Bikes, beats and brews: Bellingham’s unique Northwest Tune-Up Festival returns this weekend
Uniquely is a Bellingham Herald series that covers the moments, landmarks and personalities that define what makes living in Northwest Washington so special.
The third annual Northwest Tune-Up Festival is back at Bellingham’s waterfront from Friday, July 12 through Sunday, July 14, with live music, craft beer and biking.
“NWTU [Northwest Tune-Up Festival] is known for music discovery, legendary performances, and most importantly, as a big, ol’ block party in Downtown Bellingham. The festival has evolved year-after-year in response to our community,” Hunter Motto, the festival’s music director, wrote in a news release.
The festival announced its full concert lineup back in April, along with two new concert stages with free music for this year’s festival.
Here is your guide to attending this year’s festival:
Northwest Tune-Up tickets
Tickets are still available for the festival this weekend. This year, the festival also introduced a music-only admission ticket for those who only want to attend the live music portion of the festival.
Tickets are available online in advance and range from $65-$130:
▪ 3-day adult pass: $165
▪ 3-day youth pass (ages 13-17): $60
▪ 3-day children pass (ages 12 and under): $0, but must attend with a ticketed adult.
▪ 1-day adult pass: $80
▪ 1-day youth pass: $35
▪ 1-day children pass: $0 with a ticketed adult.
▪ Music only 1-day pass (all ages): $59
VIP tickets are also available and range from $40-$250 and include access to a VIP-only bar, shaded lounge, complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and more.
Parking can also be purchased along with tickets for an additional $20 per day.
For those wishing to spend the night, van and trailer parking is available for $250 for the whole weekend.
Live music lineup
The mainstage music lineup includes:
▪ The Lil Smokies - 6 p.m. Friday
▪ Petty or Not - 7 p.m. Friday
▪ Indigo De Souza - 8 p.m. Friday
▪ Yonder Mountain String Band - 9:25 p.m. Friday
▪ Protoje meets Tippy I - 6 p.m. Saturday
▪ Magic Sword - 7 p.m. Saturday
▪ Emancipator - 8 p.m. Saturday
▪ Lupe Fiasco - 9:25 p.m. Saturday
▪ The Moondoggies - 5 p.m. Sunday
▪ Saxsquatch - 6 p.m. Sunday
▪ Dengue Fever - 7 p.m. Sunday
▪ RJD2 - 9:25 p.m. Sunday
These concerts on the “Rainier Tune Town Stage” are free and do not require an admission ticket:
▪ Serafima & The Shakedowns - 3 p.m. Saturday
▪ Grizzly Troubadour - 4 p.m. Saturday
▪ Analog Brass - 5 p.m. Saturday
▪ Kian Dye - 2 p.m. Sunday
▪ Checker Bloom - 3 p.m. Sunday
▪ Andy Bunn Trio - 4 p.m. Sunday
Biking activities
For the bike enthusiasts coming to the festival, here’s what activities and events you can enjoy throughout the weekend:
▪ Outdoor Research Galbraith Mountain Enduros
▪ Bike demos
▪ Transition Bikes kids clinics
▪ Transition Bikes intro to mountain biking clinics
▪ Transition Bikes intro to skinnies clinics
▪ Shifting Gears x Wild Rye women’s ride
▪ Transition Bikes jumping and cornering clinics
▪ Airbag jump session
▪ Zero gravity bike shows
Featured breweries
The festival will be serving beer from 21 breweries:
▪ Bale Breaker Brewing Company
The NW Tune-Up festival is open for all ages and is at 1145 Granary Ave. in Bellingham.
