BottleRock locks in Red Hot Chili Peppers, Post Malone, Lizzo, Duran Duran, Lil Nas X & The Smashing Pumpkins to play 10th anniversary

BottleRock - 2023 lineup

BottleRock Napa Valley //
Napa Valley Expo – Napa, CA
May 26th-28th, 2023 //

With BeachLife Festival unveiling some exciting news last week by announcing its 2023 lineup, we can expect more music festivals in California to follow suit throughout this month.

But if you were wondering which one would be next, look no further than Napa Valley where BottleRock is gearing up for its 10th anniversary over Memorial Day weekend after tapping Metallica, P!NK, Twenty One Pilots and Luke Combs among others for 2022.

Arriving in our inboxes and social media feeds right on schedule, the three-day music festival’s roster delivers plenty of star power with Red Hot Chili Peppers, Post Malone, Lizzo, Duran Duran, Lil Nas X and The Smashing Pumpkins on the top line while Leon Bridges, Billy Strings, Wu-Tang Clan and The National lead an excellent undercard.

Other notable acts who have signed on to play BottleRock this May include CAAMP, Sheryl Crow, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Carly Rae Jepsen, Bastille, Tove Lo, Phantogram, Japanese Breakfast, Quinn XCII, Yung Gravy, Thievery Corporation, Dayglow, ASHE, Lucius, Teddy Swims, Cautious Clay, Nicky Youre, Los Lobos, WAR, Taj Mahal, Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs, The Airborne Toxic Event, The Struts, Warren G, KennyHoopla, Jean Dawson, Lupe Fiasco, Peter Yorn and more. See the poster above for the rest of this year’s roster.

While the music usually serves as its biggest draw, the festival does offer guests access to a spa and silent disco. Of course, there’s also the Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage, which pairs celebrity chefs with various musicians and athletes for several live cooking demonstrations you won’t want to miss.

Tickets can be purchased here beginning this Tuesday, January 10th at Noon PT. Three-day GA passes will go for $389 plus fees with VIP ($979), Skydeck ($1,799), The Suites ($1,899) and Platinum ($5,495) experiences available too, so make sure to set those alarm clocks stat for a BottleRockin’ good time!

10 California music festivals you won’t want to miss in 2022

2022 California music festivalsWritten by Josh Herwitt //

With live music returning to stages across the U.S. during the second half of last year and spring now right around the corner, 2022 is shaping up to be a monumental year for the industry and a big reason for that is the comeback of the music festival. California has certainly played a major part in its revival coming out of a global pandemic, with a number of single-day and multi-day events already scheduled to take place up and down the Golden State over the next six-plus months. So, who’s ready for festival season to begin?

If you’re itching to hit a music festival, here are 10 in California you should save your cash for this year.


CRSSD Festival - Spring 2022 lineup

CRSSD Festival
Location: Waterfront Park – San Diego
Dates: March 5th-6th
Tickets: Buy them here!

One North American concert promoter who wasn’t deterred by the news surrounding the coronavirus’ omicron variant a few months ago happens to be FNGRS CRSSD, the San Diego-based brand that debuted CRSSD Festival back in 2015 and has been going strong ever since with a spring and fall edition of the event each year. Unleashing another electronic-leaning roster for its first installment in 2022 with Glass Animals and SOFI TUKKER as headliners, CRSSD has managed to hold tight with its plans. Four Tet, Get Real (Claude VonStroke and Green Velvet), Gorgon City, 070 Shake, Blu DeTiger, Cautious Clay, Chet Faker, Parcels, Franc Moody, Lastlings, SG Lewis and more stack the undercard.

READ MORE HERE


Smokin Groves Fest - 2022 lineup

Smokin Grooves Fest
Location: LA State Historic Park – Los Angeles
Dates: March 19th
Tickets: Buy them here!

Smookin Grooves’ lineup has easily matched what it offered fans in 2018 (read our review here) and 2019 (read our review here) after putting on excellent showings both years sheerly by landing Erykah Badu, Nas, The Roots, Miguel and Jhené Aiko to lead the charge. But adding The Internet, Flying Lotus, Kamasi Washington, Thundercat, Smino, Toro y Moi, SiR, Little Dragon, Hiatus Kaiyote and more to the roster makes this another must-see production. The one-day fest is also getting a change of scenery as it relocates north to the 32-acre LA State Historic Park in the Chinatown neighborhood of downtown LA that once hosted FYF Fest and several HARD events.

READ MORE HERE


Coachella - 2022 lineup

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Location: Empire Polo Club – Indio, CA
Dates: April 15th-17th & April 22nd-24th
Tickets: Buy them here!

The three-day, two-weekend event is finally ready to give it another go in April after becoming one of the first large-scale music festivals in the U.S. to postpone its plans when the COVID-19 pandemic took the world by storm almost two years ago. Harry Styles and Billie Eilish will spearhead the 2022 lineup, with Swedish House Mafia back at Coachella for the first time in a decade since the electronic supergroup’s closing set on the main stage in 2012 and The Weeknd added late to help replace Ye (fka Kanye West). The famed California fest has had a penchant for booking more international acts — from BLACKPINK to Bad Bunny — in recent years, and 2022 will be no different.

READ MORE HERE


BeachLife Festival - 2022 lineup

BeachLife Festival
Location: Seaside Lagoon – Redondo Beach, CA
Dates: May 13th-15th
Tickets: Buy them here!

