Photo story: Summer Meltdown 2022

Photo by Chris Butcher

After two years off due to the coronavirus pandemic, Summer Meltdown has returned. Formerly held in Darrington, WA, this year the festival was held at Sky Meadows Park in Snohomish, WA, from July 28-31. Founded by Seattle funk band Flowmotion’s frontman Josh Clauson and his wife Genevieve Hayton, the four-day festival features a wide variety of musical genres including EDM, rock, funk, folk, country, and rap, as well as art and spiritual healing courses. Check out our photo story to learn about the stand-out acts: Cytrus, Brass Against, Travis Thompson, TeZATalks, and more.

Brass Against, fresh off a European tour, closes out day two with brass band-style covers from hard rock acts such as Rage Against the Machine, TOOL, and Beastie Boys.

TeZATalks ends her set by inviting a young fan on stage for an embrace.

Burien rapper Travis Thompson plays new songs off his upcoming EP.

Jade Cicada uses psychedelic graphics to amplify his electronic beats.

Seattle’s hard funk band Cytrus is releasing their debut LP on October 23.

Lead singer of Smokey Brights, Kim West, electrifies the Garden Stage with her soaring vocals.

Bellingham rapper The Rhetorician calls on the crowd to shout "Kapow" when he raises the mighty hammer from his video series “The Descendant of Zack Taylor.”

Bubbles fill the air during festival headliners STS9.

Guitar virtuoso Cory Wong displays strong on-stage charisma and emotion while playing groovy solos.

Wolfchild cellist Daisy Sky Shangrow shares a smile with an audience member.

Summer Meltdown founder Josh Clauson plays psychedelic jams with his band, Flowmotion.

Frontman of Satsang, Drew McManus, sings Pink Floyd’s "Breathe (In the Air)" with a country spin.

Seattle singer, songwriter, and author Fysah Sands hosts Summer Meltdown by introducing the major acts.

Folk and bluegrass band Cedar Tooth plays a soothing set at the Forest Stage.

Brass Against's guitarist and band leader Brad Hammonds plays a Tom Morello-esque guitar solo.

STS9 drummer Zach Velmer combines acoustic and electronic elements into his playing.

Seattle alternative pop singer TeZATalks lets out a ferocious vocal.

Ryan Devlin of Smokey Brights shreds on his Fender jaguar.

Concertgoers enjoy the cooling Sky Meadow River as temperatures reach near 100 degrees.

Everett singer/songwriter Sarah Feinberg and her band, Sylvi, perform a cover of Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down."

Cytrus saxophonist Brandon Hailey.

Founding member of STS9 Hunter Brown shares guitar and keyboard duties.

The Rhetorician brings Mr. Tim, a giant cat from his video series “The Descendant of Zack Taylor," on stage.

Travis Thompson appears in two episodes of season two of the FX comedy drama series Reservation Dogs, which follows a group of Native American teenagers living on a reservation in Oklahoma.