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Goldenvoice cooks up another batch of Coachella sideshows in 2026

February 18, 2026 by Josh Herwitt Leave a Comment

As you might recall, Goldenvoice surprised many of us several months ago when it decided to release the 2026 lineup for Coachella well ahead of schedule.

The renowned promoter’s signature event in the California desert is celebrating 25 years this April after all, and though the shocking announcement back in September marked its earliest lineup drop yet, this is typically the time when Paul Tollett and company divulge their Coachella sideshows in support of the three-day, two-weekend festival.

With more than a decade under its belt now, that annual tradition will continue in 2026 and offer anyone who isn’t heading out to Indio — and even those who are — the chance to hear what music is coming to the Empire Polo Club in less than two months.

Southern Californians will have the most options to choose from, but just like the 2025 sideshows, this year’s “Goldenvoice Presents April” concert series will include the Bay Area as well. A total of 30 dates will span across Los Angeles County while also reaching Santa Barbara and San Diego in comparison to the 14 that will take place up north and extend into the month of May.

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Getting to experience some of the acts performing at Coachella in an intimate setting has always been one of the biggest selling points for these sideshows. However, many of the venues selected shouldn’t be overlooked either. Not only is the majestic Santa Barbara Bowl back in the equation for instance, but so are The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park and Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay down south after both were included for the first time in 2024.

Many of the venues owned and operated by Goldenvoice in and around LA will once again be used too, from The Roxy and Fonda Theatre to The Glass House and Fox Theater Pomona out east where Tollett got his start. Though the Bay Area will officially kick off the festivities in March, the SoCal sideshows get underway a month later when Disclosure grace the stage for not one but two nights. And if we are going by past numbers, the 44 sideshows in 2026 is nearly identical to what we saw last year after significantly less in 2024 and 2023 (the record remains 62 in 2017 according to our count).

Below is the list of “Goldenvoice Presents April” sideshows in SoCal:

• Disclosure: April 7th (TUE) & April 8th (WED) @ Santa Barbara Bowl
• French Police: April 9th (THU) @ The Fonda Theatre
• RØZ with Cachirula & Loojan: April 9th (THU) @ The Glass House
• FKA twigs: April 9th (THU) @ The Sound (San Diego)
• Adam Beyer: April 10th (FRI) @ Sound Nightclub (21+)
• Groove Armada: April 11th (SAT) @ Sound Nightclub (21+)
• Royel Otis: April 13th (MON) @ The Sound (San Diego)
• David Byrne: April 14th (TUE) @ Santa Barbara Bowl
• Lykke Li: April 14th (TUE) @ The Fonda Theatre
• Subtronics: April 14th (TUE) @ The Fonda Theatre
• Los Retros with Carolina Durante: April 14th (TUE) @ The Glass House
• Ethel Cain: April 14th (TUE) @ The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park (San Diego)
• COBRAH: April 14th (TUE) @ The Sound (San Diego)
• Röyksopp (DJ Set) & LE YORA: April 14th (TUE) @ Sound Nightclub (21+)
• Fleshwater with Febuary: April 14th (TUE) @ The Roxy Theatre
• Noga Erez: April 15th (WED) @ El Rey Theatre
• Joost Klein: April 15th (WED) @ The Fonda Theatre
• Swae Lee: April 15th (WED) @ The Novo
• The Two Lips: April 15th (WED) @ The Roxy Theatre
• Wet Leg: April 15th (WED) @ Fox Theater Pomona
• DEVO: April 15th (WED) @ Humphreys Concerts by the Bay (San Diego)
• Prospa & Riordan: April 15th (WED) @ Sound Nightclub (21+)
• Mind Enterprises: April 16th (THU) @ The Roxy Theatre
• 54 Ultra with WHATMORE: April 16th (THU) @ The Glass House
• Dimension: April 16th (THU) @ Sound Nightclub (21+)
• Tomora: April 16th (THU) @ El Rey Theatre
• Suicidal Tendencies with Ceremony: April 16th (THU) @ Fox Theater Pomona
• &friends: April 17th (FRI) @ Sound Nightclub (21+)
• Joezi: April 18th (SAT) @ Sound Nightclub (21+)

Ready to get out there and see some live music? Tickets for the SoCal sideshows will go on sale here this Friday, February 20th or next Friday, February 27th at Noon PT. Most of the Bay Area shows have already gone on sale with the remaining ones available this Friday, February 20th. Fans can win a pair of Weekend 2 passes to Coachella as well, plus a Golden ticket to every “Goldenvoice Presents April” show in SoCal or NorCal (there are separate contests at the aforementioned link). It’s free to enter so don’t forget … fingers crossed!