The three-day event moved to September in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s back to its normal month of May this year with plenty to get excited about. Leading the fest’s third installment will be Weezer and 311 as co-headliners on Friday while The Smashing Pumpkins and Steve Miller Band will have their own days — Saturday and Sunday, respectively — to shine even after the sun dips into the Pacific Ocean. Black Pumas, Vance Joy, Sheryl Crow, Stone Temple Pilots and Lord Huron, in the meantime, anchor an impressive undercard for what’s sure to be a party down by the shore.

READ MORE HERE


Just Like Heaven - 2022 lineup

Just Like Heaven
Location: Brookside at the Rose Bowl – Pasadena, CA
Dates: May 21st
Tickets: Buy them here!

The one-day music festival put on by Goldenvoice, which debuted in 2019 and was an instant success, has dropped a 2022 roster that should be a dream come true for any indie music fan. And after a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the show is ready to go on again — although this time it’s migrating north from the Queen Mary Park in Long Beach to take over the Brookside Golf Course at the Rose Bowl — and we still can’t remember the last time heaven ever looked this good. NYC indie rockers Interpol will have the honor of headlining this time around, but sets by Modest Mouse, The Shins, M.I.A., Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, Chromeo, Santigold, Cut Copy, The Hives, Wolf Parade, Peaches, !!!, The Raveonettes and more are likely to leave a lasting impression.

READ MORE HERE


Lightning in a Bottle - 2022 lineup

Lightning in a Bottle
Location: Buena Vista Aquatic Recreation Area – Bakersfield, CA
Dates: May 25th-30th
Tickets: Buy them here!

After being forced to cancel its 15th edition more than 18 months ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the “transformational festival” is returning to Kern County over Memorial Day weekend and The Do LaB has retained a handful of acts on the 2020 roster from headliners like Kaytranada and GRiZ to several undercard standouts such as Purity Ring, Big Wild, Four Tet, Empress Of and Jon Hopkins. But LIB in 2022 will also feature some new blood, starting right at the top of the poster with Glass Animals as well as a pair of Brits in SG Lewis and Little Simz — who are newcomers to the event — on the bill. Other notable names include Chet Faker, Black Coffee, CloZee, Seth Troxler, Monolink, G Jones B2B Eprom, Maya Jane Coles, Goldlink, OPIUO, Chika, Mr. Carmack, Big Freedia, Dirtwire and more, including a Desert Hearts launch party with Lee Reynolds.

READ MORE HERE


BottleRock - 2022 lineup

BottleRock Napa Valley
Location: Napa Valley Expo – Napa, CA
Dates: May 27th-29th
Tickets: Buy them here!

Despite announcing its lineup at the beginning of this year when COVID-19 cases were skyrocketing across the U.S. due to the omicron variant, the three-day event is marching ahead toward its normal timing of Memorial Day weekend after canceling in 2020 and sliding the festivities back to Labor Day weekend in 2021. And much like BottleRock’s previous rosters, 2022’s follows very much in the same vein (i.e. lots of rock ‘n’ roll) with Metallica, P!NK, Twenty One Pilots and Luke Combs topping the bill. The Napa fest’s ninth edition should serve as a special performance for Metallica no less, considering that the legendary heavy-metal band has called the Bay Area home for almost three decades.

READ MORE HERE


Outside Lands - 2022 lineup

Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival
Location: Golden Gate Park – San Francisco
Dates: August 5-7th
Tickets: Buy them here!

After being forced in 2021 to push back its 13th year (read our review here) to Halloween weekend due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the three-day music festival is finally returning to its usual timing in August and spring is when we normally anticipate the lineup dropping every year. But the latest installment of SF’s signature event has a slightly different feel than in years past as Green Day, Post Malone and SZA assume headlining duties with Jack Harlow, Weezer, Phoebe Bridgers, Illenium, Lil Uzi Vert, Kali Uchis, Disclosure, Mitski, Polo & Pan and Anitta leading the undercard. And though all three headliners will be topping the poster at OSL for the first time, Green Day’s performance should carry a little extra weight given that the legacy act is originally from the East Bay.

READ MORE HERE


This Ain't No Picnic Festival 2022

This Ain’t No Picnic
Brookside at the Rose Bowl – Pasadena, CA
Dates: August 27th-28th
Tickets: Buy them here!

Concert promoter Goldenvoice is bringing back This Ain’t No Picnic to SoCal for the first time since 2002 and taking over the Brookside Golf Course at the Rose Bowl for two days in late August (warning: it will be hot) with a killer two-day roster that screams “Pitchfork Fest!” The event has a history of exposing the raw energy of punk-leaning, indie darlings such as Sonic Youth, Sleater-Kinney and Guided by Voices in 1999 before taking another step toward the mainstream by booking Beck, Yo La Tengo, Built to Spill, At the Drive-In and Modest Mouse for its 2000 edition. A couple of NYC products in The Strokes and LCD Soundsystem will serve as headliners in 2022 while the fest’s undercard offers its own set of highlights starting with the reunion of Le Tigre, another NYC product who last reunited in 2016 to give us “I’m with Her” as their latest single.

READ MORE HERE


Primavera Sound Los Angeles - 2022 lineup

Primavera Sound Los Angeles
LA State Historic Park – Los Angeles
Dates: September 16-18th
Tickets: Buy them here!

