Tacoma’s New Dune Peninsula Venue Opens With Orcas, Americana, and a View to Remember
CHICAGO — When the Dune Peninsula concert series launched in Tacoma, Washington, it wasn’t just the music that took center stage — even orcas showed up for opening night.
The new 5,000-capacity waterfront venue at Point Defiance Park hosted its debut show Sunday, blending scenic grandeur with acoustic soul as Sierra Ferrell and Kaitlin Butts performed beneath skies streaked with golden hour hues and Mount Rainier as the jaw-dropping backdrop.
An Orca Cameo, Alt-Country Vibes, and a Denim Sparkle
The concert began with Kaitlin Butts warming up a crowd of picnic-blanketed Americana fans, and it wasn’t long before orcas breached in Puget Sound, adding a surreal magic to the setting.
As headliner Sierra Ferrell took the stage in sequined denim, her vocals glided through songs like “West Virginia Waltz”, transforming the shoreline into an open-air chapel. At one point, Ferrell paused and smiled, saying,
“Oh wow, this is like the most beautiful place to play right now… Could bring a tear to my eye.”
Her performance of “Chitlin’ Cookin’ Time in Cheatham County” — filled with growls, howls, and a touch of New Orleans swagger — was a standout.
A New Venue With Old Soul Energy
The venue itself — a former industrial waste site now revitalized — is the result of years of remediation and planning. After a successful one-off show last year, Showbox and AEG secured a five-year deal with Metro Parks Tacoma to launch this summer concert series, making the site a new hub for outdoor music in the Pacific Northwest.
While the layout favors scenic vistas and soft terrain over sheer size, the production quality was flawless. Low-back lawn chairs and blankets were welcomed in the rear, while fans up front stood shoulder-to-shoulder near the water’s edge.
Just Five Shows in the First Season
The inaugural season will only feature five shows, but the lineup promises variety and energy:
- Dropkick Murphys + Bad Religion – July 24
- Maoli – July 25
- CAAMP – August 1
- Sam Barber – August 9
Like the opener, the rest of the lineup leans rootsy, folk-driven, and crowd-friendly, designed to match the natural setting rather than overpower it.
Getting There and Soaking It In
Concertgoers faced typical opening-day hiccups — long food truck lines, unclear signage for lawn seating — but spirits remained high. The looped walking path behind the venue offered a break from the crowd, with postcard-worthy views of the Sound and skyline.
Parking is split between two garages at Point Ruston and surface lots, with some attendees opting to walk in from nearby neighborhoods to skip traffic after the show.
Would you travel for a view like this? Tell us your favorite outdoor venue experience and what you think of Dune Peninsula’s future — only on ChicagoMusicGuide.com.