It's Anacortes, WA where, historically-speaking, kids have always been riddled with Adderoll and stoked on citywide rummage sale days, but it wasn't until 2001 when they decided to celebrate their heritage of independence and mediocrity.

July 18-20 marks the seventh year running of What The Heck Fest, held concurrent with Shipwreck Day, the aforementioned citywide sale. As a ticketed event*, WTHF gives an air of officiality (not a word) to what would otherwise be any other day in the life of a politically dogmatic and rurally located Pacific NW music fan, which means fun for the whole family!

Slated events (actual and invented) include: swimming in the lake, trying to get your friend's older brother to buy you beer, drinking that beer in the basement of someone who looks vaguely familiar, feeling socially awkward and uncomfortable in a community center as you wait for Karl Blau to start his set, wearing the pants you got at Shipwreck Day without washing them, listening to original poetry and snidely remarking that it's "so Leaves of Grass," watching movies, wondering if the theatre and dinner show has a vegan option, playing with Kimya Dawson's baby, and living dangerously.

I'm actually really excited about all of this.

Confirmed performers with more to be announced:

Al Larsen, Alyse Emdur, Angelo Spencer, Bryce Panic, Calvin Johnson, D+, Karl Blau, Khaela Maricich/The Blow, Kimya Dawson, Katy Davidson, Lucky Dragons, Mount Eerie, Mirah, Nate Ashley, Ô Paon, Rich Jensen, The Gift Machine, The Graves, The Owl & the Pussycat & the Moore Brothers, Your Heart Breaks.

*$50 for a three day pass and no other way around it, on sale now.