Primavera Sound has been a staple across the music festival circuit since launching back in 2001 with its Spanish roots firmly planted in Barcelona. But we would be lying if we didn’t admit here that we have eagerly been anticipating the release of Primavera Sound LA’s inaugural lineup, which was originally set to make its U.S. debut in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic put a hold on things, and that news has finally become a reality with Arctic Monkeys, Lorde and Nine Inch Nails set to headline. That said, Arca, Bicep (Live), Buscabulla, Cigarettes After Sex, Clairo, DARKSIDE, Faye Webster, James Blake, Jehnny Beth, Khruangbin, Kim Gordon, King Krule, Low, Mitski, Stereolab and Tierra Whack have all signed on as well to mark what’s looking like a banner year for live music in the City of Angels.

READ MORE HERE


Which of these music festivals are you going to? Which are you looking forward to the most?

Lightning in a Bottle 2016

BeachLife Festival hits the sand in May for third edition with Weezer, 311, The Smashing Pumpkins, Steve Miller Band & more performing

BeachLife Festival - 2022 lineup

BeachLife Festival //
Seaside Lagoon – Redondo Beach, CA
May 13th-15th, 2022 //

The weather outside might be a little chilly right now, but you know what that means? We’re only a few months away from festival season!

Here in California, there has already been plenty of lineup announcements over the past six weeks with Smokin Grooves, This Ain’t No Picnic, Primavera Sound LA, CRSSD and BottleRock all putting out their individual rosters dating from early March to late August. Now, it’s BeachLife Festival’s turn.

The three-day event moved to September in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s back to its normal month of May this year with plenty to get excited about. Leading the fest’s third installment will be Weezer and 311 as co-headliners on Friday while The Smashing Pumpkins and Steve Miller Band will have their own days — Saturday and Sunday, respectively — to shine even after the sun dips into the Pacific Ocean.

If all or some of those names hitting the stage at Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Beach don’t exactly wow you though, don’t stop reading just yet.

BeachLife, which leans heavily in the direction of rock ‘n’ roll and reggae but also incorporates jam, funk and punk acts, has plenty of other talent booked for 2022. Black Pumas, Vance Joy, Sheryl Crow, Stone Temple Pilots and Lord Huron anchor an impressive undercard, but they aren’t the only ones deserving of being mentioned with Cold War Kids, Capital Cities, UB40 feat. Ali Campbell, Milky Chance, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Cannons, Matisyahu, The Allman Betts Band (made up of Devon Allman, Duane Betts and Berry Duane Oakley), Atlas Genius, Sugar Ray, Ozomatli and more on the bill. Check out the poster above for the rest of the scheduled artists and bands.

Want to buy tickets? They’re already on sale here! Three-day GA and GA+ passes can be purchased for $419 or $449, and VIP is available for $899 as well as single-day tickets for $159 (GA), $189 (GA+) and $349 (VIP). And if you’re really looking to throw down some cash, there’s always the three-day Captain’s pass for $2,999 or $1,250 (single-day) so don’t miss the boat on securing your admission to a weekend of live music on the beach before it’s too late.

BottleRock targets Memorial Day weekend again after uncorking 2022 bill led by Metallica, P!NK, Twenty One Pilots & Luke Combs

BottleRock - 2022 lineup

BottleRock Napa Valley //
Napa Valley Expo – Napa, CA
May 27th-29th, 2022 //

Buckle up, BottleRockers! Your favorite Napa Valley music festival is getting back on schedule this year.

Despite COVID-19 cases skyrocketing across the U.S. with the coronavirus’ omicron variant spreading like a wildfire, the three-day event is marching ahead toward its usual timing of Memorial Day weekend after canceling in 2020 and moving to Labor Day weekend in 2021.

And much like BottleRock’s previous rosters, 2022’s follows very much in the same vein (i.e. lots of rock ‘n’ roll) with Metallica, P!NK, Twenty One Pilots and Luke Combs topping the bill. The fest’s ninth edition should serve as a special performance for Metallica no less, considering that the legendary heavy-metal band has called the Bay Area home for almost three decades.

But plenty of other household names have also been procured to fill out the undercard, including The Black Crowes, Kygo, Pitbull, Greta Van Fleet, Mount Westmore (the new hip-hop supergroup formed by Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40 and Too $hort in 2020), Rainbow Kitten Surprise, CHVRCHES, Bleachers, Spoon, BANKS, Alessia Cara, SAINt JHN, Vance Joy, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Silversun Pickups, The Wailers feat. Julian Marley, Iration, Greensky Bluegrass, Grandson, Amos Lee and more. See the poster above for the rest of the lineup.

In addition to all of the artists and bands slated to perform, BottleRock will once again host its annual live cooking demonstrations that see celebrity chefs team up with a variety of musicians — from Alice Cooper to Warren G — and athletes at the Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage.

With tickets going on sale here this Tuesday, January 11th at 10 a.m. PT, there’s no time to wait so don’t forget to set those alarms now! Three-day GA passes will start at $369 plus fees with VIP, Skydeck, The Suites and Platinum experiences also available for purchase. Who’s ready to rock at BottleRock?!?!

BottleRock - 2022 daily lineups

UPDATE (January 12th): BottleRock has unloaded its daily lineups for 2022, with Metallica rocking Friday, Twenty One Pilots performing Saturday, and P!NK and Luke Combs closing things down on Sunday. You can find the list of artists for each day above before single-day tickets go on sale here starting this Thursday, January 13th at 10 a.m. PT.

BottleRock drops new 2021 lineup headlined by Guns N’ Roses, Stevie Nicks & Foo Fighters

BottleRock - 2021 lineup

BottleRock Napa Valley //
Napa Valley Expo – Napa, CA
September 3rd-5th, 2021 //

So much for 2020, right?

