It’s been almost two weeks since we got back from the Same Same But Different Festival at Lake Perris, California and we’re still glowing from the experience! After a 14-hour road trip, we arrived ready to dive in, and honestly, this festival blew us away.
Over the past few years, most festivals we’ve attended have felt huge and heavily produced, so Same Same But Different (SSBD) was a breath of fresh air. From the moment we arrived, the energy felt laid-back and community-driven. Entry was a breeze. Easy credential pickup, quick car check, and then straight to camp.
One of the best parts about camping was the festival is held at actual campgrounds, meaning real bathrooms, picnic tables, and even fire pits. The only tip we’d share: get there early. We arrived around 3 PM on Friday and most of the GA camping spots were already claimed.
PC: samshootsshows
That first night, we explored the festival grounds and quickly realized there was so much more happening than we expected. For a smaller fest, the creativity and scale were incredible, from multiple music stages to art installations everywhere you looked. Many of the art pieces (and even some of the art cars!) had come straight from Burning Man, adding a playful, surreal vibe. One moment we’d see a dragon art car roll by; the next, people cruising past on light up couches with full sound systems. You could spend hours wandering and still discover something new around every corner.
Friday night also brought one of the biggest surprises… an LSDream Funk set! The festival sent out a text announcement a few hours before, but we didn’t have service, so it was a total surprise when he appeared. Between that, the LSZEE set the next night, the CloZee sunrise set, and then a Lightcode experience with LSDream, we witnessed one of the most unforgettable musical journeys we’ve ever had.
Beyond the music, SSBD was bursting with workshops and creative activations. We painted parasols, joined a flow workshop, and even hit up a paint party! There were also boat rides (even a banana boat!) to a secret island with music and activities, plus a smell museum, comedy shows, hot air balloon rides, and so much more.
PC: samshootsshows
The stages themselves were completely unique, blending the location, design, and sound in creative ways. One of our favorites was the stage on the beach, Coconut Cove, where we danced barefoot in the sand with the lake glistening beside us and a full-on pirate ship over the dance floor. The vibe there was unmatched.
There was also so many cool vendors – we didn’t plan on spending any money but definitely got a fuzzy hat and some other merch for future festivals. We love supporting smaller businesses and having something unique to wear for other events!
The festival closed out with an incredible Zeds Dead set, the perfect grand finale. Their mix of new transitions and tracks kept the crowd completely locked in; it was the best possible way to end the weekend.
We left SSBD feeling recharged, inspired, and ready to keep discovering hidden-gem festivals in a world that can feel oversaturated with the big ones. If you’ve been on the fence about going, take this as your sign to goin 2026! Tickets are already available at early-bird prices.
Nelsonville Music Festival 2025 was held on June 20th-June 22nd in Nelsonville, Ohio, and Crowdsurfer Magazine was there to capture the beauty of this intimate festival experience. Nelsonville is a small community located just outside of Athens, nestled in the hills of southeastern Ohio. Since its inception, this festival has been focused on raising funds for Stuart’s Opera House, a non-profit historic theater in Nelsonville. In addition to the focus on giving back to the community, this festival also strives to have a positive impact on the environment by being a Zero Waste event and diverting over 92% of waste from the festival to recycling and composting.
Despite the 90-degree days, NMF had an incredible turnout for all three days of the festival. Many festival attendees camped out in the nearby “Mudville” campground where sets were carried late into the night. The festival had 3 stages, one of which was situated in the woods surrounded by hammocks. Throughout the festival grounds, touching art installations could be found to honor the memory of the late Michael Hurley, an American folk singer-songwriter who was a long-time performing artist at NMF throughout the years. NMF also highlighted local artists in the “Artisan Village” section of the festival grounds. Although the heat was intense, festival attendees could be seen setting up their camp chairs in the shady areas. The entire vibe of the festival was chill and family-friendly, with all kids under age 12 gaining free admission to the festival.
The festival line-up featured a wide range of talented musical artists. The weekend was filled with incredible performances, some of which included: Charley Crockett, Waxahatchee, Taj Mahal, MJ Lenderman, The Black Lips, The Bug Club, Being Dead, Esther Rose, Dehd, and Low Cut Connie.
