Summer Concerts in Bellingham to Add to Your Schedule

If you’re a fan of live music, then Bellingham is the place for you. Bellingham is quite the community of artists, and it shows. From the murals on our buildings and streets, to the beautifully curated gardens, both public and privately owned, it’s easy to see that the arts are a big part of what makes Bellingham, well, Bellingham. 

And our town’s focus on music is no exception. Musicians of all types and levels of celebrity have found their home here, gracing us (or should I say, our ears) with their talents. Massive musical groups like ODESZA and Death Cab for Cutie got their start in our little town and have even played shows here. Our geographic location gives us a distinct advantage as well; Since we’re equidistantly sandwiched between Seattle and Vancouver, we often have appearances from musicians like Snoop Dogg, Macklemore, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Tech N9ne, RJD2, and STRFKR at our local venues. 

This year’s Bellingham musical line up may not be headlined by a major star (correct us if we’re wrong), but that doesn’t mean we don’t have our fair share of concerts scheduled for the season. Here’s a rundown of Bellingham’s summer schedule of live music, including shows that have already happened, so that you can make plans both for this summer and the next. 

Bellingham Concerts That Have Already Happened

Let’s start with what has already happened. Whether you went to these shows and had a fantastic time, or if you missed them and had to catch a recap on social media, these shows should be back next year and it’s never too early to put them in your calendar. 

Galbraith Grooves // Saturday June 13th

Galbraith Grooves was brand new this year and its name is pretty self explanatory; There were grooves, and they were on Galbraith. But on a serious note, this concert was fantastic and it benefits a great organization here in town. Galbraith Grooves was created to serve as a fundraiser for the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition (WMBC), the organization that maintains all of Bellingham’s public mountain bike trails on Galbraith Mt. and the surrounding foothills in Bellingham. The night was composed of four different musical groups or DJ’s, and attendees could buy their fair share of local beer, pizza, hot dogs, and cookies. If they were feeling like getting some new ink, they could stop by the Albatross Ink van and get one of hundreds of flash tattoos available (temporary tattoos were available for youngsters). Don’t pencil this one in for next year, put it on your calendar in sharpie. If you like in Bellingham and ride mountain bikes, this is a must attend event.

NW Tune-Up // July 10-12th

This three day festival at The Portal (Bellingham’s waterfront container village) is primarily mountain bike focused, but it’s worth going even if you don’t ride bikes. NW Tune-UP has food for everyone, ice cream, fun activities, a local makers market, and three nights of Bellingham’s biggest outdoor concerts. The mountain biking portion of this event is split between Galbraith Mt. and the dirt jumps/pump track at The Portal, but everything else happens right downtown, making it a very accessible event for attendees of all ages. 

Fourth Corner Punk Fest // July 18-19th

The mountain bike and music industries must go hand in hand, because this is the third event of this article and already the third event that is put on by mountain bikers. Fourth Corner Punk Fest is is hosted by local bike company, Evil Bikes, and is a two day festival featuring both local and internationally touring bands within the punk genre. This year’s festival was headlined by Bouncing Souls and Pennywise, but also featured a stage for local performers. The festival continues to grow, stating that they tripled in size this year, so next year’s iteration should only be more impressive. 

Acid Ball Psych Fest // August 1st

Put on by Kulshan Brewing at their Trackside location, Acid Ball Psych Fest gets its name from the type of music featured and the concert location. The music, as you may very well guess, is of the "psychedelic rock” variety and this year’s show featured Death Valley Girls, Black Ends, Mega Cat, Denim Genie, and Checker Bloom, making the Psych Fest a mostly local show (Death Valley Girls are from Los Angeles). The “Acid Ball” portion of the name stems from the proximity to one of Belligham’s newest art installations, the Acid Ball at Waypoint Park which used to be a functioning part of the old GP paper mill. Kulshan Brewing may be best known for their beer, but, as one of Bellingham’s most popular spots to hang out and socialize, they also know how to put on a great event.

Upcoming Bellingham Concerts 

While we’d recommend you put the aforementioned shows on your calendar for next year (keeping in mind the dates are likely to shift a bit for next year), these shows have yet to happen and can still be attended this year. They may be smaller in scale, but they’re definitely worth your while. 