After releasing a lineup early last year that never got to play out over Memorial Day weekend due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BottleRock will return to Napa Valley this September with a refreshed roster that includes some newly announced acts as well as some that were revealed a year ago like Steve Nicks.

Joining the Fleetwood Mac singer at the top of the 2021 poster are iconic rock bands Guns N’ Roses and Foo Fighters, creating quite a trilogy of star power for the music festival’s eighth installment over Labor Day weekend.

While BottleRock has always catered to fans of rock ‘n’ roll (just look at many of the fest’s past headliners), it has also tried to offer an eclectic mix of genres and this year’s undercard that’s highlighted by Miley Cyrus, Megan Thee Stallion, G-Eazy, Run the Jewels, Brandi Carlile, Cage the Elephant, Portugal. The Man, Young the Giant, Maren Morris, Black Pumas, Future Islands, LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy (DJ set), Jimmy Eat World, FINNEAS, Polo G, Jack Harlow, Milky Chance, Jessie Reyez, Dominic Fike, Chromeo, Mavis Staples and Jon Batiste proves that to be the case once again. And don’t forget about Village People! After all, how often do you get to see the legendary disco group perform live these days? Anyway, peep the poster above for the rest of the lineup.

But amidst all of the music, the three-day event will have its annual live cooking demonstrations between a variety of celebrity chefs, musicians and athletes at its beloved Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage that has seen appearances over the last several years by Alice Cooper, The Avett Brothers, Big Boi, Brett Dennen, Dan the Automator, E-40, Fitz and the Tantrums, Grouplove, Halsey, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Michael Franti, Questlove, Shakey Graves, Silversun Pickups, Snoop Dogg, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Tank and the Bangas, Warren G and more, too.

Tickets go on sale this Thursday, May 20th at 10 a.m. PT here and start at $369 for a three-day GA pass while it’s $849 if you’re going for VIP. And if you’ve been saving up during quarantine, there’s always the three-day skydeck pass that will cost you a cool $1,599 or the platinum for a whopping $4,350.

BottleRock - 2021 daily lineups

UPDATE (May 24th): BottleRock has released its daily lineups for 2021, with Stevie Nicks performing Friday, Guns N’ Roses rocking Saturday and Foo Fighters closing things down on Sunday. Take a look at the daily schedules above before single-day tickets go on sale here for $187 (GA) or $211 (FLEX) plus fees each day starting this Thursday, May 27th at 10 a.m. PT.

BottleRock goes with Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews Band & Stevie Nicks to lead 2020 lineup

BottleRock - 2020 lineup

BottleRock Napa Valley //
Napa Valley Expo – Napa, CA
May 22nd-24th, 2020 //

Coachella has predicated itself on being the first major U.S. music festival to drop its lineup at the start of the new year for quite a while, and now that the three-day, two-weekend festival in the desert has booked Rage Against the Machine, Travis Scott and Frank Ocean to headline its 2020 edition, it’s time to turn our attention north as BottleRock regularly reveals its own roster around this time too.

Because if you’re a fan of rock ‘n’ roll, then the Napa Valley event might be right up your alley.

Celebrating its eighth year this Memorial Day weekend, BottleRock in 2020 will be led by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews Band and Stevie Nicks after putting Imagine Dragons, Neil Young and Mumford & Sons atop the bill a year ago. Of course, those are just your headliners.

The undercard, meanwhile, boasts plenty of big names as well, including Miley Cyrus, Khalid, Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals, Zedd, Brandi Carlile, The Avett Brothers, Janelle Monáe, Maggie Rogers, Blondie, Of Monsters and Men, Maren Morris, Empire of the Sun, FOALS, Tegan and Sara, Jimmy Eat World, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Local Natives and many more.

As usual, attendees will also able to witness live cooking demonstrations between a variety of celebrity chefs, musicians and athletes at the fest’s beloved Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage.

Tickets go on sale this Tuesday, January 7th at 10 a.m. PT here and start at $349 for a three-day GA pass while VIP goes for $849 (before prices increase). But if you really want to splurge this year, there’s always the three-day skydeck pass for a measly $1,599 or the platinum for $4,350.

BottleRock taps Imagine Dragons, Neil Young and Mumford & Sons to headline 2019 edition

BottleRock - 2019 lineup

BottleRock Napa Valley //
Napa Valley Expo – Napa, CA
May 24th-26th, 2019 //

If you didn’t hear, festival season is officially back.

With Coachella releasing its 2019 lineup last week just two days into the New Year, many other large-scale music festivals are gearing up to unveil their rosters. Up in Napa Valley, BottleRock has done just that with Imagine Dragons, Neil Young and Mumford & Sons topping the bill for its seventh edition this Memorial Day weekend after Bruno Mars, The Killers and Muse led the way for the 2018 installment. For the 73-year-old Young, it will mark his first date in California with Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real backing him since their headlining performance last June at Arroyo Seco Weekend (read our review here).

More than 80 artists and bands will once again hit downtown Napa to perform at the three-day event in late May, including Logic, Pharrell Williams, Santana, OneRepublic, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Tash Sultana, Sylvan Esso, Gary Clark Jr., Lord Huron, Flogging Molly, Juanes, Michael Franti & Spearhead, AJR, Cypress Hill, Big Boi and many more. Plus, live cooking demonstrations between a variety of celebrity chefs and Hollywood stars, from musicians to athletes, will return to BottleRock’s beloved Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage.

