REVIEW: Day In Day Out 2023 Brings Sunshine to Seattle
SUNSHINE IN SEATTLE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING SPECIAL — and coupled with one of the city’s biggest summer festivals, the result is nothing short of magic. Day In Day Out fest is located on the lawn of Fisher Pavilion, set across the backdrop of the city’s iconic space needle. Now in its third year, the event has continued to grow exponentially, boasting bigger lineups each summer since its 2021 conception. This summer, the festival was over 99% sold out, headlined by Leon Bridges and Bon Iver.
Best described as small but mighty, Day In Day Out packs an iconic list of powerhouse acts onto a single stage, and the festival killed with this year’s concentrated lineup of indie favorites.
The variety of acts drew an eclectic mix of festival-goers, from groups of 20-somethings to families with young kids. The energy was laidback, vibrant, and light-hearted, and there truly was something there for everyone.
Though it was a difficult choice, we ranked our top six favorite acts from this year’s fest. From moshing with Surf Curse to crying with Ethel Cain, read on to hear about who made our weekend.
1. Indigo De Souza
Fresh off the release of her third album, All of This Will End, the indie darling performed her raw, powerful tracks in a soft yellow sundress with a matching guitar. She playfully quipped that her somewhat dark lyrics felt out of place in the blinding afternoon sunshine. Taking the second slot on day one, she joked, “The more famous you get, the later they let you play.”
De Souza moved the crowd with emotional tracks including “Parking Lot,” “You Can Be Mean,” and hit single “Smog.” Containing much grittier content than her previous albums, this was reflected in her performance well, as she got everyone fired up with raw vocals, screeching guitar, and even some yelling. She finished the set off with “Real Pain” from her last album, Any Shape You Take (2021). Heart-wrenching yet empowering, De Souza’s set made for a cathartic experience, touching anyone going through a breakup, identity crisis, or feelings of loss.
2. Surf Curse
Right on the heels of Indigo De Souza on day one, Surf Curse raised everyone’s energy with a classic set of mosh-worthy tracks. Led by Nick Rattigan of Current Joys, the band brought the energy with their iconic garage rock sound, starting off on a high note with “Arrow,” off their latest album, Magic Hour.
Surf Curse took us on an immersive journey through their discography, complete with the guitar riffs, heavy drum solos, and the gritty vocals we all know and love them for. Though they largely played from their most recent album, the band also traveled back and played iconic hits such as “Freaks” and “Midnight Cowboy.” They finished off their set with crowd favorite “Disco,” raising the energy of the crowd with an irresistible mosh favorite.
Photo by Travis Trautt, courtesy of Day In Day out
3. Dominic Fike
Everyone’s favorite indie boy got the crowd dancing from the very first notes of “How Much Is Weed?” as the sun set over the stage on day one. Bringing his classic energetic, goofy stage presence, Fike kept up a stream of charm and banter throughout the set. He played a vast section of his discography, focusing heavily on hits from his latest album, Sunburn. The crowd danced to fan favorites “Frisky,” “Mona Lisa,” and “Antpile,” as well as older hits including “Babydoll” and “Westcoast Collective” off his debut album.
The set was — as expected — fun and interactive, featuring Fike jumping into the crowd to grab a tech deck from a fan. His performance even featured a “Happy Birthday” serenade for his mother. The night closed out with “Why” as the sky darkened and the space needle lit up, leaving the whole crowd buzzing.
4. Yaya Bey
Taking the first spot on day two, Yaya Bey’s set provided the perfect good energy to set the tone for the rest of the day. Her smooth, sultry voice carried us through songs off her most recent album, Remember Your North Star, as the afternoon sun radiated down. She was possibly the most interactive set of the weekend, keeping up a stream of dry banter with the crowd as she recounted stories of recent travels, including an unfortunate encounter with reindeer meat in Scandinavia.
In between her quips, Bey got the crowd swaying with tracks such as “you up?” and “meet me in brooklyn,” captivating the stage with her presence. As she left the stage, she removed her shoes, waving goodbye during her sweet final notes.
5. Ethel Cain
Melodic, wistful, and gothic, songstress Ethel Cain touched everyone’s hearts during her set on the afternoon of day two with some of her most poignant songs. From the very first notes of “A House in Nebraska,” tears were welling all around. A profound lyricist known for poetic ballads about cowboys and Catholicism, Cain can twist your heart with just a few chords.
Interacting with the crowd with her classic quiet confidence, she wove her way through a narrative with tracks ranging her discography, from the yearning “American Teenager” to heart-wrenching “Thoroughfare.”
Cain ended the moving set with “Crush,” adding intimacy to the finale by jumping offstage and embracing the crowd.
Photo by Rachel Bennett, courtesy of Day In Day Out
6. Willow
Full of energy and passion, Willow delivered nothing short of what was expected: a spunky performance filled with soul and heart. Oozing love and good energy, she pumped up the crowd with affirmations, setting a beautiful energy as the sun set on day two.
Starting off with high-energy hit “transparent soul,” she showcased her diverse sound by bouncing back and forth between smooth, melodic songs and loud, grittier tracks. A favorite moment of the night was an acapella serenade of “Marceline,” as well as when she closed out the show by getting everyone dancing with fan favorite “Wait a Minute!”