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals Tagged With: &friends, 54 Ultra, Adam Beyer, Cachirula, Carolina Durante, Ceramony, Ceremony, Coachella, Coachella 2026, Coachella 2026 sideshows, Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Music and Arts Festival 2026, Coachella sideshows, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival 2026, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2026, COBRAH, David Byrne, Devo, Dimension, Disclosure, El Rey Theatre, Ethel Cain, Febuary, FKA twigs, Fleshwater, Fox Theater Pomona, French Police, Groove Armada, Humphreys Concerts by the bay, JADALAREIGN, Joezi, Joost Klein, LE YORA, Loojan, Los Retros, Lykke LI, Mind Enterprises, Noga Erez, Prospa, Prospa & Riordan, Rady Shell, Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, RØZ, Riordan, Royel Otis, Royksopp, Santa Barbara Bowl, Sound Nightclub, Subtronics, Suicidal Tendencies, Swae Lee, The Fonda Theatre, The Fox Theater Pomona, The Glass House, The Novo, The Novo DTLA, The Rady Shell, The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, The Roxy, The Roxy Theatre, The Sound, The Two Lips, Tomora, Wet Leg, WHATMORE

Coachella jumps way ahead of schedule to unveil 2026 lineup led by Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber & Karol G for festival’s 25th edition

September 15, 2025 by Josh Herwitt 6 Comments

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival //
Empire Polo Club – Indio, CA
April 10th-12th & April 17th-19th, 2026 //

Well, if you thought Coachella released its 2025 lineup early … I can’t believe I am typing this halfway through September, but next year’s is already here!

After moving up its annual announcement more than six weeks prior from the January time frame that we had long become accustomed to, the three-day festival has jumped way ahead of schedule for 2026 with the bill being revealed earlier than ever since co-founders Paul Tollett and Rick Van Santen put on the inaugural edition in 1999 and lost nearly $750,000 doing so.

Goldenvoice’s signature event has transformed quite a bit following its late 90’s debut, adding a second weekend back in 2012 as well as more unique stages, performances and activations subsequently over the years at the Empire Polo Club, but the 25th anniversary of Coachella will follow a more recent trend with each day being headlined by a different pop star.

Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber and Karol G have all previously performed at the fest in some capacity as either a scheduled performer or surprise guest — the latter of which Bieber has been multiple times — yet none have seen their name rise to the top of the poster until now. Coachella’s fourth and newest headlining spot will go to another electronic act in Anyma, the Italian DJ who played the Sahara Tent in 2024 and is coming off last spring’s “The End of Genesys” residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas. For those wondering which stage Matteo Milleri will be hitting and what his allotted time will be, we should know that when set times officially drop in April so stay tuned for more updates here. Nevertheless, a slot on the Coachella Stage is almost a certainty, and if we were to guess, Saturday or Sunday would seemingly be the most likely of the three days for the world premiere of his new “Æden” live show.

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The undercard, meanwhile, is what really stands out to us upon first look thanks to a stacked roster boasting so many top-notch artists and bands, including The xx, The Strokes, Young Thug, Nine Inch Noize, GIVĒON, Kaskade, Disclosure, Turnstile, Addison Rae, BigBang, Ethel Cain, Labrinth, Laufey, Dijon, sombr, Major Lazer, Teddy Swims, David Byrne, Iggy Pop, Katseye, Interpol, FKA twigs, Devo, Alex G, Clipse, Sexyy Red, Swae Lee, Subtronics, Central Cee, Solomun, Little Simz, Central Cee, Taemin, Mochakk, Foster the People, PinkPantheress, Duke Dumont, Levity, Royel Otis, WORSHIP, Blood Orange, REZZ, Armin Van Burren, Moby, Fujii Kaze, Adriatique, Adam Beyer, Marlon Hoffstadt, Davido, Holly Humberstone, Lykke Li, Boys Noize, Gigi Perez, fakemink, Geese, The Rapture, GORDO, rusowsky, Suicidal Tendencies, Creepy Nuts, Yousuke Yukimatsu, BUNT., Joyce Manor, Green Velvet, French Police, BINI, AYYBO, Black Flag, Kettama, Luisa Sonza, Oklou, Groove Armada, ZULAN and Röyksopp. Check out the poster above to see who else will be making the trek out to Indio.

More specifically, there are a couple of collaborative projects — electronic supergroup Nine Inch Noize (consisting of Nine Inch Nails and Boys Noize) and hip-hop duo Clipse (featuring Malice and Pusha T) — that are particularly noteworthy and what separates Coachella from the other major festivals when it comes to the curation process. And of course as fans we can’t forget to mention the Radiohead “bunker” installation inspired by their 2000 album Kid A, which reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200, because that’s something you will not want to miss while roaming the polo fields — whether it leads to temporary “A mnesia” or not.

If the desert is suddenly calling your name, make sure to register here before passes go on sale this Friday, September 19th at 11 a.m. PT. While it only takes throwing down $49 to secure your spot with Coachella’s payment plan, Goldenvoice recommends looking for Weekend 2 tickets with Weekend 1 already close to sold out. And if car camping for $40 per night isn’t exactly your thing (we understand), plenty of hotel and shuttle packages can be found here. However you decide to experience one of the biggest music festivals in the world, it’s sure to be one you will never forget.