Tickets go on sale this Tuesday, January 8th at 10 a.m. PT here and start at $359 for a three-day GA pass (or $159 for a one-day). Both three-day VIP and platinum passes are already sold out, but you can buy a one-day VIP pass for $349 and a three-day skydeck pass for an eye-popping $1,599 if you really want to go big.

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - The Struts

BottleRock unveils 2017 bill, topped by Foo Fighters, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Maroon 5

BottleRock Napa Valley - 2017 lineup

BottleRock Napa Valley //
Napa Valley Expo – Napa, CA
May 26th-28th, 2017 //

The New Year is here, and festival organizers aren’t waiting long to unveil their 2017 lineups.

After CRSSD kicked things off two weeks ago by revealing their own bill, BottleRock Napa Valley has made it official with Foo Fighters, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and Maroon 5 booked as headliners for its fifth edition this Memorial Day weekend.

The three-day festival in downtown Napa will feature more than 80 artists and bands across four stages. Notable artists include Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Modest Mouse, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, The Roots, Silversun Pickups, Band of Horses, Fitz and The Tantrums, Dirty Heads, Live, The Naked & Famous, The Devil Makes Three, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Gavin DeGraw, St. Lucia, House of Pain, Bob Moses, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Saint Motel, The Strumbellas, AlunaGeorge, Frightened Rabbit, Andra Day, Galactic, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, Mavis Staples and many more.

Like it did last year with classic stoner-comedy duo Cheech & Chong as well as former “Hell’s Kitchen” star Gordon Ramsay, BottleRock’s Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage will be back on the grounds to pair celebrity chefs with some of Hollywood’s biggest names.

Tickets go on sale this Wednesday, January 4th at 10 a.m. here and start at $309 before going up to $349 for a three-day GA pass. VIP passes will be sold for as low as $659 (and as high as $709), and a three-day platinum pass is as much as $3,500.

In the meantime, make sure to take a peek at our 2016 coverage of BottleRock, which saw Stevie Wonder, Florence & the Machine and the Red Hot Chili Peppers serve as headliners.

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - White Panda

BottleRock Napa Valley makes more strides in 2016

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016By Mike Rosati & Norm de Veyra //

BottleRock Napa Valley //
Napa Valley Expo – Napa, CA
May 27th-29th, 2016 //

BottleRock Napa Valley once again returned to downtown Napa over Memorial Day weekend for its fourth edition, boasting an improved fan experience and an eclectic bill of music over a three-day stretch.

Serving as this year’s headliners were Stevie Wonder, Florence & the Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers, while other notable acts included The Lumineers, Death Cab for Cutie, Lenny Kravitz, Walk the Moon, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Ziggy Marley, Grouplove and more.

But some of the best performances of the weekend came from artists playing on the festival’s smaller stages, from Long Beach’s Cold War Kids to Welsh alt-rockers The Joy Formidable. The Suffers, a 10-piece soul band from Texas, made one of the biggest impressions on the final day of BottleRock, along with San Francisco indie-pop outfit Dangermaker and singer-songwriter Langhorne Slim.

BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 - Florence & the Machine


Florence & the Machine

Among all of the music being played, one of the highlights was undoubtedly the festival’s Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage, which welcomed appearances by classic stoner-comedy duo Cheech & Chong (who kicked things off with a special show at The Uptown Theater in Napa the night before BottleRock) and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. Even “American Pie” actor Thomas Ian Nicholas joined in on the fun during a set dedicated to the 1999 film.

Showbams was on hand for all three days of BottleRock, noting an upgraded layout, more food/beverage options and better VIP accommodations than in past years. And though the festival still has room to grow, it has come a long way in a relatively short amount of time.

The Struts bring retro rock and a swagger to Napa

The StrutsBy Norm de Veyra //

The Struts //
Napa Valley Opera House – Napa, CA
May 28th, 2016 //

UK four-piece The Struts seem prime for an explosive 2016 if their rousing performances last weekend surrounding BottleRock Napa Valley were any indication.

Led by their dynamic and charismatic frontman Luke Spiller, the band took the stage at the Napa Valley Opera House this past Saturday for a sold-out, late-night show and laid down an hour-long set of retro-cool, over-the-top rock ‘n’ roll that delighted the enthusiastic crowd.

The Struts

As The Struts blazed through several of their massive singalongs from their debut album Everybody Wants, the audience couldn’t help but feed off the high energy and attitude from Spiller. His style and swagger most definitely hearken back to a different time and space in popular music — and that’s a positive.

For many inside the venue, it was their second viewing of the band that day as the late-night show capped off a buzz-worthy BottleRock debut at the three-day music festival hours earlier. After experiencing their live show for the first time, it’s tough to imagine a group with such a sheer amount of swagger, energy and fun NOT becoming your next favorite band. It’s word of mouth that just may endanger The Struts’ “under-the-radar” status now.

BottleRock drops 2016 lineup, led by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Wonder, Florence + the Machine

BottleRock Napa 2016 lineup

BottleRock Napa Valley //
Napa Valley Expo – Napa, CA
May 27th-29th, 2016 //

While everyone has been fixating on Monday night’s Coachella lineup announcement, which includes a reunited LCD Soundsystem and some form of Guns N’ Roses headlining the Indio festival, BottleRock Napa Valley was busy unveiling their own bill less than a day later.

