Bill Frisell, Critters Buggin’, Flowmotion top Summer Meltdown bill

SEATTLE — Grammy-winning guitarist Bill Frisell, Critter’s Buggin’ Trio, Vince Herman from Leftover Salmon and more than 35 other bands, DJs, improv comedy acts, circus performers and artists are joining Seattle’s Flowmotion for the Sixth Annual Flowmotion Summer Meltdown, a three-day celebration of music, art and community.

The event, on August 11-13 at the Whitehorse Mountain Amphitheater in Darrington, is the fastest growing music festival in the Pacific Northwest.

“Meltdown is based on coming together, renewing the sense of community – the idea of ‘all one people’ becomes reality for a weekend, and people carry that with them when they leave, ” said Flowmotion lead singer and guitarist Josh Clauson.

The 2006 incarnation represents a milestone for the Summer Meltdown. Brought to life in 2000 by Flowmotion, the festival has grown from a small, informal one-night gettogether with fellow musicians and friends on property on San Juan Island, into this year’s incarnation as a three-day blowout with more than 4, 000 friends and guests. But, Summer Meltdown’s scale isn’t the only change.

The band is partnering with Terra Roots, a Bellingham-based, non-profit organization, to put together this year’s Summer Meltdown and shift the focus and purpose toward not just music, but also working for community development and positive progress. Terra Roots’ purpose is to bring people together through music and art and help them learn how they can affect change by promoting renewable energy, sustainable living and environmental conservation.

Terra Roots will sponsor the Green Village, a vending and information area designed to provide concertgoers with information and retail opportunities related those issues. The group will hold workshops to teach concertgoers of all ages about music, art and making a positive impact on a local level. “Communities that allow music and arts to flourish are empowered by those things, ” said Terra Roots co-founder Andrea Wood. “We’re bringing together 4, 000 people. Why not give them something they can take home that can help their community, besides just music?”

Frisell won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album in 2005 for Unspeakable and was also nominated for Best World Music Album in 2004 for The Intercontinentals. Critters Buggin’, fronted by saxophonist Skerik, has played with David Bowie, Elton John, Stone Gossard and a myriad other notable musicians. Herman founded and has fronted underground favorite Leftover Salmon for the past 15 years. Since its birth in 1999, Flowmotion has toured nearly non-stop, building a loyal fan base in the Northwest, Alaska and California.

More than 35 other acts will also perform over the three days, along with DJs that will spin until dawn on an auxiliary stage.