Good luck, Coachellans!

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals Tagged With: &friends, 54 Ultra, Addison Rae, Adriatique, Alex G, Anyma, Anyma presents Æden world premiere, Armin van Buuren × Adam Beyer, Arodes, Azzecca, Bedouin, Ben Sterling, BIGBANG, BINI, Black Flag, Blondshell, Blood Orange, Bob Baker Marionettes, Boys Noize, BUNT., Cachirula & Loojan, Carlita × Josh Baker, Carolina Durante, Central Cee, Ceremony, Chloé Caillet x Rossi., Clipse, CMAT, Coachella, Coachella 2026, Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Music and Arts Festival 2026, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival 2026, COBRAH, Creepy Nuts, Dabeull, David Byrne, Davido, Devo, Die Spitz, Dijon, Disclosure, DRAIN, Duke Dumont, Ecca Vandal, Ethel Cain, fakemink, Febuary, FKA twigs, Fleshwater, flowerovlove, Foster the People, Freak Slug, French Police, Fujii Kaze, GEESE, GENESI, Gigi Perez GIVEON, Glitterer, Gordo, Green Velvet × AVYBO, Groove Armada, Hamdi, Holly Humberstone, Hot Mulligan, HUGEL, Iggy Pop, Interpol, Jane Remover, Jessica Brankka, Joost, Joyce Manor, Justin Bieber, Karol G, Kaskade, KATSEYE, KETTAMA, Labrinth, Lambrini Girls, Laufey, LE YORA, Levity, Little Simz, Los Hermanos Flores, Los Retros, Luísa Sonza, Lykke LI, Mahmut Orhan, Major Lazer, Malice, Man Styler, Marlon Hoffstadt, Max Dean x Luke Dean, MËSTIZA, Mind Enterprises, Moby, Mochakk, Model/Actriz, NewDad, Ninajirachi, Nine Inch Nails, Nine Inch Noize, Noga Erez, Oklou, PinkPantheress, Prospa, Pusha T, Rae Sremmurd, RØZ, REZZ, Riordan, Royel Otis, Royksopp, rusowsky, Sabrina Carpenter, Sahar Z, Samia, Sexyy Red, Slayyyter, Solomun, SOMBR, SOSA, Sphere, Subtronics, Suicidal Tendencies, Swae Lee, Taemin, Teddy Swims, The Chats, The Rapture, The Strokes, The Two Lips, The xx, Tomora, Travis Scott, Turnstile, Wednesday, WetLeg, WHATMORE, WhoMadeWho, Worship, Yamagucci, Youna, Young Thug, Yousuke Yukimatsu, Zulan

BeachLife Festival 2024: A bittersweet ending to an otherwise fun weekend of live music in Redondo Beach

May 15, 2024 by Josh Herwitt 6 Comments

Photos by Josh Herwitt, Melissa Herwitt & courtesy of BeachLife Festival // Written by Josh Herwitt //

BeachLife Festival //
Seaside Lagoon – Redondo Beach, CA
May 3rd-5th, 2024 //

If you live in the greater Los Angeles area and are reading this, you probably already know that the city’s live music scene has centered around the bevy of arenas, amphitheaters, clubs, theaters, stadiums and other entertainment spaces spread all across it — from Miracle Mile to Highland Park and everywhere in between those neighborhoods.

With major concert promoters like Goldenvoice and Live Nation owning and operating the majority of LA’s music venues for a while now, making it in this “town” of more than 12 million is no easy task for younger players without the same level of connections and resources.

But when BeachLife Festival announced its inaugural edition in 2019 and picked Redondo Beach as its home, the South Bay’s entertainment portfolio was immediately raised. The coastal region consisting of 16 cities along Santa Monica Bay’s southern stretch has held a deep connection to hardcore punk ever since such legendary bands as Black Flag, Descendents and Circle Jerks emerged in the late 70’s and were followed by Redd Kross and Pennywise in the subsequent 80’s.

Redondo Beach, more specifically, has not been known as a major destination for live music despite its proximity to the rest of LA, and though the Saint Rocke remains just steps away in Hermosa Beach, the diminutive room that holds less than 300 guests has mostly served as a home for up-and-coming artists. But by booking All-Star talent in the form of Bob Weir, Brian Wilson and Willie Nelson to lead BeachLife’s first run at Seaside Lagoon, co-founders Allen Sanford and Rob Lissner had quickly demonstrated to the South Bay community at large that they really meant business.

Fast forward five years later following a global pandemic, and BeachLife is still going strong. The three-day music festival offers a laidback, family-friendly atmosphere perfect for the ages 35-65 demographic. These aren’t the vibes you will find almost 150 miles east out at Coachella only a few weeks earlier, but there’s still a lot of great music — albeit tailored for an older, less boisterous crowd — to catch whether you enjoy rock, reggae, country, funk, soul, folk, hip-hop or old-school electronic.

