For the uninitiated, grunge is a style of rock music characterized by a raucous guitar sound and draggy lyrics which arose during the mid 1980s in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Best typified by the ‘gods’ of grunge Nirvana, the headbanging musical style has its roots in punk rock, alternative rock, heavy metal, and other related genres.
Beyond creating its own musical genre that became popular in the early 1990s, Seattle is also home to great musical acts. They include grunge icons from the 90s and 00s like Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, as well as the legendary Jimi Hendrix.
For alternative music fans, Seattle is a sonic paradise—from recording studios and memorials to museums, you can retrace the footsteps of music icons and bop to great live music. Who knows? You might just meet up-and-coming rock stars!
If you love music with that underground edge, let the team at Pan Pacific Seattle bring you on an acoustic journey into the “Seattle Sound.”
The Recording Studio that shaped Seattle’s music scene
Address: 20021 Ballinger Way NE. suite A, Shoreline, 98155, Seattle, USA
Telephone number: +1 206-364-1525
Tour Operating Hours: 9am to 10am, Daily
Curious to peek inside the recording studio where Seattle’s pop-rock scene purportedly started? Make a trip to the London Bridge Studio, where bands such as Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, 3 Doors Down and OneRepublic have recorded their songs.
One of the major recording studios in Seattle that actively promoted the grunge movement, London Bridge Studio continues to be a creative space for all artists today. It offers an hour-long tour of the studio daily, where visitors can see (and hear, of course) what goes on in a recording studio. You can also walk the hallways where musical greats like Eddie Vedder (from Pearl Jam) and the late Chris Cornell (Soundgarden) once strolled.
Get Directions to London Bridge Studios
Listen to the “Seattle Sound” at Record Stores
Easy Street Records
Address: 4559 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116, USA
Telephone number: +1 206-938-3279
Operating Hours: 9am to 9pm (Monday to Saturday), 9am to 7pm (Sunday)
Bob Street Records
Address: 2220 NW Market St, Seattle, WA 98107, USA
Telephone number: +1 206-297-2232
Operating Hours: 12pm to 8pm (Tuesday, Wednesday), 12pm to 10pm (Friday, Saturday), 12pm to 5pm (Sunday), Closed on Monday
Sonic Boom Records
Address: 2209 NW Market St, Seattle, WA 98107, USA
Telephone number: +1 206-297-2666
Operating Hours: 10am to 10pm (Monday to Saturday), 10am to 7pm (Sunday)
Silver Platters
Address: 2930 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98121, USA
Telephone number: +1 206-283-3472
Operating Hours: 10am to 10pm (Monday to Saturday), 10am to 7pm (Sunday)
Craving for your dose of soul-stirring music? You are in luck—there are plenty of well-stocked record stores dotted around Seattle. The top record stores here are Easy Street Records, Sonic Boom Records, Bop Street Records and Silver Platters.
Easy Street Records is the indie rock store of choice, with knowledgeable staff who could get what you want quickly and an encyclopedic collection of all things alt-rock. It boasts of a coffee bar next door that doubles up as an event space for in-store performances.
If you are more into mainstream rock, head over to Sonic Boom Records, a rock counterpart to Easy Street, which offers even cassettes!
While you are in the area, do also visit Bop Street Records. Located opposite Sonic Boom, it was accorded one of Wall Street Journal’s 2011 top five best music stores in America. With half a million records stocked from floor to ceiling, plus big vintage jazz and rock selections, the store is a treasure trove for retro-music lovers.
Finally, Silver Platters has all the hard-to-find gems that music lovers with eclectic tastes might like.
At these stores, you can hold a vinyl in your hands or wander through aisles of music genres spanning from Rock, Soul/R&B, Jazz, Blues, Classical, Country, World and more. With music consumption going digital these days, these record stores are a welcome reminder of how we appreciate music in a bygone era.
Get directions to Easy Street Records
Get directions to Sonic Boom Records
Get directions to Bop Street Records
Get directions to Silver Platters
Pay Homage to Seattle’s Music Legends at these Memorials
Kurt Cobain Memorial
Address: Young Street Bridge, at the end of East 2nd Street, Aberdeen, WA 98520
Jimi Hendrix Statue
Address: 1604 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122, USA
Jimi Hendrix Memorial
Address: 350 Monroe Ave NE, Greenwood Cemetery, Renton, WA 98056, USA
Telephone number: +1 425-255-1511
Make your pilgrimage to your favourite music icons here in Seattle.