If you are looking for a festival featuring a wide range of eclectic artists in the literal woods, I highly recommend checking out Nelsonville Music Festival. Not only does this festival have an incredible purpose and commitment to the community; but the stunning backdrop, friendly festival attendees, and impressive lineup will surely win your heart. I am thrilled to share with you a selection of photos from my incredible weekend in the woods.
Bonnaroo 2025 boasted an eclectic mix of artists on the lineup that was meant to run over four nights on the Farm in Manchester, Tennessee. It had a really great lineup that mostly never came to fruition. Fans could enter the grounds and begin camping starting on Tuesday, but the music didn’t start until Thursday. That evening, Marcus King’s soulful, raspy voice and guitar riffs filled the night air on the main stage during the first sunset of Bonnaroo 2025.
Thursday also boasted a headline set by Luke Combs, Bonnaroo’s first ever country headliner on the main stage. He had an unforgettable set, including starting the performance by shotgunning a beer and sharing stories of how he wrote his songs. He brought out legendary country singer Miranda Lambert as a surprise guest and she sang “Kerosene” as well as Marcus King for his last song, “No Rain in Oklahoma.”
This year, Bonnaroo also debuted the Infinity Stage, an open-air dome designed stage with spacial sound and a 360 experience. Of The Trees B2B Tape B and Rebecca Black DJ’d there on the first night of the festival, with lasers and totems surrounding the entire area. There were mixed reviews for the stage – fans inside the audio experience said it was great, but fans outside couldn’t hear as much and it didn’t provide great visuals from farther away.
The Who stage, located at Outeroo’s Plaza 7, highlighted up-and-coming artists and rising stars. And of course, the iconic Other stage hosted Dom Dolla, who mixed songs together for a two-hour headlining set on Thursday as part of their new After Hours lineup with late night live performances lasting well into the early morning.
Friday morning started strong with hundreds of people doing Yoga in Centeroo and enjoying their High Five Friday on the Farm. Things only got worse from there. Early in the afternoon, before the festival had even opened to music, rain storms with lightning and thunder passed over the festival, causing the campground to be completely flooded and many campsites to be destroyed. After an entire day of delays, Bonnaroo announced that they were forced to cancel the rest of the festival and that fans were encouraged to leave on Saturday. Fans will also receive a 75% refund on their tickets and camping passes since there were no sets from Friday to Sunday.
Sets that never came to fruition included Friday’s John Summit headlining and Infinity stage takeover sets, Avril Lavigne and Olivia Rodrigo on Saturday night, Remi Wolf’s Superjam on Sunday, and Hozier closing out the weekend. This was a disappointing end for this year’s Bonnaroo. They were forced to cancel in 2020 due to Covid-19 and again in 2021 due to inclement weather, so to have to cancel again in 2025 is especially unfortunate. Next year, the festival organizers might have to reconsider when they host the festival, due to the large amounts of rainfall in Tennessee in the summer.
Charlotte’s second Lovin’ Life Music Fest was May 2nd-4th. Though headliners at this year’s festival (such as Gwen Stefani, Benson Boone, and Pitbull) took on the main stage, many local artists throughout North Carolina came together on the local stage .
In case you missed this year’s festival, here was the awesome line-up of the local artists that performed at the Lovin’ Life Music Fest. See someone you vibe with? Stream their songs below!
Lovin’ Life Fest Day 1 – May 2nd
Da704
Photo courtesy of Da704 and Lovin’ Life Music Fest
Starting off the weekend’s line-up was Charlotte City Councilman Tariq Bokhari’s band Da704. A band with the city’s councilman along with “full-time dads and musicians,” were ready to rock the Lovin’ Life local stage. Overall, festival go-ers got a blast from the past as the band brought 90s rock to a whole new level.
Camisole
Photo courtesy of Camisole and Lovin’ Life Music Fest
Calling all Paramore and Girl in Red fans!
The three members of indie-rock band Camisole – Logan Hawke (Drums), Justin Thompson (Guitar), and Briella Violet (Vocals) – are based out of Charlotte and were ready to take the stage! The band has been around for almost a year and was beyond excited to be playing the music festival.
They had been rehearsing vigorously leading up to the festival, brought a burst of energy, and even introduced new music to familiar faces and new fans!
