Festival No. 0000069 · Est. 1980
Who's playing, and when
Festival lineup
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Saturday
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Sunday
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Monday
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Voices from the field
Reviews
Four questions, one answer each
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Nobody has said what this weekend was like
7+ acts on the bill and not one answer yet. Four questions - the lineup, the atmosphere, how it was run, and whether it was worth the ticket - and this page starts telling people what Bumbershoot 1981 was actually like to be at.
Every edition since 1980
Bumbershoot editions
Somewhere in Seattle
Where it happens
The details
- Venue
- Seattle Center
- Address
- 305 Harrison St. 98109
- City
- Seattle, US
Somewhere to sleep it off
Where to stay
Apartments and hotels near Seattle Center, Seattle for the nights of the festival. The map comes from Stay22. If you book through it, we earn a commission, which helps keep the site running.
For the record
About the artists
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Buddy Guy was born in Lettsworth, United States, on 30 July 1936. Plays blues, blues rock, chicago blues, electric blues, hill country blues. -
Chuck Berry was born in St. Louis, United States, on 18 October 1926, and died on 18 March 2017, aged 90. Plays blues, blues rock, classic rock, jazz, rock, rock and roll, rockabilly, soul. -
Koko Taylor was born in Bartlett, United States, on 28 September 1928, and died on 3 June 2009, aged 80. Plays blues, chicago blues, soul, soul blues. -
Lacy J. Dalton was born in Bloomsburg, United States, on 13 October 1946. Plays country, singer-songwriter. -
Martin Mull was born in Chicago, United States, on 18 August 1943, and died on 27 June 2024, aged 80. Plays comedy. -
Sam And Dave formed in Miami, United States, in 1961, and split up in 1981, after 20 years. Plays deep soul, funk, r&b, soul, southern soul. -
The Roches formed in Park Ridge, United States, on 4 December 1973. Plays christmas music, contemporary folk, folk, folk pop, rock.







A guest 100% for Buddy Guy at Bumbershoot 1981 festival, Seattle on Sat, 05 Sep 1981
I remember this festival at the Seattle Center. Various stages were set up outdoors with rotating acts. As I was strolling through the grounds, from a distance I began to hear some killer music. I also saw a small crowd gathering around. As I walked up, there he was in all his jheri curled glory. I hadn't heard of Buddy Guy until that point. I've not forgotten him since. A blues master like no other. What a force of nature.
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