Submitted by Olympia Downtown Alliance
The Olympia Downtown Alliance is powering a street festival in historic Downtown Olympia that includes live music and performances, activities for kids and families, interactive art installations from local artists, local community groups, and a Biergarten featuring craft beer from 3 Magnets Brewing Co. and Well 80 Brewhouse. LoveOly Summer Fest 2021, presented by the City of Olympia, will take place every Saturday now through August 28, from 12 p.m. to 6 pm.
Entertainment Line Up – Saturday, August 14
The Olympia Film Society (OFS) has partnered with the Downtown Alliance to produce the headline acts for the festival on the Main Stage in the Entertainment Area, sponsored by Olympia Federal Savings. MAITA will headline the Main Stage on Saturday, August 14, while Generifus will provide support.
“For me, songwriting comes from a place of wanting to find the truth in life. Sometimes that truth is so complex and nuanced that it requires a whole song to explain,” shares Maria Maita-Keppeler, the principal songwriter and front person for the Portland, Oregon-based indie rock band MAITA.
Maita-Keppeler’s bold vulnerability and literate flair are on full display on the quartet’s debut album, Best Wishes. The album will be out on venerated indie imprint Kill Rock Stars (Elliott Smith, Sleater-Kinney, the Decemberists), which is a story in itself. Until recently, KRS was headed up by Portia Sabin, whose husband Slim Moon founded the label. When Portia played MAITA’s record for Slim, who retired from the label 12 years ago, he experienced something of an epiphanic moment. “My love of MAITA, and my belief in Maria’s songwriting, pulled me back into the record business,” Slim affirms. He has since returned to his original role as president of Kill Rock Stars.
Maita-Keppeler began experimenting with songwriting while soaking in the indie artists of the 2000’s such as Bright Eyes and Feist. She related to how these writers interweave reality and poetry and resonated with their emotional candor, particularly in light of her tendencies toward emotional restraint while growing up.
“I have always had this desire to make sure everyone is happy, and no one is dissatisfied or hurt,” Maita-Keppeler explains. “Music has been a place for me to demand the free space to say what I want to say.”
Generifus is the Indie rock/pop project of Spencer Sult and friends started in 2005. Based in Olympia, Washington.
In addition to Main Stage acts, August 14 is full of other activities to choose from!
12 p.m. – 4 p.m. Various family-friendly performers and entertainers.
12:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. – Salsa Dancing! Location: the Main Stage.
2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.: Terry Ness & Friends. Terry Ness and Friends, long-time OLY residents, playing classic acoustic rock from the late ’60s and early ’70s.Location: In front of the Main Stage, 206 East 5th.
4 p.m. Summer Fest welcomes Generifus to the Main Stage. Location: On the Main Stage in front of the Capitol Theater, 206 East 5th.
4:45 p.m. Almost Precarious, Partner Acrobatics. Location: In front of the Main Stage, 206 East 5th.
5 p.m. Summer Fest welcomes MAITA to the Main Stage. On the Main Stage in front of the Capitol Theater, 206 East 5th.
12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Activity Area: Activities for kids from the Hands On Children’s Museum including bubbles, chalk, Make & Take fans, Three Little Pigs Engineering and fort boards! Face Painting by Sofi. Location: On 5th between Capital and Washington.
Community Group: Olympia Family Theater has brought a little bit of the theater here to LoveOLY! Join us for an interactive chalk obstacle course, take-home coloring crafts, photo opportunities with set pieces and props, and Story Time at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 and 5:00 pm!
Biergarten Area: Biergarten featuring beer from Three Magnets Brewing Co. and Well 80 Brewhouse. Location: On Washington Street between 5th and Legion.
Who: Powered by the Olympia Downtown Alliance, produced by the Olympia Film Society and Hands on Children’s Museum, The event is presented by the City of Olympia, Activity Area sponsor Snowshoe, and Entertainment Area sponsor is Olympia Federal Savings.
What: LoveOly Summer Fest 2021
When: Saturday, August 14, 2021, noon to 6:00 p.m.
Where: Olympia Federal Savings Entertainment Area, Capitol Theater outdoor stage, Downtown Olympia, 5th Avenue and Washington Street
Cost: This is a free event, thanks to the support of our sponsors!
