Hoodstock returns to the water with Lady Alderbrook

Kirk Boxleitner | Aug 11, 20220

Courtesy file photo count

A Hoodstock flag flies on a boat during the 2021 concert on Hood Canal near Union Marina.

Cofounders Kelli Kohout and Shannon Crabb-Stanton are presenting the fifth year of Hoodstock, which runs from just before 11 a.m. to well after 8 p.m. on Aug. 20 near the Hood Canal Marina in Union.

A hallmark of Hoodstock has been its evolution, most notably when COVID prompted the concert to move to the water last year. This year, event sponsor Alderbrook Resort & Spa in Union has contributed the use of the Lady Alderbrook private ship, which has scheduled three sailings for concert spectators who book their tickets through hoodstock.org.

Lady Alderbrook leaves the Hood Canal Marina at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 20, for two-hour cruises carrying 40 concertgoers each, with each attendee paying $75 for accommodation and two beverage tokens, with additional food and drinks available. An open deck and what Crabb-Stanton describe as "beautiful gallery windows" allow onlookers to take in the musicians and the vistas.

The event remains accessible to plenty of other vessels, as long as their owners buy small or large flags - depending on whether they're on paddleboards, kayaks, canoes or bigger boats. Those flags are for sale at hoodstock.org and at the Union Country Store.

"When you buy your flag, that's your ticket for the show," Kohout said. "Larger flags, for boats that can carry multiple passengers at once, run for $75 each. Smaller flags cost $25, and are available not only at the Union County Store, but also at the Summertide Resort, and every Sunday at the Union City Market at the Hoodstock booth."

Concert T-shirts, hoodie sweaters and other merchandise is available at hoodstock.org and at the Union City Market, while the Hoodstock site also provides a lineup of performers and guests slated for Aug. 20, starting with the Skokomish Nation's welcome and blessing from 10:50-11:15 a.m., followed by Cailley Robinson's tribute to Western Washington artist Orré Nobles from 11:15-11:30 a.m.

Each musical act's set on the water varies from half an hour to an hour and a half, capped by a two-hour set from the Dusty 45s ending at 8 p.m., while the "Landlubbers Finale" on the 2 Margaritas Stage runs from 7:30-11 p.m.

This year's Hoodstock expands into a second day. Kohout said, "Saturday features a lot of bluegrass, indie and jazz-and-blues musicians, while Sunday is more centered on country and classic rock."

She encouraged attendees to check out the concert lineup, and the arrangements for parking and shuttle transportation, at hoodstock.org.

Those supporting Hoodstock further, and who have already bought their tickets, will treat themselves to a third day of festivities. Hoodstock's fundraiser dinner runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Aug. 19 at Chateau Schafer in Union.

Hoodstock can continue to add to the more than $20,000 the event has contributed since 2018 to community nonprofits, including the Salmon Center, South Sound Family YMCA and this year's newest beneficiary, the Mason County Humane Society.