Sleater-Kinney's Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker headlined the South Sound Block Party on Aug. 28 and used the Olympia stage to salute the college where they met.

The two Evergreen State College alumni played the opening night of the two-day waterfront festival at the Port of Olympia's Northpoint. Before the set, following a sound check, Brownstein and Tucker met with Evergreen representatives and posed with an Evergreen tie-dye shirt, according to the college.

Later that evening, they acknowledged their connection to Evergreen from the stage as alumni and community members cheered.

The performance opened Return to Evergreen, the college's annual alumni weekend.

On Saturday, Aug. 29, more than 200 alumni gathered on campus for workshops, seminars and social events. Attendees represented 49 of Evergreen's 54 graduating classes and traveled from 15 states and the District of Columbia.

Brownstein graduated from Evergreen in 1998. Tucker graduated in 1994. The two met as students during a burst of artistic activity in Olympia. Tucker was already performing with the band Heavens to Betsy, while Brownstein played with Excuse 17.

They formed Sleater-Kinney in 1994, building a sound rooted in the Pacific Northwest's independent music scene.

The band went on to build an international audience in indie rock. Brownstein is also known as the co-creator and star of the television series "Portlandia." Tucker has continued recording through projects including the Corin Tucker Band and Filthy Friends.

Evergreen sponsored the Aug. 28–29 festival, now in its fifth year. The Olympian reported that organizers announced the 2026 edition would be the festival's last.

In a post published the following week, the college called the backstage meeting a moment of recognition between Evergreen and two alumni who built something entirely their own.

Return to Evergreen's next edition has not been announced.