Beck, Band of Horses and Lucinda Williams may have been bigger names, but artists with roots in Tacoma were also hits Saturday – opening day for the 38th annual Bumbershoot festival.

Former Tacoma resident Neko Case opened the main stage at Seattle Center’s Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon, singing dreamy, traditional country numbers from last fall’s “Fox Confessor Brings the Flood” album.

Meanwhile, spunky singer-songwriter Vicci Martinez – a longtime favorite at Tacoma venues – was busy rocking the Mural Amphitheatre on the other side of Seattle Center’s campus.

Martinez and her four-piece backing band wowed with an upbeat blend of rock, soul, folk and country. She left Mom feeling proud as she waited for her daughter to sign autographs for a few dozen fans afterward.

“It was a huge crowd,” said Yolanda Martinez.

“She kept the energy high and kept the crowd motivated,” she added.

Martinez had plenty of support from South Sound fans who made the drive north.

“Every time she sings, she sings from inside,” said Juan Carlos of Tacoma, who has followed Martinez since he saw her appear on the TV show “Star Search” in 2003.

“Since then I was hooked. I try to follow her everywhere she goes,” he said.

And she even made a few new fans, including Seattleite David Utevsky, who said he preferred jazz but found himself bobbing his head during Martinez’s twangy anthem “Sunshine.”

“I think she’s very good for her genre,” he said. “She’s a very talented songwriter and singer.”

Martinez had been visibly caught up in the moment as she thanked fans during her performance. And afterward, she copped to being a bit overwhelmed.

“I got emotional. I did,” she said. “A lot of people that I have really appreciated as musicians have come and done this.”

Tacoma band Mono in VCF also showcased its dreamy, cinematic brand of pop Saturday evening at the Experience Music Project. And the locals were part of an eclectic lineup that featured some of the biggest names in pop – Beck, Band of Horses and Lucinda Williams on the main stage – along with comedians, poets, poster artists, street performers, extreme athletes and more.

Phillip Lomax stood near the Fisher Green stage Saturday afternoon, checking out Seattle rapper MC Grynch. The Whidbey Island native recently moved to Seattle after spending several years abroad, and he thought Bumbershoot ranked with festivals around the world.

“It’s a great feeling to be here,” Lomax said. “It’s just a community brought together.”

Among the new Bumbershoot attractions for 2008 was Project X, a series of interactive time capsules set up around the Seattle Center campus.

“Everything that you hear or that you read has been left behind by someone else that came through,” Project X artistic director Jonathan Walters explained as patrons entered one of four trailers set up around Seattle Center.

Inside, a block of ice dangled from the ceiling, with leaves, ticket stubs and other knickknacks encased in its melting core. Visitors were asked to drop more trinkets into a plastic tub below, to be frozen later.

Visitors were also encouraged to record stories about their ancestors.

Also new this year was the Rockstar Vert Ramp, a 20-foot-high half pipe on which pro skaters and BMX riders showed off jaw-dropping stunts.

That’s where Kristin Barlow was hanging out Saturday afternoon. She recently moved to Seattle from Utah and was pleasantly surprised by what she found at Bumbershoot.

“I just came out because I was bored,” she said. “I love Seattle”

Ernest A. Jasmin: 253-274-7389

If you go

Bumbershoot continues through Monday. See www.bumbershoot.org for ticket information and a full schedule of acts.

Find more Bumbershoot 2008 coverage on Bring the Noise at blogs.thenewstribune.com/ej.