Sub Pop Announces 30th Anniversary SPF30 Party at Seattle’s Alki Beach

Famed Seattle record label Sub Pop has announced Aug. 11 as the date for its 30th anniversary party, called SPF30, an entirely free event featuring musicians in West Seattle’s scenic Alki Beach neighborhood. 

– SPF30
Sub Pop

Artists and other details are coming in the spring. SPF30 will feature “a record fair-type event” according to the announcement as well as food and beverages (not free). The event celebrates “30 years of releasing somewhat well-regarded records, CDs and tapes,” which is pretty humble considering 2017 had many notable releases including by Iron & Wine, Father John Misty, Sleater Kinney and Beach House.

Seattle’s Alki Beach boasts awesome views, occasional whale sightings, and local businesses. Sub Pop’s announcement admits, “We are stoked (and not a little surprised) that the city cleared the permits.”

Sub Pop’s 20th anniversary party in 2008 featured a comedy event with Patton Oswalt, David Cross and others as well as a festival at Marymoor Parkin in Redmond featuring Eric’s Trip, Low, Mudhoney, Foals, Iron & Wine, Flight of the Conchords, Wolf Parade, Comets On Fire and others.

A 10th-year anniversary in 1998 featured a tribute to Kurt Cobain, with The Afghan Whigs playing The Showbox in Seattle alongside labelmates Tad and others.

The label gave rise to bands including Nirvana, Mudhoney and Soundgarden leading the grunge movement in the mid-90s, later becoming home to indie darlings such as The Postal Service, Fleet Foxes and The Shins among many others.