legs as you become one with the groove.
The Seshen
Saturday – 10:30pm – 11:30pm @ The Reef
Sunday – 2:00pm – 2:40pm @ Mainstage
“The Seshen is a San Francisco Bay Area-based six-piece led by singer/lyricist Lalin St. Juste and bassist/producer Akiyoshi Ehara. Their forward-thinking sound combines synthesizers, drum machines, live percussion, and entrancing harmonies to create an unmistakable fusion of R&B, synth-pop, and electronic music.”
SassyBlack
Friday – 9:00pm – 9:40pm @ The Linen
“SassyBlack is a space aged singer/songwriter & producer based in Seattle, Washington. This Goddess of “electronic psychedelic soul” & “hologram funk” explores the concepts of sound through deep compositions.”
JMSN
Friday 11:00pm – 12:20am @ Hannah’s
Saturday 4:35pm – 5:20pm @ Mainstage 
“JMSN has built a reputation for himself through his unforgettable live performances and his trademark sounds, garnering nods from R&B legends, such as Puff Daddy and Usher.”
MORE ARTISTS BY DATE
WEDNESDAY 3/22
Sly Moon Sutra [LOCAL] 6:00pm – 6:40pm @ El Korah Shrine
THURSDAY 3/23
Madisun Proof [LOCAL] 10:30pm – 11:00pm @ The Spacebar
CRL CRRL 10:00pm – 10:40pm @ The Shredder
FRIDAY 2/24
Alanna Royale 12:20am – 1:40am @ The Olympic
Bogan Via 9:00pm – 9:40pm @ The Shredder
My Body 6:00pm – 6:40pm @ Neurolux
SATURDAY 2/25
Harriet Brown 11:30pm – 12:10am @ The Linen
Chanti Darling 1:00am – 2:00am @ Neurolux
BEATS / BLEEPS / BLOOPS
Clap! Clap!
Friday – 12:30am – 2:00am @ The Linen Building
Clap! Clap!’s global rhythms owe as much debt to the Inuit tribes of Alaska as they do the Staccato footwork of Chicago and West African percussion. Cristiano’s music features traditional Italian folk rhythms and melodies mixed with a global harvest of found-sounds smashed through an electronic beat machine mind state.
Dimond Saints
Thursday – 11:00pm – 12:30am @ Fatty’s
Imagine if an 808 kick drum went on a Vipasanna (silent retreat) and came back to make love to your ear drums. Dimond Saints are producers An-ten-nae + Releece. Your dance moves will probably never get any lower than during a set by this duo.
Buku
Saturday – 11:00pm – 12:30am @ Fatty’s
“With a menacing grasp on sound design and music theory, Buku combines deceptively simple and emotive melodies, laden with resounding low-end and intricate drum patterns.”
Kissee
Thursday – 10:00pm – 11:00pm @ Fatty’s
“His music embodies a deep and powerful emotion. Light melodies laid over deep and heavy bass-lines create an atmosphere that is not easily replicated.”
Stylust Beats
Friday – 10:00pm – 11:30pm @ Fatty’s
“A skateboarder and hip-hop devotee, this dubstep DJ’s talent for fusing rap hooks and EDM bass beats with electronic music has earned him the rep as a creative renegade carving his own path.”
MORE ARTISTS BY DATE
WEDNESDAY 3/22
Psycache [LOCAL] 12:30am – 2:00am @ The Linen
Jakzon [LOCAL] 12:00am – 2:00am @ Fatty’s
Mamm0th [LOCAL] 10:30pm – 12:00am @ Fatty’s
THURSDAY 3/23
Perfect Stranger 11:15pm – 1:15pm @ Mardi GRAS
Ryan Duley 10:00pm – 11:15pm @ Mardi Gras
Cloudest Speaker [LOCAL] 8:00pm – 8:45pm @ The Spacebar
FRIDAY 2/24
Aaron Jackson 12:30am – 1:45am @ The Crowbar
Auzomatik [LOCAL] 8:30pm – 10:00pm @ Fatty’s
CAMP [LOCAL] 6:00pm – 6:40pm @ The Linen
SATURDAY 2/25
Sol Rising 12:30am – 1:45am @ The Crowbar
Michna 12:30am – 1:45am @ The Spacebar
Henry Pope 11:00pm – 12:15am @ The Crowbar
Kowta 9:30pm – 11:00pm @ The Crowbar
Evolushawn [LOCAL] 8:00pm – 9:30pm @ The Crowbar
Styles In Black [LOCAL] 7:20pm – 8:00pm @ The Shredder
SUNDAY 2/26
WOH Club [LOCAL] 6:00pm – 9:00pm @ The Reef
Mikos Da Gawd 9:45pm – 11:00pm @ The Reef
2CG [LOCAL] 9:00pm – 9:45pm @ The Reef
BONUS EVENTS
FRIDAY 2/24
Inside Music Supervision 3:00pm – 4:30pm @ Jump
Utilizing Music Data 2:00pm – 2:45pm @ Jump
SATURDAY 3/25
This is Hip Hop 12:00pm – 1:00pm @ The Owyhee
