The first hours of Bumbershoot always seem a lil’ sleepy. This year was no different. Crowds drifted in while gray skies hung over Seattle Center. But singer Madison McFerrin wasted no time cutting through that fog. Standing on the Fountain Stage, she rolled out a relaxed, yet charged set that leaned heavy on the grooves. If you’re not dialed in to Madison McFerrin, you may recognize her last name. Yes, don’t worry, be happy, she’s the daughter of Bobby McFerrin. Her set was the perfect opener and a smart way to ease into the long day ahead.

One noticeable change this year was the loss of the Flag Pavilion stage, swapped out for the Recess Zone. The extra stage was missed, but the tradeoff had its perks. In between sets at the Fountain Stage and the Mural Stage, Recess was an easy stopover to catch some impromptu action. The skate showcases were a standout. Young, and the young at heart, vicariously watched skaters kickflip, grind and slide. Recess became our natural detour between stages.

The Mural stage at Bumbershoot delivered one of the day’s early jolts of adrenaline with Tacoma’s own J.R.C.G. The set was loud, jagged, and relentless – in the best possible way. No more lingering morning haze for those in the crowd.

Back at the Fountain, the energy swerved into disco-pop with Say She She. The harmonies from this Brooklyn-based trio locked in tight over grooves that kept the crowd dancing.

New York was well represented on Day 1, as Staten Island’s Budos Band also took to the Fountain stage in the afternoon. Their horn heavy sounds sit somewhere between funk, soul, and 70s psych. As the first signs of sun started to peak out, the crowd was lapping it all up.

Back at the Mural, Scowl tore into a fast and furious set of harcore punk. Riding high off their new release Are We All Angels, Kat Moss and crew ripped into their set with snarling ferocity.

Bright Eyes slowed things down a bit on the Fountain stage. Conor Oberst and company leaned into their folk-rock side with a set that was heavy with message and memory, a reminder of the band’s twenty-five years together. It was a nice respite before the Bumbershoot crowds swelled and the night kicked into high gear.

Then came one of the day’s most joyous turns. Tank and the Bangas rolled in from New Orleans and brought with them a mix of gospel, hip hop, soul, and spoken word. Their set was playful and kinetic, full of smiles, and infectious rhythm. And can we talk about that fit?!

Finally hitting up the Vera Stage, we caught up with Amelia Day & the Cloves. A hometown artist from Sumner, Day wore her heart on her sleeve, mixing folk, pop, and country with sharp lyrics, She was definitely enjoying the moment, and the crowd was right there with her. It felt like one of those genuine festival moments where artist and crowd mind meld.

And then it was time. Weezer closed out the day, drawing one of the biggest crowds of the festival. With a packed lawn singing along, the band ripped through hits and left no doubt why they were chosen to anchor the first night.

But Bumbershoot has always been more than guitars and drum kits. The Fashion Stage once again gave fans an excuse to check out the latest runway trends and snap pics. Outfits pushed limits, hairstyles defied gravity, and accessories told their own stories. It was a runway and a party rolled into one.

Day 1 ended with tired feet, buzzing ears, and a lawn full of people who were not ready to leave. But they eventually did, knowing that there’s still another day left of Bumbershoot to take it all in.