As newcomers to BeachLife, we have been impressed with every roster but were particularly enticed by this year’s lineup after Sting, Incubus and one of our favorite live acts, My Morning Jacket, were tapped as headliners. And for the festival’s first two days, things went fairly well from a programming standpoint. Donovan Frankenreiter & G. Love, City and Colour, Seal and Dirty Heads warmed us up over the course of Day 1 before Sting’s hits-laden set that any fan of The Police would have enjoyed took us all back in time. From there, Pepper, Santigold, Local Natives and Devo turned the dial up a few notches on Day 2 that led to an electric, career-spanning performance by Incubus — complete with covers of The Beatles “Come Together”, Portishead’s “Glory Box” and David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” along with a snippet of The Doors’ “Riders on the Storm” during “Are You In?” — and reminded us why we became huge fans of the Calabasas group dating back to its major-label debut S.C.I.E.N.C.E. in 1997.

Then we got to Day 3, which was the one we were unquestionably looking forward to the most. And after St. Paul and The Broken Bones’ set on the Hightide Stage and Margo Price’s on the Lowtide Stage had lifted our spirits under the shining sun, we were giddy over what was supposed to be a rockin’ finish that had ZZ Top, Fleet Foxes, Trey Anastasio & Classic TAB and MMJ lined up … until they weren’t.

Because as we waited prior to 5:30 p.m. for Fleet Foxes to hit the stage, the wind began to pick up and swirl in a way that felt a bit uncomfortable and prompted me to throw on a sweatshirt. Within minutes of doing so, BeachLife’s security team had jumped on the PA system and asked everyone to evacuate for one hour due to a high-wind emergency. While getting everyone to vacate the premises proved to be a challenging endeavor for organizers, the news that would follow on social media prior to 7 p.m. was an absolute gut punch to those of us who sought an answer outside the gates. What made the revelation that the remainder of event had been canceled even more painful to accept was the fact that the winds had completely died down, leading to a host of sarcastic comments as people left the site. We certainly understood the concern for safety, but in retrospect, there wasn’t enough transparency and explanation surrounding the decision — considering there was also Sunday’s earlier curfew time to factor in — until days later. Couple that with the poor media accommodations we witnessed but won’t get into here, and we will confess there’s still plenty of room for improvement going into Year 6.

It has taken some time for the initial shock to wear off, and in the aftermath, BeachLife has tried to “turn lemons into lemonade” by recently offering refunds. Of course no one wanted to see a fun weekend end in that fashion, but the gesture should reassure attendees that they can count on Sanford and Lissner to do the right thing when Mother Nature unexpectedly interrupts the party. We would recommend moving the dates to June when the weather is warmer and more predictable as well, even if that’s outside of our jurisdiction and not the feedback they want to hear (we only mentioned it because we want the best for BeachLife and the opportunity to fully experience the festival from start to finish).

That might not have been in the cards on this go-around, yet come 2025, we already know we will be anxiously anticipating the next one no matter what changes are implemented.

BeachLife Festival 2024 - Bedouin Soundclash

BeachLife Festival 2024 - Abraham Alexander

BeachLife Festival 2024 - Donovan Frankenreiter

BeachLife Festival 2024 - City and Colour

BeachLife Festival 2024 - The Expendables

BeachLife Festival 2024 - Paul Oakenfold

BeachLife Festival 2024 - St. Paul & The Broken Bones

BeachLife Festival 2024 - Courtney Barnett

Filed Under: Editor's Picks, Featured, Festival Reviews, Festivals Tagged With: 7 Seconds, Abraham Alexander, ALL, Asiatica, Atlas Genius, BeachLife Festival, BeachLife Festival 2024, Bedouin Soundclash, Black Flag, bob weir, Brian Wilson, Chase Petra, Chevy Metal, Circle Jerks, City and Colour, Coachella, Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Courtney Barnett, Cydeways, David Bowie, Descendents, Devo, Dirty Heads, donavon frankenreiter, Epic Records, Fleet Foxes, G. Love, G. Love & Donavon Frankenreiter, G. Love & Special Sauce, Gaby Moreno, Grace McKagan, Immortal Records, Incubus, It's OK!, Jen Pop, Jon Snodgrass, Jordana, Kevin Seconds, Local Natives, Margo Price, My Morning Jacket, Pennywise, Pepper, Phish, Portishead, Redd Kross, Saint Rocke, Santigold, Sashamon, Saxon Weiss, Scott Reynolds, Seal, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Steel Pulse, Sting, Sugar Ray, Sun Room, Surfer Blood, The Beatles, The Bombpops, The Doors, The Expendables, The Last, The Police, The Rookies, The Samples, The Vandals, Tito Puente Jr., Trey Anastasio, Trey Anastasio & Classic TAB, Trey Anastasio Band, Wall of Sound, Warren Fitzgerald, Willie Nelson, ZZ Top

BeachLife Festival celebrates five years in 2024 with an impressive roster headlined by Sting, Incubus & My Morning Jacket

January 19, 2024 by Josh Herwitt 4 Comments

BeachLife Festival //
Seaside Lagoon – Redondo Beach, CA
May 3rd-5th, 2024 //

It might not feel like beach weather out there right now, but you know what they always say … spring will be here before you know it!