“We’re stoked to play alongside so many different artists and excited to hear some new music/hope that people will resonate with our set!”
Photo courtesy of Leone & The Ascension and Lovin’ Life Music Fest
From a young age, Leone of the band Leone & The Ascension always knew he wanted to perform music. From being inspired by a variety of Funk, R&B and Boogie genres and recording music about 9 years ago, to participating in Battle of the Bands, to playing Charlotte’s second annual music festival, Leone & The Ascension proves to be the band that keeps getting better one note, lyric, and song at a time.
“I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity! Last year we were in the Battle of the Bands competition to get a slot at the festival though we came in second for the last round, so this moment means a lot to the band,” Leone says.
“I can’t thank Charlotte and the LLMF team enough for giving us a shot this time around. This is the best birthday gift a guy can ask for.”
Photo courtesy of Bailey Marie and Lovin’ Life Music Fest
Bailey Marie is a triple threat taking on the Lovin’ Life local stage. As singer-songwriter, national recording artist, and actress, she took the music festival by storm with her new original music. She has planted roots not only in North Carolina, but also in Nashville where she has written over 70 songs. Currently, she writes with Dolly Parton’s Grammy nominated producer, Kent Wells. She has proven time and time again that she is increasingly paving a path to an awesome future in the music industry.
Photo courtesy of The Garrett Huffman Band and Lovin’ Life Music Fest
Garrett Huffman began his music career during the COVID-19 pandemic while practicing guitar and developing a passion for music. From passing the time throughout the pandemic, to playing over 500 shows in the Carolinas and Tennessee, The Garrett Huffman Band, who consists of not only Huffman, but also Dan Gonzalez (bass guitar), Alex Wolfe (electric guitar), and Justin Robinson (drums), were ready to take on Lovin’ Life. Be prepared to be blown away by their performances as their music has a bit of everything: country soul blended with alternative-rock and 80s vibes.
One of the things Huffman and his band was excited for was being surrounded by talented musicians and being inspired by both main headliners and local talent. He couldn’t be more proud to be making such amazing memories with so many incredible artists.
“There’s a real sense of community and creativity surrounding this event, and it feels amazing to be contributing to something that’s quickly becoming a staple in the music scene,” Huffman says. “Whether it’s the big headliners, the local talent, or the passionate fans, the entire vibe is just inspiring. We’re grateful for the opportunity, excited to share our music, and ready to make some unforgettable memories with everyone out there.”
Photo courtesy of Harvey Street and Lovin’ Life Music Fest
More heart and soul was brought to the festival as Harvey Street made its way from Raleigh, NC. The five-piece indie-alternative band started in 2021 at NC State University and continuously grew. Harvey Street spent 2024 touring the country and is even working on their debut album!
Aside from so many rehearsals and jumping jacks leading up to their performance, the band has expressed so much gratitude for the opportunity to play at Lovin’ Life. “We are honored and grateful to be headlining the Carolina Ascent FC Stage on Saturday, and we’re going to show that to everyone with our performance. We’ll bring our absolute best and that’s all there is to it.”
Photo courtesy of Weekend Friend and Lovin’ Life Music Fest
The rock/alternative band consisting of Bryan Wynne, Tyler Whiting, Tristan Galuppo, and Arnold Martinez were ready to give it everything they’ve got to the second day of the festival. Weekend Friend made each festival go-er excited for the end of the week and ready to celebrate the weekend.
Photo courtesy of Mikey Gomez and Lovin’ Life Music Fest
From the Appalachian Mountains, Mikey Gomez took the stage with his haunting and beautiful lyrics. Fans expected not only songs from his self-titled EP, but also a sense of relief and calmness through his melodies.
Photo courtesy of SOPHIA and Lovin’ Life Music Fest
Coming in from Winston-Salem, NC is alternative rock band SOPHIA. With their ambition and passion for creating a sense of community, they were beyond excited to be making their way onto the local stage for the weekend of the festival.
Photo courtesy of Austin McNeil and Lovin’ Life Music Fest
From Rowan County, NC, Austin McNeil has been chasing his dream of being a musician since he was five years old, participating in a Southern Baptist church choir. McNeil’s country-rock music career has been in the driver’s seat, accelerating at a very fast rate. From having his breakout single “Ridin’ Highways” featured on the 2023 CMT awards to making his debut performances at Bridgestone Arena and AT&T Stadium, he just took the local stage of Lovin’ Life Music Fest on Saturday, May 3rd.
