On the Water, a City Finds Connection: Inside the Lake Union Concerts Story

In a city known for the "Seattle Freeze," one lakeside tradition is proving the opposite is true right on the water.

Lake Union Concerts, founded by Erik Hillesheim of Paddlerave fame, has spent two summers bringing music, community, and a little bit of magic to the shores of Lake Union.  "In a city that likes to talk about the Seattle Freeze, we haven't seen it on the lake," Hillesheim said. "Lake Union Concerts was founded on the idea that water is an amazing conductor of connection and our goal is to connect people to music, nature, and each other."

That mission has been supported by Stafford Green, the Floating Homes Association (FHA) president, from the very start.  And FHA members that have kindly opened their homes to host the 2026 events.

"Goodwill in this city doesn't have to be complicated," said Stafford Green, President of the Floating Homes Association. "Sometimes it's as simple as the kindness of Melanie Markle, John Burgess, or Sarah Dick opening up their homes, a supportive thumbs up from their dock members, and then turning up the music. It lets a younger generation fall in love with the lake — a chance to introduce a lifestyle many of us in the Floating Homes community have cherished for years."

For Hillesheim, the impact of these nights goes far beyond the music itself.

"It's been the highlight of our summer hearing people make their first friends in the city, reacquaint with cousins, start relationships, and spend a fun night out on the lake with their close friends," he said.  Melanie Markle, Eastlake floating home resident who loaned her home for the July concert, adds “It was epic.  The band was full tilt boogie and the crowd was really going for it!”

"As the Floating Homes community, we're really happy to open volunteer homes and share our backyard to Lake Union Concerts," Green said. "Seattle can be a hard city to break into, and if we can help a young person make a friend or fall in love with this lake, maybe one day they'll call a floating home their own."

This year Lake Union Concerts hosts two houseboat Dock Rocks on the water — one off Eastlake and another off Portage Bay. Organizers acknowledge that parking was tight in the surrounding neighborhoods on concert days, and are grateful for the patience of the larger land-based community and nearby docks who made room for the crowds these nights drew.

As the summer draws to a close, both Hillesheim and the Floating Homes community are reflecting on what the partnership has meant for the city.

"Lake Union Concerts wants to give a huge thanks to the Floating Homes community for letting us share your backyard for an event that is helping this city experience so much happiness and connection," Hillesheim said.

Ready for more music on the water? Join us for the next Dock Rock at Portage Bay on August 22nd from 2–5 PM!   For more info, go to lakeunionconcerts.com 

We want everyone to have a fantastic and stress-free afternoon. To help keep our local streets clear and our neighbors happy, we kindly ask that land-based visitors avoid parking in the immediate Portage Bay neighborhood. Instead, we recommend parking on the University side of the lake. There is plenty of space there, and it’s a beautiful, easy paddle across to the music! Just remember to stay mindful of your surroundings while on the water. We can’t wait to see you there!