Sasquatch! is a harder choice than it used to be. The Gorge Amphitheatre music festival is one of the Pacific Northwest's oldest and most acclaimed. With a reputation for trend-setting lineups and a multi-stage outdoor production, it's the closest thing the region has to Coachella or Bonnaroo, and for pure natural beauty--and mild weather--we'd say it beats both of those rivals.

But as the festival scene matures, saturates and homogenizes, Sasquatch! has stumbled in recent years. In 2014, it tried to follow in Coachella's footsteps and announced two festivals--but while Coachella runs two weekends in a row with identical lineups to deal with its massive turnout, Sasquatch booked two different events, one on its regular Memorial Day spot and another over the Fourth of July. The gamble failed, and the second event ended up cancelled.

Sasquatch! took another hit in 2016, as its usual robust crowds fell by over half, according to authorities. The difference was clear in the campgrounds, where areas that should've been full of tents lay empty, and the main stage crowds never quite filled the Gorge's hillside amphitheater.

It wasn't all bad, at least for those who showed up: low attendance actually fixed another issue, Sasquatch!'s occasional trouble with the line to get in. Not that Sasquatch! had the smoothest year inside, either. Strong winds shut down the main stage for several hours as festival organizers scrambled to keep attendees informed and start the music again, with social media channels silent for long stretches. At one point, an ominous wildfire broke out down the road, though it was contained before becoming a Sasquatch! danger.

Can it make a comeback in 2017? Is it worth the trek to northern Washington? We still think so, and here are six reasons why.

1) The bands you know

Sasquatch!'s booking is always on-point, if a little lower-budget than fests able to draw the likes of Drake or Lady Gaga. This year's lineup ranges from now-classic indie rockers (LCD Soundsystem, MGMT, the Shins) to hip-hop sensations (Chance the Rapper, Mac Miller) and electronic stars (Bonobo, Kaytranada); emo fans won't want to miss American Football or revivalist youngsters the Hotelier; and headliners Twenty One Pilots will offer the kind of mainstream rock radio appeal Sasquatch! doesn't always offer.

2) And the new ones you don't

Among rising acts, some must-sees are Jay Som, Courtney Marie Andrews, and Boogie. Look out for Portland's own Kyle Craft, and if you've never seen the Radio Dept., the cult-favorite Swedish dream-pop band has never sounded better live.

3) The sound quality

Believe it or not, Sasquatch!'s stages always sound immaculate--at least given the outdoor conditions. Every time we've attended Sasquatch!, it sounds as good as a festival can.

4) A manageable weekend

Three days (and the three nights of camping that come with it) is a number so much less exhausting than four, which is how long Sasquatch! ran last year. And no music on Monday, Memorial Day, means plenty of time to drive home, recuperate, and stop for pancakes along the way.

5) Day passes are back

If you just want to roll in for your favorite headliner, now you can: single-day tickets are back and under $100.

6) Maybe half the crowd will stay home again and it'll be the chillest festival of the year

Festival claustrophobes can dream.



Sasquatch!, Friday, May 26-Sunday, May 28, The Gorge Amphitheatre, George, Washington. Tickets: $99.50 (single-day) to $295 (three-day), VIP also available, camping passes sold separately. Visit sasquatchfestival.com for details.



-- David Greenwald

dgreenwald@oregonian.com

503-294-7625; @davidegreenwald

Instagram: Oregonianmusic