We're mostly taking the day off today, but we decided to take a break from taking a break to let you know who's still working through the holiday--and who's locked up to head to Bumbershoot or the Gorge. more ›

Oh, Seattle. It's about to get really sticky. But luckily, not this weekend. more ›

Yes, another Bumbershoot artist announcement, but this time around it's for the festival's literary program. This year's lineup is really all over the place, with everyone from director Melvin Van Peebles to The Outsiders author S.E. Hinton to David Cross (and his girlfriend) debuting his first book to the guy behind Stuff White People Like. But we're probably most excited for a panel involving three of the writers for Lost (no J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, or Smoke Monster, sorry) and a hopefully not-too-cringeworthy Q&A. Full lineup after the jump. more ›

Just when we thought the lineup was as final as it was going to get until the announcement of all acts come July, a couple more names trickle out from One Reel. Now added: The Black Eyed Peas (currently starring in this nightmare of a video), Metric (who just played a sold-out show at the Showbox last night), and Soulsavers featuring Mark Lanegan. With the last round of acts, it was announced that Lanegan was off the lineup with Isobel Campbell, but now he's back with Soulsavers. Whatevs, we'll take it. A few of the $25 single-day tickets remain. Check out the acts by day; full current lineup after the jump. more ›

Another big chunk of Bumbershoot acts were announced last night. Apparently, we'll have the full festival line-up by mid-July, but for now we'll have to make due with the list of newest additions: more ›

One Reel just announced The All-American Rejects, The Ting Tings (who we saw just a few days ago), Brett Dennen, and U.S.E will be on the bill for Bumbershoot 2009. That makes the lineup thus far: "Sheryl Crow / Modest Mouse / The All-American Rejects / Katy Perry / Michael Franti & Spearhead / Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan / De La Soul / Raphael Saadiq / The Ting Tings / Brett Dennen / The Long Winters / Sly & Robbie & the Taxi Gang / World Party / MSTRKRFT / Roy Ayers / Common Market / UH HUH HER / Dave Alvin and The Guilty Women / Eric Hutchinson / No Age / Matt & Kim / Dead Confederate / The Cave Singers / Swollen Members / Vieux Farka Touré / Lenka / Gang Gang Dance / Todd Snider / Holy F**k / DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid / Iglu & Hartly / Low vs Diamond / Sera Cahoone / Eleni Mandell / U.S.E. / Carrie Rodriguez / The Honey Brothers / Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head / Extra Golden / Cordero / Forgive Durden / Hey Marseilles / Adrian Xavier, and many more to be announced." Three-day passes to the festival are still available for $80. more ›

Here's your first sneak peek at the Bumbershoot lineup this year, and so far it's a YAWN: "Sheryl Crow / Modest Mouse / Katy Perry / Michael Franti & Spearhead / De La Soul / Raphael Saadiq / Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan / The Long Winters / Sly & Robbie and the Taxi Gang / World Party / MSTRKRFT / Roy Ayers / Common Market / UH HUH HER and many more…" UPDATE: A few more bands: "Dave Alvin and The Guilty Women / Eric Hutchinson / No Age / Matt & Kim / Dead Confederate / The Cave Singers / Swollen Members / Vieux Farka Touré / Lenka / Gang Gang Dance / Todd Snider / Holy F**k / DJ Spooky / Iglu & Hartly / Low vs Diamond / Sera Cahoone / Eleni Mandell / Carrie Rodriguez / The Honey Brothers / Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head / Extra Golden / Cordero / Forgive Durden / Hey Marseilles / Adrian Xavier, and much, much more to be announced." more ›

• DCist reported live from the Democratic National Convention.
• Bostonist tasted the best heirloom tomatoes in the city.
• Torontoist featured some of their favorite photos of an extraordinary summer for the city's weather, with huge storm clouds, apocalyptic sunsets, double rainbows, and stunning lightning strikes the norm rather than the exception.

Is there any other time of the year more appropriate to striking than Labor Day Weekend? Of course not, so the Boeing machinists voted to do exactly that Thursday night and began officially not working today. Picketing outside the Everett plant started at 11:00am this morning. more ›