Staged Haze Takes Capitol Hill Block Party 2026: Our Recap

I’ve wrapped up a second Capitol Hill Block Party for Staged Haze, and I’m honestly still daydreaming about the fest a week later, and I can’t wait to share my review. 

CHBP bumped the party up by bringing a third day back this year, compared to my two-day experience in 2025, and the mix of genres across all three days kept the variety on shuffle for me. This will also be the second year that CHBP has remained a 21+ music festival, and honestly? I’m not mad. It’s really nice being in an adult-only space, and it’s a welcome change of scenery compared to most other festivals. The vibes are incredible; this year’s crowd was exceptionally fashionable and queer, and I loved the food. All the food vendors looked delectable, and I was so thrilled to see a Tanghulu stand that I nearly got one between sets. Ugh, so good. 

I started Day One by catching Avery Cochrane’s set. She’s a pop star in Seattle’s music scene, with catchy beats and clever lyrics. With her bright ’80s leotard and tights with bubbles galore, she set the tone for the Main Stage lineup of Aliyah’s Interlude, Nimino, Between Friends, Trixie Mattel, Magdalena Bay, and MUNA. I’ve never seen MUNA or Between Friends live before, and both have been dream sets for years. As much as I love Frost Children—it would be my fourth time seeing them—and Ninajirachi, it was a hard decision, but I couldn’t miss the front row for MUNA.

Aliyah’s Interlude

Between Friends

As the festival lineup leans more into danceable electronic sounds, BETWEEN FRIENDS fits right in, with their dreamy synths and chill, sultry energy. Despite the crazy outfits, this duo delivered the kind of carefree summer energy that makes you want to flow with their softer version of hyperpop. They took the stage with cameras, setting the tone for a performance that felt part concert and part visual spectacle as the crowd saw doubles of the brother-sister duo. BETWEEN FRIENDS kept the crowd hyped as they opened with “You & Me Time” and worked through their set, including “Eyes on My Baby”, “affection”, “JAM!” and “blushing!” Their distinct sound translates amazingly to a live set; BETWEEN FRIENDS truly understands how to deliver their music without losing what makes it unique. 

DJ Trixie Mattel

Magdalena Bay

MUNA

The crowd was electric as fans waited for MUNA to take the stage. It was endearing to see so many fans waiting along the barricade all day, full of anticipation. I knew this set would be life changing, but I really didn’t expect just how deeply it would affect me as they stepped out onto the stage and opened with “It Gets So Hot” 

It was so heartwarming to hear MUNA give their hearts out to those affected by the fires, an ongoing crisis that’s happening all along the Pacific Northwest, and to encourage the crowd to keep their loved ones and community close together. Also, performing “Big Stick” was especially empowering; not many musicians can say that they stand on their beliefs and create from that foundation. They’re truly a band that walks the walk with love and political strength. 

Watching them perform “I Know a Place,” “Wannabeher,””The One That Got Away,” “Buzzkiller,” and “What I Want” was truly a religious experience. For their encore, MUNA performed their beloved anthem “Silk Chiffon” live, which felt so special too. Their stage presence is sublime; somehow it feels like I’m the only one in the crowd, yet simultaneously resonating with all the other fans that night. I couldn’t have imagined being anywhere else Friday night. MUNA is such an amazing band that really gave Seattle such charged energy, shifting so smoothly with each song in their set. I’m already looking up tickets for their upcoming headline tour.

Mallrat

JIGITZ

Amber Mark

Keeping it classy, Amber Mark’s band sets the tone first. Dressed in sharp suits and ties, they take the stage as the crowd awaits the dive herself to emerge in a stunning purple ensemble. When she finally appears, Mark’s magnetic presence is charming and effortlessly captivating. Her energy seems to reverberate throughout the festival and draws you further into her orbit with every hit. 

Mark’s performance reflects the breadth of her musical identity. Raised across Europe, Asia and North America, she has absorbed an expansive range of international influences and woven them seamlessly into her sound. Her songs move fluidly between soul, R&B, and pop textures, revealing new details with every listen. Onstage, those influences come alive with an effortless charisma that makes it clear Amber Mark is undeniably carving out a space of her own.

Tinashe

Tinashe: fashionista, DJ, popstar—and now, Seattle’s latest dance-floor instigator. Keeping the spice of life alive, Capitol Hill Block Party brought out the DJs for Day 2 of the festival, with Tinashe serving as one of Saturday’s most highly anticipated acts. The R&B and pop singer traded the mic for the decks, keeping the dance party with her set that blends her own discography with club-ready cuts. Mixing tracks like “2 On,” “Nasty,” “All Hands on Deck,” and fan favorites like her collab with Disco Lines on “No Broke Boys,” giving longtime fans a taste of the club as the crowd keeps the night alive. 

With a new album on the horizon, Tinashe’s set offers a little taste of what’s to come this September. “Don’t fall in love with a pop star,” she warns, but judging by the crowd gathered in the heart of Seattle, that ship may have already sailed.

Avalon Emerson & The Charm

Haute & Freddy

Attending a Haute & Freddy set is like stumbling into a circus, a Renaissance faire, and a glitter soaked pop concert all at once. This LA duo brought all the camp and chaos for Day 3 as they graced their “Royal Court” with their presence. 

Haute & Freddy’s performance is unapologetically maximalist, as they tore through hits like “Freaks,””Scantily Clad,” and “Dance The Pain Away.” With their larger-than-life energy, they easily command every inch of the stage, turning the Main Stage into a theater. Something about the way Haute & Freddy perform is infectious, inviting the crowd into their world and welcoming everyone who resonates with their music. With only one debut album under their belt, if there’s any indication, these jesters are just getting started. Where art thou in thy Royal Court of Haute & Freddy?

Lucy Bedroque

Wet Leg

In the fog and strobes, Wet Leg’s frontwoman, Rhian Teasdale, emerges in her iconic power stance, arms flexed and biceps on full display. It’s as if Wonder Woman herself has arrived to save the night as the band kicks off the closing set with “Catch These Fists.”

The playful swagger is a huge part of what cements Wet Leg as one of the UK’s most magnetic indie-rock acts. With electric performances of “mangetout,” “Wet Dream,” “Chaise Longue,” “Being in Love,” and “Pokemon,” each song hits the crowd with its own jolt of energy as fans sink their teeth into the beat. Weg Leg commands the stage with rock-star charisma. 

For a group that effortlessly straddles post-punk bite and infectious indie-pop, this band really proves to be exactly the kind of headliner to make Capitol Hill Block Party unforgettable and impossible to move on from. Closing out a festival that embraces electronic and alternative pop sounds, the band brought a much-needed dose of guitar-driven grit to the Main Stage. They may not have needed to throw many punches, but by the final song, Wet Leg certainly delivered a swift and decisive knockout.

Check out our previous Capitol Hill Block Party coverage HERE and all festival coverage HERE.

Recap and photos by Jan Ng for Staged Haze