We’re at about the halfway point for the 38th annual Bumbershoot festival. And here are a few highlights from day two so far.

There’s always eye-catching spectacle to be found on Seattle Center’s International Fountain Lawn during Bumbershoot. This year there are the pro skaters and BMX riders doing their thing on the Rockstar Vert Ramp and today’s coolest discovery, Strange Fruit. Trust me, you’ll want to stop and stare if you’re passing through, like I did en route to Bumbershoot's rock poster exhibit, Flatstock. The Melbourne, Australia troupe does a hypnotic and graceful synchronized swaying routine, all of the colorfully clad performers perched atop flexible, 15-foot poles. Their last performance today will be over by 6:45 p.m., but you’ll be able to catch them again at 2:45 p.m., 4:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. on Monday.
ERNEST JASMIN

Seattle buzz the Blakes were a hit for the second year in a row over at the Exhibition Hall. The band consists of brothers Snow and Garnett Keim on bass and guitar respectively (that’s Snow in the pic), and Bob Husak on drums. It was my first time catching the power trio, which plays high-energy power-pop. A couple the songs I heard reminded me of the rauchier side of the the Posies, though I'll have to spin the copy of their self-titled Light in the Attic release that I bought to get a better handle on their sound.
ERNEST JASMIN

The natives were restless earlier Sunday at Memorial Stadium, their boos getting increasingly loud as Grammy nominated R&B singer Keyshia Cole remained M.I.A. half an hour past her scheduled start time. I had flashbacks of rapper Lil Wayne’s plane touching down during Summer Jam, the show he was scheduled to headline, earlier this summer at the White River Amphitheatre. But the wait wasn’t to be that long, with Cole taking the hint, getting in gear and proving worth the wait. Her booming vocals powered disgruntled women’s anthems “I Should’ve Cheated” and “I Changed My Mind.” And she dedicated a cover of Prince’s “When Doves Cry” to her mother, their relationship and her mom’s struggles with drug addition having been chronicled by BET reality show “Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is.”
ERNEST JASMIN

I’m headed back in now, but will have more later, including highlights of Stone Temple Pilots’ headlining show tonight at Memorial Stadium. If you're still on your way up, you can find complete ticket and scheduling details at here.