Capitol Hill Block Party 2022

by Storm Nguyen and Sophia Chew || photographed on 7.22.22-7.24.22

Seattle’s shining gem of annual festivals, “Capitol Hill Block Party,” recently took place on the weekend of July 22nd - 24th. This year’s line-up sported an impressive stack of artists. Rice & Spice had the pleasure of covering the following musicians’ sets: Charli XCX, Jai Wolf, Toro Y Moi, MICHELLE, TOKiMONSTA, and Manila Killa. Concertgoers flooded the streets of the heart of Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood for a weekend of live music after a 2-year hiatus due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Block Party has long established itself as a Seattle staple for avid music listeners and after a long absence, it did not disappoint. Each artist Rice & Spice had the privilege of observing brought lively sets that engaged audiences in an intimate and playful way. 

Electropop household name Charli XCX headlined the first night of the festival. She dazzled fans with sparkling outfits, dramatic choreography, and an energetic set including the title track “Crash” off her most recent studio album.

Capitol Hill Block Party covered an expansive range of musical genres. Apart from Charli XCX’s high energy was up-and-coming band MICHELLE’s indie multi-genre sound. The band commonly addresses the intersections of race, culture, and queerness in their work. MICHELLE’s show brought a unique fusion of many genres, crafting their “undefined” that is one of a kind and unique. 

Other notable artists like Remi Wolf, DUCKWRTH, and Flo Milli also lit up the block party stage with performances including a mixture of fan favorites, hidden gems, and classic songs from their discography. 

Capitol Hill Block Party 2022 served as a reminder that the Seattle festival scene is slowly emerging in renown due to its spectacular delivery of providing quality artists who carry their craft at a personal and beautifully intimate level. While many other large cities have festivals with more mainstream artists, the Seattle scene remains adamant about shedding light on local talents such as Seattle-based DJ Manila Killa and LivT (who previously opened for Raveena at Neumos in Seattle on Asha’s Awakening tour).

Jai Wolf

Toro y Moi

Manila Killa

MICHELLE

Charli XCX

TOKiMONSTA