And with BeachLife Festival revealing plans for its fifth edition, those of us in Southern California have something to look forward to in a few months. This time the three-day music festival follows Coachella, which was a week behind schedule releasing its lineup for this year, in announcing a roster that again celebrates rock ‘n’ roll but also features a variety of other genres — from pop and reggae to jam, funk and punk.

Receiving top billing for the 2024 installment of BeachLife will be Sting, Incubus and My Morning Jacket while an undercard led by Dirty Heads, Devo and Trey Anastasio & Classic TAB packs plenty of punch. It’s also the second festival in the past two weeks that has included MMJ on the poster after BottleRock got the party started in the new year with the first lineup announcement.

📷 BeachLife Festival May 3-5, 2024 "Are You In?" 📷

Tickets on sale now! https://t.co/1vES7FNs0h pic.twitter.com/siAZiMckaD

— BeachLifeFestival (@BeachLifeFest) January 19, 2024

Some of the other highlights taking the stage at Redondo Beach’s waterfront, meanwhile, include Seal, Local Natives, Fleet Foxes, City and Colour, Santigold, ZZ Top, Courtney Barnett, G. Love & Donavon Frankenreiter, Pepper, Margo Price, Steel Pulse, Chevy Metal, Sugar Ray, St. Paul & the Broken Bones and Atlas Genius, but you can take a peek at the poster above to see who else will be performing during the first weekend of May.

Plus, guests can get extra bougie with the unique opportunity to sit on the main stage and eat a four-course meal as part of the DAOU SideStage Experience like the fest has offered previously in 2021, 2022 and 2023. That’s definitely one way to make some lasting memories with your friends!

Ready to sink your toes into the sand? Well, tickets are actually already on sale here! Three-day GA and GA+ passes are listed at $399 or $549, and VIP is available for $899 as well as single-day tickets set for $159 (GA), $229 (GA+) and $399 (VIP). If you’re looking to splurge though, there’s a three-day Admirals pass starting at $995 or a Captain’s pass for a whopping $3,099 and $1,349 (single-day). See you down at the beach for BeachLife!

UPDATE (April 5th): Set times are here, and boy, let us just say … this is looking like a spicy weekend of live music! If you haven’t picked up your BeachLife tickets yet, you can still grab three-day GA passes here but supplies are running low with three-day GA+ and Admirals passes having already sold out.

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals Tagged With: 7 Seconds, Abraham Alexander, ALL, Asiatica, Atlas Genius, BeachLife Festival, BeachLife Festival 2024, Bedouin Soundclash, Chase Petra, Chevy Metal, City and Colour, Coachella, Coachella 2024, Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Music and Arts Festival 2024, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival 2024, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2024, Courtney Barnett, Cydeways, Devo, Dirty Heads, donavon frankenreiter, Fleet Foxes, G. Love, G. Love & Donavon Frankenreiter, G. Love & Special Sauce, Gaby Moreno, Grace McKagan, Incubus, It's OK!, Jen Pop, Jon Snodgrass, Jordana, Kevin Seconds, Local Natives, Margo Price, My Morning Jacket, Pepper, Phish, Santigold, Sashamon, Saxon Weiss, Scott Reynolds, Seal, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Steel Pulse, Sting, Sugar Ray, Sun Room, Surfer Blood, The Bombpops, The Expendables, The Last, The Police, The Rookies, The Samples, The Vandals, Tito Puente Jr., Trey Anastasio, Trey Anastasio & Classic TAB, Trey Anastasio Band, Wall of Sound, Warren Fitzgerald, ZZ Top

Desert Daze 2019: Another intriguing lineup loaded with must-see performances takes over Lake Perris

October 8, 2019 by The Bam Team Leave a Comment

Photo by David Evanko // Written by Kevin Quandt & Pete Mauch //

Desert Daze //
Moreno Beach – Lake Perris, CA‎
October 10th-13th, 2019 //

After settling into a new location last year, Desert Daze aims to dial in a festival that continues to gain steam and win over rock fans around the globe, beckoning them to come to the shores of Lake Perris. This self-proclaimed “anti-festival” has impressed with their eye-popping artist roster, interactive art and smorgasbord of workshops and otherworldly experiences for all you intergalactic space rangers making the drive from Los Angeles or any of the surrounding hubs across Southern California.

We have a deep love for Desert Daze and want to be your pre-fest sherpas, so we have broken down the best music, camping and food options ahead of this weekend’s festivities.

Stereolab

Music

Let’s jump head first into the real meat of Desert Daze, and that’s its cutting-edge lineup of all things rock, psychedelia, garage, noise, experimental, North African-desert Tuareg blues-pop guitar and so on. Between the festival’s trio of lakeside stages, there should be little downtime for the savvy listener, so we’ll happily offer up a few of our picks and tell you why you should order that chicken tikka wrap a little later on.