McNeil was excited to be playing the music festival, to be surrounded by many different artists, and also to be representing the magic that the city of Charlotte has to offer.
“I take great pride in being a Charlottenian and representing our city at one of the biggest events with some of the biggest artists. It’s truly an honor for me!” he says. “I can’t put into words how surreal this opportunity is for me!”
Photo courtesy of Modern Moxie and Lovin’ Life Music Fest
Modern Moxie is an indie-rock band based in Charlotte. They have taken the city’s music scene by storm playing at multiple venues and releasing their EP Gutter Honey (2022) and their latest album Tripping the Light Fantastic in August 2024. With Madison Lucas at the helm as lead singer, Harry Kollm on bass, Phil Pucci as lead guitarist, and Charlie Weeks on drums, the band was ready to dominate at Lovin’ Life.
Modern Moxie even had a few surprises in store. Dancers of Baran Dance, a local contemporary dance company, joined Madison on stage during the band’s set. Baran Dance was founded by UNC Charlotte dance professor Audrey Baran and will be doing spectacular performances alongside the band.
Besides their performances at the festival, Modern Moxie is beyond excited to see many different artists that they grew up on the headlining stage and to be a part of the same lineup as them.
“Playing a large music festival has always been on my bucket list and we are counting down the days. Weezer is definitely at the top of our list to see. We are also very hype for Ludacris and Third Eye Blind,” Madison says. “These bands were a huge part of our childhood and it’s unreal to be on a lineup with any of them. The lineup has a little something for everybody. It’s so wonderful to have a festival of this size in its 2nd year in Charlotte. We’re hoping to see most of Charlotte out at this event and high five. I’m also a huge fan of festival snacks so you can catch me eating a huge pretzel and/or giant popcorn.”
Photo courtesy of Fudge and Lovin’ Life Music Fest
The band Fudge, traveling from Wilmington, North Carolina, will also excitedly be headlining the local stage. With infectious and influential rock and pop genres, the band members – Patrick Riesmeyer (lead singer, rhythm guitar), Logan Maletta (lead guitar), Lucca Lombardi (bass), and Parker Silver (drums)– were ready to bring the energy to the music festival. The festival even holds a special place in both Riesmeyer and Maletta’s hearts, as they are both from Charlotte.
“We’re over the moon about the festival and are excited to share our music with a wider audience,” says Maletta.
“Patrick and I also grew up in Charlotte so playing our hometown festival is going to be really special. We just cannot wait to get on that stage and hope to see everyone there. Whether it’s five thousand or five people in the crowd, we’ll give them an electric performance regardless.”
Photo courtesy of Chandler Carpenter & The Reckless Souls and Lovin’ Life Music Fest
An amazing mix of both country and rock n’roll, the highly energetic band that is Chandler Carpenter & The Reckless Souls suited up for one amazing weekend at the festival. The band was excited to perform songs from their debut EP Good Riddance, which was released on April 18th.
“We’re obviously excited to see some of the headliners, but we also really enjoy hearing local music and music that we have never heard before,” says Christian Smith.
Photo courtesy of Meredith Parks and Lovin’ Life Music Fest
Hailing from Gastonia, NC, Meredith Parks is bringing her unique blend of genres to Charlotte and ending the weekend of the music festival on a high note.
Fans could expect to hear Parks’s latest tracks “Cowboys” and “Find My Way,” songs from her debut album Trying to Find My Way and even some awesome guitar solos, too.
“I can’t wait to play with my band! We’ve spent the last several months in the studio recording and writing music so we are all super pumped to get out and play for a live audience,” says Parks. We have tons of friends and family coming to the show and it’s going to be a great time!
The annual Sips and Sounds Fest started on the first day of SXSW this year in Austin with some impressive artists, including night one headliner Halsey, who played rock inspired versions of her hits. Fans had lots of activations to enjoy, including a Silent Disco and Coca Cola Fan Zone, where they could relax and grab a drink.