Downtown Sounds // Wednesday Evenings from July 8-August 5th

This beloved concert series started in 2005 and has used the past 20 years to refine itself, growing to the popular event that locals know and love. There’s only one show left, so we definitely squeaked this one in here, but we’d highly recommend checking out this free to attend event. Downtown Sounds is not one show, but a series of concerts that shut down one of Bellingham’s main carcentric thoroughfares once a week and helps the downtown district feel more walkable. With photo booths, glitter tattoos, face painting, street art, and fun performances that everyone can dance to, Downtown Sounds is a family friendly event with a little bit of something for everyone. 

Beats on the Bay // Tuesdays, August 11-Sept 1st

Another jammin’ fundraiser with a great cause; Beats for the Bay is a by-donation event that directly benefits Bellingham’s very own Community Boating Center (CBC). The CBC is a non-profit on the Fairhaven waterfront that aims to “foster small-watercraft education, access, safe recreation, and marine stewardship,” and we’d highly recommend visiting them to rent a small boat and get on Bellingham Bay for a paddle. But let’s get back to Beats on the Bay. 

This concert series is easily Bellingham’s (if not the state, country, etc.) most unique as no other concert series features bands playing from the deck of a massive, 100 year old sail boat while the concert attendees float on the water in kayaks or on paddleboards. If you don’t have a watercraft, don’t fret, you can join by walking along the pier from Boulevard park or from Keenan’s at the Pier.  

The Northwest Fair // August 13-22nd

Every year the Northwest Fair puts on one of the county’s biggest parties: nine nights of entertainment, including six nights of music performed by household names. This year the fair will be headlined by the Stone Temple Pilots, Maoli, Toby Mac, Ja Rule and Fat Joe, Brantley Gilbert, Hell’s Belles and Crush: The Bon Jovi Concert Experience. Not bad for a county fair, huh? If you don’t want to go for the music, maybe the demolition derby, rodeo, carnival rides, booths with food, games, trinkets, or livestock contests are more your speed. To get to this one from Bellingham it’s just a quick 20 minute drive north into Lynden.

Concerts in the Park // All Summer

Not every concert needs to have a massive stage, lights, and pyrotechnics. Sometimes it’s nice just to sit under the shade of a tree, or on a blanket in a field, and take a break to the soft tunes of a local group. That’s exactly what this free series provides. The Bellingham park system is nothing short of spectacular with parks of all shapes, sizes, and personalities dispersed throughout town, and this series is the icing on the cake. 

This year’s Concerts in the Park series spans three different parks; Boulevard Park in Fairhaven, Elizabeth Park in the Columbia neighborhood, and Maritime Heritage Park in downtown Bellingham. The shows are on Friday evenings from 6-8pm, Thursday evenings from 6-8pm, and Fridays from 12-1pm respectively and have local musicians, comedians, jugglers, and dancers performing. Bring your blanket and some snacks and slow things down for an evening.

Venus with Upcoming Shows

We may have run through the large concert series for the year, but there’s more music in Bellingham than that. With venues like the Wild Buffalo, the iconic Mount Baker Theatre, Make.Shift Art Space, The Shakedown, and Blue Room, there’s always something to be seen and experienced. The Wild Buffalo has near nightly entertainment with trivia nights and themed DJ nights (like “Emo Night” and a night dedicated to Pit Bull’s biggest hits) sprinkled into their calendar, while The Shakedown has shows almost every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 

If you’re a music fan, particularly a fan of live music, Bellingham will always have something for you to do. So break out your calendar, clear some space, and make note of what’s to come for the rest of the year. When you're not out there getting your groove on, feel free to give us a call, or to reach out to us here on our "Connect" page. We'd love to talk to you about how you can best adjust your living situation to fully take advantage of the music that Bellingham has to offer. 

About the Weitzel & Andrew Home Team

For more than 50 years, the Weitzel & Andrew Home Team has helped buyers and sellers navigate the Sudden Valley and greater Whatcom County real estate market. Our passion for this community extends beyond real estate. We believe in supporting the people, events, and organizations that make this such a special place to call home.

Whether you're buying, selling, or simply exploring your options, we're here to be your trusted local resource.