HONK! Fest West returns to Seattle for its fourth year on May 13th through 15th.

Hundreds of musicians from across the western US and Canada will be taking over the streets of Seattle during this free, three-day, community-supported music festival that's devoted to marching bands, drum corps, samba lines, and anything acoustic and mobile that makes a ruckus.

"HONK! Fest West is organized by a core group of volunteers, many of whom play in local HONK! bands, and some who do not. All of us love the music and the community, and really believe in making this event special for that reason," said organizer Tyson Lynn.

A traveling festival, HONK! this year will visit the streets of Georgetown on Friday, May 13; Gasworks on Saturday, May 14; and Seattle Center on Sunday, May 15.

"Our Festival is built around bands that are mobile and acoustic, which means they can travel and play anywhere," Lynn said.

"With so many great neighborhoods and natural performance spots, Seattle allows us to explore and draw audiences to places in their city they've never been or at least never seen a performance."

For the first time, HONK! will have a kick-off party and a revue. San Francisco’s Brass Menažeri, a gypsy brass band, and Seattle’s Orkestar Zirkonium, a mobile, fourteen-member brass-and-drum ensemble, will kick off HONK! season at Fremont’s High Dive on Sunday, May 8th. The festivities will then take over Georgetown, Gasworks, EMP’s Sky Church, and the Seattle Center grounds in the following weekend.

The Revue will be held at Hale’s Palladium, on May 14th in a more intimate setting. Doors open at 8 p.m. and tickets are $10 available at Brown Paper Tickets.

"To me, what's great is what hasn't changed from last year," Lynn said. "Amazing bands from across the country and Canada running amuck through our lovely city, reclaiming public space, and playing a wide range of music guaranteed to get you dancing.

"If you've never seen over 200 musicians take over a neighborhood, set up shop in the streets, and blow some incredible music, you are doing yourself a disservice. We are lucky to have some of the best bands from across the nation and right here in Seattle playing for you for free."

HONK! could use some more volunteers to make the festival happen. Those interested in donating time, should contact the volunteer coordinator at volunteer@honkfestwest.com.

For a full schedule of events, please visit www.honkfestwest.com.