Whether it’s Benson Boone riding a chandelier over the crowd or Laufey spinning on a clock, Seattle’s recent concert scene has been anything but quiet. This fall, Skyline students packed venues across the city to catch their favorite artists live.
Seattle has long been a staple city for major artists on tour. That reputation stems from the city’s prominent rock – and, most notably, grunge – scene that emerged in the 1980s. Musicians from the greater Washington area, including Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Jimi Hendrix, helped cement Seattle as one of the music hubs of America. While Los Angeles may host more festivals and events, a study conducted from 2023 to 2025 tracked artists and their tour stops and found that Seattle was included 61% of the time.
As artists continue touring across the nation, many Skyline students have joined the crowds for a sweep of shows in Seattle. Junior Samyukta Gali, who attended Laufey’s concert on Oct. 4, described the night as “very cutesy. It was fun to see other people’s outfits since Laufey would pick one person every night and crown them best dress[ed],” she said. She and her friends enjoyed the opener, Suki Waterhouse, but were disappointed with their view since a large curtain – later removed to reveal Laufey’s moving set pieces – blocked most of the stage.
Bianca Stahl, a junior, saw three major artists back-to-back. “The dancing during Tate McRae’s [performance] made it unique,” Stahl said. “She moved so much more than most artists do, and the mashup of her older songs was my favorite part.” She added that Boone’s humor and Dua Lipa’s surprise duet with Brandi Carlile made each performance stand out.
With concert season far from over, Seattle’s music calendar is already stacked for the months ahead. In November alone, Doechii will perform on the 10th and NBA YoungBoy on the 22nd, following recent October shows from Playboi Carti, Odetari and BarelyHuman. December will bring KATSEYE, while 2026 is set to kick off with major headliners including Conan Gray, Doja Cat, Cardi B, Twice and Ed Sheeran. For Skyline students, the lineup shows no sign of slowing down.
While the touring season continues with vigor, many fans have found it hard to ignore the rise in ticket prices. Experts from Business Insider explain that this is because concerts have become the primary source of income for artists, who no longer earn enough from streaming royalties or album sales. Resellers have only made the problem worse by inflating prices through a dynamic pricing model that adjusts costs in real time based on demand.
Fans remain frustrated not only by high ticket costs but also by the steep prices of concert merchandise. Karly Bunch, a junior, said the Laufey hoodie she purchased cost a whopping $90. It’s no surprise that concertgoing is expensive, but many are beginning to question the fairness of it all.
Concertgoing may be an investment with soaring merch prices, but for many students, the experience is priceless. In the laughter during Boone’s set and the spectacle of Dua Lipa’s lights, Seattle continues to prove itself as a city that brings out the best in live music.
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