The three-day festival in downtown Napa, which appeals to an older crowd than the aforementioned Coachella, announced its lineup early Tuesday and will welcome Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Wonder and Florence + the Machine as headliners over Memorial Day weekend.

With more than 70 artists scheduled to perform across four stages, other noteworthy acts on this year’s lineup include The Lumineers, Death Cab for Cutie, Lenny Kravitz, Walk the Moon, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Ziggy Marley, Grouplove, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Gogol Bordello, Cold War Kids, Iration, Misterwives, Atlas Genius, Buddy Guy, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, The Pharcyde, The Joy Formidable, X Ambassadors, Ozomatli and Jamestown Revival.

BottleRock will also be bringing back and expanding its popular Culinary Stage that’s known for matching culinary stars up with celebrities, as last year’s festival saw Snoop Dogg teaming up with “Iron Chef” Masaharu Morimoto.

Tickets go on sale on Thursday, January 7th at 10 a.m. here and start at $269 for a three-day GA pass. VIP passes will be sold for $619, and a three-day platinum pass is as much as $3,100.

So, as you get ready for your “first taste of summer,” go back in time with our 2014 coverage.

BottleRock 2014: Don’t call it a comeback

BottleRock-Crowd2Photos by Tom Dellinger // Written by Mike Frash, Molly Kish & Kevin Quandt //

BottleRock Napa Valley //
Napa County Fairgrounds – Napa, CA
May 30th-June 1st, 2014 //

Never has a festival jumped onto the ‘90s nostalgia train as BottleRock Napa Valley 2014 did. Curated largely around bands that peaked more than a decade ago — including The Cure, Weezer, Blues Traveler, Third Eye Blind, Barenaked Ladies, Smashmouth & LL Cool J — it was easy to wonder if aiming for an older demographic made sense when it’s largely youngsters that are feeding the current festival boom.

So was this a smart move for a festival in the heart of wine country? Damn straight it was.

The Napa Valley location screams “destination-event” for folks 15-years into building their 401K, helping to feed the local economy in a serious rebound year. But it’s dangerous to throw all the musical eggs into such a narrow basket. Enter OutKast, the festival booking of the summer, and other strategically-placed artist options that appeal beyond mainstream radio. Year two has proved that BottleRock Napa Valley is eclectic in a way that is truly their own.

In the words of LL Cool J, don’t call it a comeback, as the third iteration of BRNV has already been announced. Now that opinions have settled and the wine stains have been removed, here are our top five sets of the weekend, along with a breakdown of BottleRock changes this year, for better or worse.

BottleRock

Top 5 Sets of the Weekend

The Cure
Robert Smith still has “it”. Simply put, the 50-something frontman is still the musical force he was well over 30 years ago, and he effortlessly proved that to a modest, yet passionate crowd. Being rewarded with the longest set of the weekend was no surprise and it was easily tackled by Smith and cohorts as they jumped seamlessly between slightly more obscure tracks such as “alt.end” or “Never Enough” and sing-along hits like “Lovesong” and “Friday I’m In Love”. “Before Three” was a hardcore-fan favorite as it has been considered a shining light on 2004’s self-titled and hadn’t been played on stage since the same year. All in all, this set was one massive treat for fans of The Cure as the superb sound, manageable crowd and intricate setlist added up to the undoubtable highlight set of the weekend. Hell, not even having the sound cut due to a strict curfew in the second encore during “Why Can’t I Be You?” could phase the band or crowd. -KQ

TV On The Radio
One of the more avant-garde sets of the weekend came from TVOTR as they rocked a mid-sized Friday afternoon crowd. Many attendees were camping out for The Cure and were treated to a twelve song barrage of hits and reconfigured favorites. Working the heat-stricken crowd, the band debuted three new songs off an album in the works, igniting a strong response from die-hard fans — two of which were played mid-set before launching full throttle into a stirring second half of their performance, including an spectacular punk rendition of “Staring at the Sun”, played at double the pace. Other highlight tracks included “Golden Age”, “Halfway Home” and an impressive delivery of “Wolf Like Me”, riveting the crowd to unleash their inner beasts. -MK

OutKast
Saturday clearly took the crown for busiest day in celebration of André 3000 & Big Boi’s reunion tour appearance, and disappoint they did not. Tightly produced and incident free, OutKast’s headlining set kept the fairgrounds bouncin’ and engaged, often relating between-song banter to the Bay Area. For anyone that attended the first weekend of Coachella, this was a redemption show. It was nearly the same set list and performance, but this time without the technical glitches and awkward stage presence of André 3000. While Big Boi is the consistent, poised professional, his partner is a bit of a wildcard, yet he shined bright this night. André 3000’s rhymes were clean and on point as he sported a jumpsuit with “I’ve never had F@cebook, Twitt@r or Inst@gram” written on it. The fairgrounds were alive all the way to the back, with virtually everyone vibing to the music. Overall, it was a winning return to Northern California, even though the Atlanta duo ended fifteen minutes early without an encore, disappointing many still hanging on every word from the last song of the night, “The Whole World”. -MF

Weezer
Weezer was the best example of a band well equipped to override the generational gaps of the weekend. Beyond the likes of Third Eye Blind, Weezer is arguably the most successful band on the bill in the context of career spanning, mainstream radio airplay. Even after playing through the set’s first song “My Name Is Jonas”, completely unaware they were absent of sound, Weezer still went on to perform one of the most memorable sets of the weekend. It was a near-perfect technical glitch, causing the main-stage audience to erupt into uproarious cheers once amplified sound returned. Pulling from their long list of hit singles, Weezer covered their entire body of work and even managed to mix in some band improvisation and cover songs. Highlights included Rivers Cuomo and Patrick Wilson switching instruments for “Photograph” and a cover of Blur’s “Song 2”, as well as Scott Shriner working the Primus hit “Jerry Was A Race Car Driver” into their self-titled album single, “Pork and Beans”. -MK

