Editor’s note: First-time Block Partier Julie Reposa joined the masses on Capitol Hill this weekend to revel and capture some highlights. Here’s her story. —LD

Despite the near-perfect weather, I felt a hint of trepidation when I arrived at the Capitol Hill Block Party on Friday. Having heard some crazy crowd-control stories from years past, I secretly dreaded a hipster pig-pile.

While the festival site was certainly crowded, it was much more orderly than expected. (In fact, even the porta-potties were pretty clean.) I wish I had found a map of the festival layout sooner, though. Where was the main stage? Where was the beer garden? How many steps would I have to walk between the two…in case that became an issue?

But finally it was time to get down to business: seeking out the highlight of the bill, local folk-rockers the Head and the Heart on the mainstage. Emanating pure joy and delivering catchy melodies, the band has emerged as a new favorite, snagging spots at several Northwest festivals (including Sasquatch earlier this summer, and Doe Bay Festival in August). Their star is rapidly on the rise—3.8 from Pitchfork be damned!

Speaking of rapidly rising stars: Indie pop act Cults came and went at Neumos—and I missed it. My only consolation was that (from what I hear) the crowd was packed in like sardines in a can for the entire set. No doubt we’ll see Cults come through Seattle again soon, but in the meantime, I suggest you pick up their self-titled debut album. (You can thank me later.)

On Saturday, local indie poppers Telekinesis packed the mainstage and gave an exuberant performance. Bellingham punks Federation X played a power-packed KEXP live set at the quaint Caffe Vita Bean Room with huge stacks of bean-filled burlap sacks acting as unlikely seating.

Back-to-back sets by Portland band Lovers and Seattle band Seapony felt especially satisfying, both because the narrowness of the Vera stage helped corral bands closer to audiences for an intimate feel, and because Pagliacci Pizza and Bluebird homemade ice cream were also within reach.

In the end, the hipster hellscape I secretly feared never overwhelmed the festivities. Overall, the crowd seemed to be a good mix, accommodating families and younger children as well as the aforementioned hipster throngs. And for the most part, it was easy to walk around without being all up in each other’s business. If you ask me, Washington state has the best music festivals in the country. Next up: Bumbershoot!