There were many fun musical highlights from day one. Ashe arrived in a sparkly pink dress and twirled the stage as she sang her hits, along with a cover of “Unwritten” by Natashia Beddingfield and “Love Story” by Taylor Swift.
Ashe
Disko Cowboy DJ’d a hype set of country hits mixed with EDM beats, and the crowd was loving it. He was accompanied by two dancers donned in sparkly cowboy hats.
Suki WaterhouseDisko CowboyBlusher
Suki Waterhouse brought out Ashe as a surprise guest to sing their collab song, “Pushing Daisies.” Australian trio Blusher had choreographed moves to go with their upbeat pop-inspired songs.
The two-day fest was sponsored by Coca Cola, with an option to recycle bottles and cans to redeem festival swag. To make recycling easy and accessible, “Recycle & Refresh” stations were set up throughout the festival grounds, supported by volunteers from Keep Austin Beautiful. With Austin food favorites like Amy’s Ice Cream and Southside Flying Pizza, there were plenty of tasty options for festival goers.
The Cinemark activation provided a bit of shade in the hot Texas heat, with a cool building you could enter to watch movie trailers and get free popcorn.
Khalid
The Austin skyline sparkled prominently in the background as the sun set over the city, and Khalid serenaded the crowd with hit after hit, including fan favorites “On The Way,” and “Location.”
Halsey pranced around in black cowboy boots and a white dress, singing her songs to the large crowd in downtown Austin, including her new single, “Safeword.” She closed the Friday fest with her popular song “Without Me.”
Paul RussellNessa Barrett
Day two was a bit cooler in temperature but with just as much excitement. Paul Russell kicked off the day with his TikTok hit “Boo Thing.” Nessa Barrett brought the brooding vibes and strummed guitar to her set.
Chelsea Cutler and Jeremy ZuckerClaire Rosinkranz
Musicians Chelsea Cutler and Jeremy Zucker performed emotional songs from their collaboration project “Brent.” Singer songwriter Claire Rosinkranz told the crowd that she would be performing mostly new material to get a feel from the crowd if they like them or not (they liked them!).
AJR
AJR was a wild set of chaos, dancing, and hats. Brothers Adam, Jack and Ryan (hence the name) performed their hit songs, building up the songs and creating fun moments for the crowd. They ended with their song “Weak.”
Benson Boone
Benson Boone closed out the weekend with a performance full of backflips, fireworks and glitter. He kept the crowd entertained and singing along despite the chilly weather.
This iteration of Sips and Sounds Fest was the best yet. Fans loved the downtown location, impressive lineup, and great weather. We can’t wait to see what’s in store next year.
The first weekend of May in Redondo Beach was full of sunshine, good music, and just a bit of wind for good measure. This year’s BeachLife Festival was the 6th iteration, boasting a 3-day lineup blending reggae, rock, latin, alternative, soul, and folk together across 4 stages. Luckily this year, I was able to catch all of the action and attend BeachLife Festival 2024!
Many brand names were on display at interactive booths, such as The Los Angeles Kings, Jack Daniel’s, Kona Big Wave, Gray Whale Gin, BodyGlove Apparel, Grillo’s Pickles, IKON Pass, Cutwater, LaMarca Prosecco, Gelato Pure Water, Golden Road Brewing Co., and Sketchers VIP Booth, with several other food and beverage brands offered throughout the festival grounds, including free merch!
I was very excited to see what BeachLife was all about. Below is a rundown of all of the performances I saw over that weekend:
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FRIDAY, MAY 3rd
Seal
One of the ultimate stage personas in music, Seal took the HighTide (main) stage for an iconic sunset performance. Coming out to a cover of T. Rex’s hard-rocking “20th Century Boy,” Seal commanded the stage with his strong performance and blazing all-white outfit. His cadence towards the BeachLife audience was compassionate and human, choosing to perform several songs from within the crowd, and speaking about how important connection and love is to “the human experience,” making direct eye contact with members of the crowd. Once the crowd had enough time to digest his evocative monologue, Seal gave his performance of the world-famous “Kiss From A Rose” as the California sun shimmered through the palm trees and cascaded down into night time.