Deerhunter
“The Deerhunter musical group,” as they were introduced on the smallest stage late Sunday, must have felt a bit out of place due to the sparse crowd and intimate setting. But Bradford Cox’s group paid no mind for this one-off performance. While Eric Church and The Fray played to much bigger audiences, Deerhunter’s unique combination of shoegaze, noise-pop, and psych-rock offered a clear alternative to mainstream fare. An opening section of ‘Nothing Ever Happened” into “Hazel St” from the group’s early material was blissfully extended into jam territory, led by guitarist Locket Pundt — the elongated bridge between the songs sounded like a Lotus Plaza cut, another group that Pundt fronts. Highlights from Deerhunter’s most recent records, Halcyon Digest and Monomania, filled out the set, and another extended segment from “Desire Lines” directly into “Helicopter” hypnotized. As expected, Deerhunter delivered a transcendent set that felt like something out of a dream. -MF

BottleRock-Crowd

For Better or Worse…

Although similar in many aspects to BottleRock’s first year, many issues were vastly improved while certain complications remained.

Improvements:

•The amount of general admission bathrooms seemed as though they nearly doubled this time around, making it a very easy process to get in and out for the least favorite part of any festivalgoer’s experience.

• Larger and more staff-operated water filling stations kept concert attendees well-hydrated.

• There was an increase in knowledgeable and friendly volunteer staff who were generally excited to help with questions.

• Food options were improved, further enhanced by vendors on foot providing quick access to snacks and beverages without having to leave your spot amidst even the largest crowds of the weekend.

Questionable Changes:

• The absence of last year’s indoor comedy showcases, which provided hilarious, air-conditioned entertainment away from the penetrable afternoon sun was disappointing.

• There were price increases and a lack of varietal options in the sponsored tasting rooms. Not being able to sample enough participating vineyards due to the $15 per glass price removed most concert goers from the “wine” identity of the festival.

• The wine pouches similar to Capri Sun were gone this year, and perhaps we should file this under “Improvements” since this meant there were way less “wombies” wondering the grounds this year.

• Encouragement of lawn chairs and blankets caused some spatial constraints throughout headliners sets and afternoon/evening crowds, particularly on Saturday. Although, those who set up vast camps by staking their claim early benefitted from the suggestion.

Remaining Issues:

• For those that partook in the festival shuttle service to the parking lots four miles away, transportation issues remained or worsened. Between going to the wrong lots and sparse directions available upon leaving the venue, the BRNV’s travel turmoil remained at the forefront of festivalgoer discrepancy.

• Corporate sponsorships somehow increased this year, as video advertisements with audio between sets didn’t feel right, especially when daily tickets already cost $150.

• Set scheduling was a bit of a problem considering this year’s larger crowds. Whereas most festivals will organize acts to start/finish at separate intervals throughout the day, crowds we’re releasing from all three stages at parallel times throughout the weekend, unleashing hoards of folks upon vendors and bathrooms at the same time.


Decanting BottleRock 2014 before its return to Napa

BottleRock_post1Photos by Susan J Weiand // Written by Molly Kish //

BottleRock Napa Valley //
Napa County Fairgrounds – Napa, CA
May 30th-June 1st, 2014 //

After a rocky start to their inaugural year, BottleRock Napa Valley is back with an even bigger lineup of artists, vendors and something to prove. Distancing themselves from the legal woes of 2013’s dramatic aftermath, the festival is moving forward under a team of new, local management calling themselves Latitude 38 Entertainment. With roots in the community and genuine concern for the Napa Valley resident’s concerns regarding Bottle Rock, the team took on millions of dollars in outstanding debts and made promises that the 2014 festivities will provide a mutually beneficial boost for the local economy.

The festival will be running three days — Friday, May 30 through Sunday, June 1 — and tickets are available to purchase as a single day, three day pass, VIP, Platinum and group rate packages.

Each day’s line up is uniquely billed and arguably draws some of the largest and most genre-diversifying names currently touring. Although garnering some critical slack for the pronounced representation of late nineties buzz bands, there’s one undeniable truth that Bottle Rock has over every other Northern California-based festival for the remainder of the season…they won the bidding war for OutKast! The duo of André 3000 and Big Boi will be lighting up the Napa Valley Fairgrounds with one of the West Coast’s most anticipated tour stops of 2014.

Showbams recommends the following performances:

Friday:
-The Cure
-TV On The Radio
-Mayer Hawthorne
-Robert De Long
-Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe
-Railroad Earth
-Delta Rae
-Empires

Saturday:
-OutKast
-De La Soul
-Third Eye Blind
-No Age
-Weezer
-Blues Traveler
-Tea Leaf Green
-The Soft White Sixties

Sunday:
-Deerhunter
-Thee Oh Sees
-Black Angels
-LL Cool J with DJ Z-Trip
-Camper Van Beethoven
-The Stone Foxes

Check out a full rundown of the Bottle Rock daily schedule.

BottleRock_post2

While general admission will gain you access to all of the festival stages, wine tasting tents and gourmet food court, if you’re feeling like dropping a few extra dollars, the VIP perks this year have significantly upgraded.