Artist: Frankie and the Witch Fingers
Set date/time: Friday, 2:15-3 p.m.
Location: The Block

These LA psych rockers are truly having an amazing year. After unloading their most cohesive and energetic album to date in ZAM, they have found themselves touring non-stop supporting their killer new release. They are currently on a 37-date tour that sees them opening for ZZ Top and Cheap Trick on seven of those dates, with their Desert Daze set coming right smack dab in the middle of their run with both legendary rockers, so we’d imagine that they’ll be fired up to play to their own crowd. This should be an extremely high-energy set that won’t let you take a breath because Frankie and the Witch Fingers are pure psychedelic bliss right now. -PM

Artist: Stereolab
Set date/time: Friday, 6:35-8:05 p.m.
Location: The Moon

Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier are finally bringing their electro-leaning indie pop back to the western side of the country and should be firing on all cylinders after a nearly decade-long break. Having witnessed one of their first reunion shows at Primavera Sound, I can confirm Stereolab’s laid-back vibe is still delivered with precision as they work classics like “French Disko” and “Brakhage” as well as others from Dots and Loops into the setlist. We can’t think of a better act to catch during Friday’s magic hour. -KQ

Artist: Altın Gün
Set date/time: Saturday, 2:40-3:40 p.m.
Location: The Moon

This Anatolian psych-folk group that calls Amsterdam home has been blending traditional Turkish music and psychedelic melodies to great avail. Their most recent release Gece finds this experimental outfit playing around with time signatures and quick, fierce changes that keeps their listeners wanting more. Their Desert Daze slot in the early afternoon Saturday is really going to get the day rolling. -PM

Shintaro Sakamoto

Artist: The Locust
Set date/time: Sunday, 12:45 a.m.-1:35 a.m.
Location: The Theatre

Shit! This set is not for the faint of heart and will surely be one of the most brutal (looks over shoulder for Lightning Bolt) and thrilling performances for those brave souls still awake after Devo, Ween and Flying Lotus (3D) hit the main stage. Expect a handful of masked musicians bending every boundary of rock music to their back and call, a feat that hasn’t transpired for close to five years. Desert Daze founder Phil Pirrone clearly has the Midas touch whenever it comes to reuniting bands or flying in rarities from around the world. -KQ

Artist: SASAMI
Set date/time: Sunday, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Location: The Block

Domino artist Sasami Ashworth has been having a moment since the release of her self-titled debut LP back in March. Some veteran Desert Daze attendees might recognize Ashworth from her days as a former touring member of the LA band Cherry Glazerr, which played the festival in 2016 at its previous location The Institute of Mentalphysics. Since departing Cherry Glazerr, she has quickly cultivated a following under the moniker SASAMI that swoons for her unique brand as a guitar-wielding indie songstress. For now, she has toured with her contemporaries, received blessings from Mitski and expanded to larger international tours. -KQ

Artist: Shintaro Sakamoto
Set date/time: Sunday, 7:45 p.m.-9 p.m.
Location: The Block

Japanese composer Shintaro Sakamoto is making his U.S. debut at Desert Daze 2019, and we couldn’t be anymore excited to see him perform on Sunday. Sakamoto has been active in his home country for 30 years, most notably with psych rockers Yura Yura Teikoku, but you will see a softer side to him than with his prior band. Sakamoto at The Block during sunset with the Mad Alchemy light show behind him is an absolute must-see! We should hear plenty of tracks off 2014’s Let’s Dance Raw and 2011’s How to Live with a Phantom, too. -PM

Camping

There’s nothing easier than pitching a tent only a few hundred yards away from any festival site, and Desert Daze continues to excel in this area. Moreno Beach’s plush grounds have it all: trees, campside parking, free hot showers, permanent bathrooms and even a camping-exclusive stage area called The Mystic Bazaar.

The Bazaar features a mind-expanding array of programming, including, but not limited to, Modular Sound Baths, Vinyasa Pranayama yoga and various forms of meditation (check out the full schedule here). Plus, plenty of camping options to fit your liking are available here.

The Marketplace

Whether your home base will be offsite or you’re calling Lake Perris home for a long weekend, you’ll want to do some light shopping, quench your thirst or carb load for Animal Collective’s blistering show on Friday. Desert Daze always prints a whopping selection of show- and artist-specific posters and they’re always sold at affordable prices, so an early trip to the merch tent is a must. And if boutique wares are your preference, a healthy variety of vintage sellers, craft jewelers and visionary designers are strewn about the groves and shoreline. Bring some cash because you won’t be disappointed with what you find.

For all of your consumption needs, Black Fin Sushi, Flavors of East Africa and Good Times Ice Cream are just the beginning of options that will be available onsite. Don’t forget to look at the full listing here to see if your local favorites will be making the trip out to Moreno Beach.

Lastly, make sure to grab your Desert Daze 2019 passes here and we’ll see ya on the other side.

