Our Mission

Freakout is a community-oriented music collective and a producer of concerts & music festivals in Seattle. We provide music discovery opportunities for all while supporting artists locally and internationally by focusing on artist needs over profit.

A brief history

2013

A few friends decide to throw an epic music-fueled party in the midst of winter, formerly known as the Psychedelic Holiday Freakout. The first iteration was held in Ballard but then relocated for a few years to Capitol Hill while Freakout found its bearings.

2016

Independent label, Freakout Records forms, later to release records in all formats, Freakout partners, such as Smokey Brights, Acid Tongue, Shaina Shepherd, My Goodness, The Grizzled Mighty and more.

2017

Freakout waves goodbye to the Psychedelic Holiday Freakout and officially transitions to Freakout Festival ahead of year 5. At this point, Freakout moved to its forever home of Ballard and finds amazing partnerships with the Tractor Tavern, the Sunset, Conor Byrne & other Ballard venues.

2020

With in-person events struck down by the pandemic, Freakout transitions online with Freakout Live!, releasing streamed and recorded performances by King Khan, Carrion Kids, Smokey Brights, Los Honey Rockets and more, delivered straight to quarantined fans stuck at home.

2022

Freakout hosts its first Spring festival – the Freakout Weekender – and celebrates its 10th annual fall festival with time-honored headliners like Os Mutantes, No Age, Kid Congo & the Pink Monkey Birds and Los Dug Dugs combined with emerging acts Automatic, Margaritas Podridas & Mala Suerte.

2023

Freakout begins to transition to its new status as a non-profit organization, striving to offer MUSIC FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR PROFIT. A board of directors is established and a page is turned in the next chapter of a brand new Freakout.

  • Freakout was the first American festival to open its doors, not only to us but also to a lot of other Latin American bands that otherwise would not have the opportunity to play for an American audience. Not only that, but they also gave us the means and opportunities to make our participation in the festival an incredible experience without it becoming a huge expense for our band to be able to go play in another country. We love the Freakout, because it nurtures the music industry by creating exposure opportunities for new and diverse bands and by supporting smaller venues, whose existence has been in jeopardy since the pandemic and without which it would be impossible to find a stage for new artists.

    Isabel Dosal of Petite Amie (CDMX)

  • Freakout was our first experience in the Seattle music community. Coming from Mexico it was very important for us and it was perfect. We felt welcomed, they gave us a very good schedule and everybody came to see us. I remember it was full and the crowd was amazing. Everyone was so nice and friendly, hospitality, merch and everything was very well organized. It’s always exciting to see who’s playing next because they always bring outstanding talents from outside and the best local bands. It’s like SXSW but in Seattle.

    Carolina Rivera of Margaritas Podridas

  • There is no festival quite like Freakout. It simultaneously prioritizes the showcasing of tons of great local talent while also introducing Seattle music lovers to tons of great national and international bands. You might come to see one of the headliners, but you're virtually guaranteed to walk away with several new favorite bands that you wouldn't have otherwise seen.

    Adam Prairie - The Sunset Tavern

In 2023, we proudly transitioned Freakout to a nonprofit organization.

As a non-profit community-supported organization, Freakout welcomes new partners and music lovers to support our production of live music experiences and new music recordings.

Contact us to discuss sponsorship opportunities.

Freakout Team

  • Skyler Locatelli (Executive Director)

  • Ross Albrechtson (Festival Director)

  • Claire Braggs (Operations Manager + Social Impact)

  • Jesse Rockey (Production Director)

  • Tony Rinehart (Production Manager)

Board of Directors

  • Sarah Rathbone (President)

  • Brynn Foree (Treasurer)

  • Leigh Bezezekoff (Vice President)

  • Christine Guiterrez (Secretary)

  • Morgan Clinton

  • Chris Porter

  • K Van Petten

  • Jim Bennett

  • Alaia D’Alessandro

  • Bob Watanabe

  • Alejandro Chouza