Begin with the Kurt Cobain Memorial Park, or Kurt Cobain Landing. Dedicated to the late frontman of the popular grunge band Nirvana who tragically shot himself, the memorial sits next to the Aberdeen bridge in his hometown of Aberdeen. Fans can pay their respects to the late grunge star while gazing at exhibits featuring highlights of his musical career. They include a statue of a guitar, a plaque of Cobain, and a board with the lyrics of the Nirvana song he wrote: Something in the Way. Inspired by the Aberdeen bridge next to the memorial, the lyrics of the song is a small but fitting tribute to a talented musician gone too soon.
One of the top things to do in Seattle is to take a wefie with the Jimi Hendrix statue. A celebrated musician of the 20th century, Hendrix was described by The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as “arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music.”
The statue sits on Capitol Hill near Downtown Seattle and immortalises the rock star in bronze, capturing him in one of his signature poses. It is one of the most popular Seattle photo spots for music fans.
A more sombre memorial is found near Hendrix’s grave at the Greenwood Cemetery in Renton, Washington. An etched portrait of Hendrix alongside some of his lyrics lay inside a stone dome, surrounded by his tomb and those of the Hendrix family, including his mother.
After paying respects to these talented musicians, it is time for you to celebrate the legacy they left behind. The EMP museum is the perfect place to do just that.
Formerly known as the Experience Music Project, it now showcases an extensive collection of music-related items. Part of the Museum of Pop Culture today, you can read more about this fascinating place in our article on Specialty museums in Seattle. Here, permanent exhibitions like the Guitar Gallery details the history of guitars from the 1700s to the present—while temporary exhibitions showcase artists from Jimi Hendrix to Michael Jackson.
Get directions to the Kurt Cobain Memorial Park
Get directions to the Jimi Hendrix Statue
Get directions to the Jimi Hendrix Memorial
Get directions to EMP Museum
Swing to the beat of Seattle’s Live Music Scene
The Crocodile
Address: 2200 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121, USA
Telephone number: +1 206-441-4618
Operating Hours: 4pm to 2am daily
Re-bar
Address: 1114 Howell St, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
Telephone number: +1 206-233-9873
Operating Hours: 5pm to 12am (Monday to Thursday), 5pm to 3am (Friday, Saturday), 6pm to 2:30am (Sunday)
Ready to rock out to live music in the Emerald City? Most aspiring musicians here cut their teeth at local bars and cafes before hitting the big time. Two venues where fledgeling grunge bands used to get their start are worth checking out here.
Sing like no one is listening at The Crocodile, long known for being the IT place for budding musicians to showcase their music. Back in the 90s, up and comers such as Pearl Jam, Nirvana and SoundGarden began by taking to the mics here. Still vibrant and exciting today, visitors flock to the Crocodile to listen to new bands that might become the next big hit.
Or party like a rock star at Re-bar, where Nirvana released their debut album, Nevermind. Featuring live music with a gallery showcasing Seattle’s local artwork, the bar is a great place to hang out and soak in a sliver of Seattle’s music and art scene.
Get directions to The Crocodile
Get directions to Re-Bar
Party Hard at Seattle’s Music Festivals
Ever been to a music festival? If not, attending your first in Seattle is a good start—eclectic and electric, the city’s famed music festivals are spread throughout the year.
Begin with the famous Ballad Jazz Festival in May. First started in 2003, the event features Seattle’s world-class jazz musicians. If you are visiting Seattle in June, however, you should make a date with the community music festival Honk Fest West—an extended street extravaganza showcasing musical acts of any genre from all over the country. To feast your eyes, ears and stomachs on Seattle’s best, join the Capitol Hill Block Party in July, which features excellent bands art shows, local food and more.
If there is one Seattle music festival you have to attend, it is the Bumbershoot Music Festival, which runs over three days from late August to early September. Named one of the top five festivals in the U.S., the annual international music and arts festival showcases Seattle’s best entertainers alongside major artists. Beyond music, participants can indulge in art, comedy, and food, glorious food.
Need to unwind after all that adrenaline from the music? Return to Pan Pacific Seattle and head to The Lobby Bar to wind down with one of the bar’s refreshing speciality cocktails, or handcrafted Seattle ales.
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