Filed Under: Featured, Festivals Tagged With: Al Lover, Altın Gün, Alvvays, Anika, Animal Collective, Atlas Sound, Automatic, Big Business, Blackwater Holylight, Blanck Mass, Cheap Trick, Connan Mockasin, Crumb, Desert Daze, Desert Daze 2019, Devo, DIIV, Dumbo Gets Mad, Dungen, Faye Webster, Flying Lotus, Flying Lotus (3D), Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Fred Armisen, Froth, George Clanton, Jakob Ogawa, Jerry Paper, Jessica Pratt, JJUUJJUU, Jonathan Bree, Khruangbin, Kills Birds, Klaus Johann Grobe, Lightning Bolt, Lumerians, Mad Alchemy, Mdou Moctar, METZ, Mitski, Moses Sumney, Nick Hakim, Parquet Courts, Part Time, Particle Kid, Post Animal, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Pussy Riot, SASAMI, Sessa, Shintaro Sakamoto, Stereolab, Surfbort, Temples, The Black Angels, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, The Flaming Lips, The Institute of Mentalphysics, The KVB, The Locust, The Paranoyds, Triptides, Trupa Trupa, Viagra Boys, Wand, Ween, White Fence, Winter, Wu Tang Clan, Yura Yura Teikoku, ZZ Top

The Reflektors shine bright in Hollywood on Halloween

November 4, 2013 by Kevin J Quandt 1 Comment

By Kevin Quandt //

Arcade Fire performing as “The Reflektors” //
Hollywood Palladium – Los Angeles
October 31st, 2013 //

“My Grandfather played here. I can feel his spirit,” Win Butler announced to the packed house as the costumed and formal-dressed band took to the Hollywood Palladium stage to continue their ascension as the most buzzed band in the world.

It was not your typical night in the famed LA venue as the Reflektors would stir up a packed crowd on this night. Though this band normally plays under the moniker of Arcade Fire, the baroque pop was shelved to make way for a world-infused dance party that rivaled the most banging discotheque.

A massive line wrapped comically through a parking lot of stanchions filled with a vast array of costumed and formally dressed revelers, all patiently waiting to get in on the night’s festivities. Dressing up for the night was requested by the band, and the vast majority obliged, which Win would later comment on. In the meantime, the party was underway as soon as the doors opened — the lights stayed down as a mix of the Isley Brothers, James Brown and P-Funk got the crowd lubed up for the ensuing onslaught.

“Reflektor” would open the ruckus evening as the expanded group were revealed behind a large curtain. Win wore a tiger-esque mask for the first song before unmasking. Somewhat surprisingly, they launched into Funeral track, “Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out)”, which got a great response from the devoted attendees. This was not a show for casual fans, as the tickets were much harder to procure than imagined with such short notice, among other mitigating factors. The next section of songs would be a grand-suite of Reflektor tracks which started with “Flashbulb Eyes” then “Joan of Arc”. It was pretty evident this room had heard the new album more than one or two times in the past week. “We Exist” was another new highlight, as this track is a sublime mix of an infectious dance beat coupled with a slightly more psychedelic take on the already famous Arcade Fire indie-rock sound many have come to love. At this point, the room was boiling as face paint smeared and costume layers were shed and abandoned.

The second half of the show held even more surprises for the moist crowd as “Headlights Look Like Diamonds” was opened with a nod to Lou Reed via a tease of Velvet’s “Beginning to See the Light”. “Normal Person” showed off blazing guitar notes that led to a decent pogo section in the crowd. The temperature rose. Though most in the venue were not alive when the next song was released, Devo’s “Uncontrollable Urge” got a rapturous reply as Win enthusiastically hollered the word ‘yeah’ over and over. A few more degrees were added to the thermometer. Somehow Win caught his breath before telling the crowd that THIS was the time to go crazy, and subsequently launched into dance opus “Here Comes the Night Time”. Conga lines spontaneously sprouted and snaked through the pulsating fans lost in the thick rhythms, and yes, it got even warmer in the Palladium.

An encore, which spotlighted Régine Chassagne, would close out the evening, starting with “Haïti” and then “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)”. It did seem a bit odd to end the show with Win stuck in the back of the stage, but it was great to see his lovely bride dance to her heart’s content as we all caught our breath. This would be the end of the live music section, but not the end of the show as the band stuck around for more dancing festivities.