Beyond the parking, ins-outs, shaded bars and private bathroom areas, VIP ticket holders have an entirely separate area to catch live music with the addition of the 2014 VIP Lounge. The lounge offers comfortable seating paired with access to private food and wine experiences, available strictly to VIP ticket holders.

Platinum Passes take it one step further with on stage viewing spots, meet and greet opportunities, on-site concierge service, catering by Napa Valley celebrity chefs, premium cocktails/boutique wine selections and parking on the event site.

The opportunity to indulge in gourmet food, artisan spirits, craft beers and clink glasses with local vintners plays a unique role in the distinctive BottleRock experience. Unlike other festivals nationwide, the location of the fairgrounds truly allows for the community to showcase what they are known for worldwide on an incomparable scale. Highlighting elite members of Napa’s award winning food and beverage industry, concert goers are awarded the unique opportunity to meet and greet local celebrities, excited to introduce the fruits of their labor with the festival community.

Ultimately, BottleRock Napa prides its sophomore year on creating an entirely new and hopefully opinion-altering experience. Under new management, the festival is aiming to please! With a little bit of something for everyone, BottleRock’s eclectically impressive line-up, craft libations and finger licking festival fare, tickets are dwindling and rightfully so. Get on it!

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BottleRock Napa Valley: 5 reasons to get there early

BottleRock-2013Written by Mike Frash & Molly Kish //

BottleRock Napa Valley //
Napa County Fairgrounds – Napa, CA
May 9th-12th, 2013 //

The inaugural BottleRock Napa Valley, a new music festival that also features a diverse selection of food, wine, comedy & beer, is set to launch next week. Situated on four stages spread over 26 acres on the grounds at the Napa Valley Expo in the city of Napa, more than three dozen chefs and restaurateurs will join more than 50 wineries and artisan brewers during BottleRock. The comedy choices are stellar, with Daily Show correspondents and veterans Wyatt Cenac, Assif Mandvi, Kristen Schall and Demetri Martin providing depth — and most likely plenty of laughs. But let’s be honest, the main reason folks will be heading to Napa next week is for the music.

The music lineup is stacked with A-List headliners and plenty of living legends like The Black Keys, Further, Jane’s Addiction and Primus. And there are also plenty of fast-rising contemporary mega-bands like The Avett Brothers, Alabama Shakes and Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros.

And it’s not too late to buy 4-day, 3-day and single-day passes!

While there are plenty of well-known, top-notch rock groups playing at BottleRock, there is also a surprisingly strong undercard. We present five excellent early performers — five reasons to get to Napa early during the festival.

Delta-Spirit
Delta Spirit ~ 1:45 p.m. Thursday

Touring steadily this past year in support of their self titled third album, Delta Spirit hits the stage Thursday, kicking off the festival with their infectious brand of alternative folk. Riding off the success of their breakthrough single “California”, which Amazon Music named best song of 2012, the band has been bringing their unique sound to intimate venues, sold out festivals, top syndicated television/radio shows and every fan filled stage in between. This is their only west coast stop on their summer tour so far, and BottleRock Napa will provide the perfect setting to become acquainted with the local flavor Delta Spirit brings to the stage.


allah-las
Allah-Las ~ 1:15 p.m. Friday

Clangy guitar riffs, rattling drum rolls, echo chamber vocals all in perfectly off-pitch harmony: the Allah-Las transport you back to a time of lo-fi production at its finest. Writing and recording most of their material in a dug out basement along the California coastline, the guys embody the quintessential garage rock sound of the late 60’s with a west coast flare. Effortlessly mezmerizing, the band’s performance will cater to an early Friday crowd, luring fans into the festival grounds. This set will be a great soundtrack for a sun soaked afternoon, allowing crowds to leisurely assimilate to the remaining festival weekend.


Sharon-Van-Etten
Sharon Van Etten ~ 1 p.m. Saturday

Sharon Van Etten has finally gotten the attention she deserves following her 2012 breakthrough record Tramp. Her swooning voice and slow-building song arrangements have a pied-piper effect; it’s easy to close your eyes and drift away to Etten’s hypnotic sounds. Her lyrics often seem like longing cries for love lost, but her voice is utilized more as an instrument than a methodology for storytelling – her siren call is one that shouldn’t be missed live.


Allen-Stone
Allen Stone ~ 2:45 p.m. Saturday

Landing directly in the middle of the weekend’s line up, soulful powerhouse Allen Stone will reinvigorate the wine-weary crowds with his energetic live show and electrifying vocal range. This serial vagabond is coming straight off a two-weekend stint at Coachella, an appearance at the Food and Wine Festival in Austin, and he’s working his way back down the coast from Seattle to kick of his summer touring schedule right here in Napa. Selling out nationwide shows on a nightly basis, Stone lives for the live performance and brings the crowd literally to their feet in his signature crowd participation dance-offs. A welcomed burst of energy to the mid-day agenda, this show will undoubtedly get the audience moving and ready for the rest of the fest.


Rogue-Wave
Rogue Wave ~ 2:15 p.m. Sunday

East Bay indie rockers Rogue Wave will be releasing their 5th LP Nightingale Floors June 4th, and BottleRock Napa will be hosting the duo’s only live performance before the new record releases. Some of the best tracks from their forthcoming LP will be previewed alongside their mostly acoustic-based catalogue of songs. This will be a lovely, mellow set early on Sunday.