Decibel Festival This Weekend

Those people with lanyards around their necks that you saw rushing down the sidewalk or hanging out outside of Grey Gallery, and Neumos/Sole Repair last night weren't just adopting convention-goer chic. Instead, they marked the beginning of Seattle's annual exercise in electronic music excess, as last night kicked off this year's edition of Decibel Festival.

Decibel is celebrating its fifth year as one of the premier electronic music events in all of North America. That's admirable, but for as much attention as it receives from scene diehards, it tends to be completely overshadowed by more rock-centric festivals. That's a mistake. Sure, only some of us here in Seattlest HQ are completely into music composed of bleeps and bloops, but there's something at Decibel for everyone, and it's well worth checking out.

First things first. Decibel is not a rave. It's not a bunch of kids running around in bright clothing listening to the obnoxious tunes, waving glowsticks around. No, Decibel is more mature than that, and the performers on the bill are artists in the truest sense. Sure, some of the music is dancefloor fodder, but between the ambient performances at the Triple Door and the Optical showcases for groundbreaking digital imagery, there's something there for you if you want a more heady experience.

That said, if you're looking to party, Decibel is there for you. Some of the best DJ/producers in the world are going to be here this weekend, so if there was ever a weekend to go out, this is it. There's even a free event in Volunteer Park Sunday. Be sure to go to the Decibel site to see what's on offer.

What: Decibel Festival
When: All weekend long (check site for showcases)
Where: Various Venues on Capitol Hill
Why: Because You'll Like it