Setlist:
Reflektor
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
Flashbulb Eyes
Joan of Arc
You Already Know
We Exist
It’s Never Over (Oh Orpheus)
Afterlife (with The Velvet Underground’s “Beginning to See the Light” outro)
Headlights Look Like Diamonds
Normal Person
Uncontrollable Urge (Devo cover)
Here Comes the Night Time

Encore:
Haïti
Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

Filed Under: Featured, Live Music Reviews Tagged With: Arcade Fire, Devo, Hollywood Palladium, The Reflektors, The Velvet Underground

Guinness Oyster & Music Festival successfully makes EDM leap

June 5, 2013 by The Bam Team 3 Comments

Photos by Marc Fong // Written by Molly Kish, Marc Fong & Sean Little //

Oysterfest Music Festival //
Golden Gate Park – San Francisco
June 1st, 2023 //

O’Reilly’s Oysterfest returned to Sharon Meadow for the 14th straight year of live music and shellfish indulgence. Catering to a sizeable SF crowd, event sponsor Guinness kept the lively audience saturated as they enjoyed a variety of oysters and impeccable weather amidst the beautiful setting that is Golden Gate Park. Running from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT, the festival offered ample time to sample, sip and survey the wide array of vendors and musical entertainment.

This year’s lineup, straying from the usual indie rock and alternative-dominated bill, incorporated a heavy electronic undercard. Showcasing a block of hard hitting-talent on a second stage (aka the Red Bull dance tent), the Showbams crew rolled deep this past Saturday to cover the festival’s enthusiastic leap into the EDM foray. Amongst main stage headliners DEVO and MuteMath, the festival welcomed a whole different demographic this year by inviting dance acts like RAC, Bag Raiders, Classixx and more.

We were on the scene to witness the aphrodisiac-fueled masses co-mingle while they also experienced this year’s talent transition. Here are some reflections on what might be Oysterfest’s most successful year to date in its 14-year legacy.

Upon entering the Oysterfest grounds I was pleasantly surprised to see how well laid out the festival itself was and how many people were there nice and early. The first act I caught (after grabbing a Harp – Guinness was the sole sponsor) was Chris Clouse. I had never heard of him before and figured he was just another DJ laying down some songs. His song selection was pleasing – Clouse chose beats that were catchy but not overly saturated or popular. It got really interesting though when he broke out a guitar and electric fiddle at different points, playing them over the tracks he was spinning. The guitar felt a bit odd, mainly because it’s not an instrument you are used to hearing in dance music. This is especially true when it’s being forced into a song that doesn’t contain guitar sounds, but he used it sparingly enough as to not make it annoying. The electric fiddle was great though, and it really added a unique spark. -SL

Shiny Toy Guns played the festival stage, which had been relocated from its original setting in the Red Bull tent. They commanded the stage in all of their electro glam rock glory, and they sounded great. Chara was as gorgeous as ever, belting out hits as the crowd danced along. The band was pitch perfect and set the tone for the rest of the day’s festivities. Shiny Toy Guns got the audience pumped for an afternoon endurance test that exclusively included the consumption of shellfish, whiskey and Guinness. -MK

Up next were the always-pleasing Classixx. Classix had the crowd in a feel-good frenzy from the start, dropping hits like Bondax’s “Baby I Got That” and the new track from Tyler Blake’s (half of Classixx) solo project Fingerpaint called “Lunar”. Their vibe and energy fit perfectly into the small second tent in the early afternoon. It was sunny, the crowd wasn’t packed into the tent yet and everyone was grooving. -SL

SF was lucky enough to be treated to the electric riffs and progressive beats of the charismatic MuteMath. Their innovative sound rocked the crowd with personality and high-energy. Drummer, Darren King, (with his headphones taped to his head) beat his heart out on the festival stage with the intensity of a charging rhino. MuteMath frontman Paul Meany interacted with a fired-up crowd that was ready to party after consuming plenty of oysters and Guinness. -MF

Both members of RAC traded off seamlessly on the decks, bringing in one remix after another from their seemingly endless catalogue. I honestly can’t think of many other producing groups that have been so prodigious and consistent at crafting quality remixes for nearly everyone out there. -SL

Devo fans were ever-present at the festival, and they added their colorful flare to the mélange of attendees Saturday. Filling the meadow with brightly colored “energy domes,” it eagerly participated in the band’s signature antics and dramatic stage show. With more than three costume changes, various props utilized then dispersed into the audience and a comic book-themed lightshow, Devo managed to keep the weary crowd’s full attention through the final set of the festival. Mark Mothersbaugh even invited the band’s honorary masked member Bouji Boy up onstage for a disturbingly awkward duet highlighted by the release of hundreds of bouncy balls into the audience, punctuating the performance in a drunken frenzy. The headlining post-punk, sci-fi enthusiasts provided the perfect level of nonsensical debauchery to capitalize on the obscure nature of the festival and audience that still remained. Sun soaked and heavily marinated, those in attendance loved every second of a set that wavered between classic De-Evolutionized hits and brand-new tracks off of their first album in 20 years. Oysterfest nailed it when booking this group to close. -MK

With the sun still shining and a whole night ahead, the crowd dispersed amongst the city in a euphoric state of post Oysterfest bliss. The incorporation of the Red Bull Tent this year, with an EDM bill that easily rivaled its headliners, was a leap of faith on the organizer’s part. It was the perfect addition to bring Oysterfest to a whole new audience and playing field. Here’s hoping this success proves to be a catalyst year for the festival, crystalizing the Guinness Oyster and Music Festival standard from here on out.