Dirty Heads
Few bands embody the California spirit like Dirty Heads. Blending elements of rock, reggae, and hip-hop, the SoCal-native group displayed quite the ensemble onstage at LowTide (second stage), with electric/acoustic guitars, drums, synthesizers, trumpets, and trombones all coming together for their set. Vocalists Jared “Dirty J” Watson and Dustin “Duddy B” Bushnell traded off verses and choruses for most of the set, combining each individual’s unique sound. They began their set with “Heavy Water” and transitioned into the bass-heavy banger “Medusa” to get the crowd bouncing. Their setlist also included fan-favorites “Oxygen,” “Vacation,” and “Lay Me Down,” but did not include my personal favorite “Stand Tall.”
Surfer Blood
Overlapping with Dirty Heads, I was able to catch the last half of Surfer Blood’s set over at Riptide (Tito’s) stage. Surfer Blood is a surf-rock group from West Palm Beach, Florida, and claim that they are “the cleanest and nicest band in existence” according to their website–and honestly after watching their set, I believe it. The intimate stage layout allowed lead vocalist/guitarst John Paul Pitts to interact with the crowd in a casual way, giving their whole show a local garage show-feel. My standout song was their closer “Swim” which feels like the soundtrack to your favorite summer memory at the beach.
SATURDAY, MAY 4th
Steel Pulse
For true reggae fans, this set was the perfect way to start Day 2. Steel Pulse is a roots reggae band hailing from across the pond in England, due to members Basil Gabbidon’s (guitarist/vocalist) and David Hinds’s (lead vocals/guitar) heavy influence from Bob Marley & The Wailers. Steel Pulse is a group rooted in music history, initially forming in 1975 during the UK’s growing punk rock scene, finding a common ground in their shared views on racial injustice, human freedom, and unification for all. Steel Pulse shared several songs from their 2019 release Mass Manipulation, such as “Rize” and spoke directly to the crowd in hopes to spread the band’s message of “bettering mankind through music” and “halting the disarray of humanity by rejecting false ideals and breaking down the walls of systemic greed.” Their soulful grooves, poignant political lyricism, and unforgettable stage outfits made them a “can’t miss” show for Saturday’s slate.
Pepper
Fan-favorite Hawaiian reggae band Pepper has been rocking in the music scene since 1996. Bringing all of that good energy from Hawaii to San Diego where the band is currently located, the three-piece group features lead singer/guitarist Kaleo Wassman, bassist Bret Bollinger, and drummer Yesod Williams. The band opened with rock/reggae blend “Back Home” which got the crowd on the feet from the beginning. The rest of their set was full of surprises, including their hits “B.O.O.T.,” “Stone Love,” and “Ashes,” new songs such as “Tides” from their 2024 album Makai, and even closing their set with a cover of the 80s ballad “Careless Whisper” by George Michael– Pepper style. The band also made a nod to the date of their show landing on May The 4th [the colloquial Star Wars holiday] and led into their song “Stormtrooper.”
Santigold
The multi-genre Santigold has found her way in a variety of lineups, finding a home with almost any crowd due to her hypnotic melodies and one-of-a-kind stage presence. While Saturday’s weather began cloudy and overcast, even the sunshine couldn’t resist catching Santigold’s performance, and decided to shine through during her set. Santi White, known by her artist name, mentioned that she had been battling a bad cold during the show, but knew that the show must go on as she delivered a high-energy performance, with the help of her backing band and performance dancers that got the crowd involved– literally. There was never a down-time for Santigold’s set as she began with “L.E.S. Artistes” and and effortlessly transitioned to her many hits like “GO!,” “Run the Road,” “Lights Out,” and “Chasing Shadows.” She then brought out many fans from the crowd to dance along to “Creator,” even bringing her children out on stage to participate in the jamboree. Lastly, she electrified the crowd by closing with her well-known indie anthem “Disparate Youth.”
Local Natives
Hailing from next door over in Orange County, CA, Local Natives embraced the SoCal crowd with their wonderful harmonies and striking guitar tones. Indie fans joined in and sang along to songs as the band began with “I Saw You Close Your Eyes” and “Megaton Mile.” Lead vocalist/guitarist Taylor Rice kept the vibe going with a variety of songs from their albums over the years, including “Coins,” “NYE” and “Wide Eyes” before reintroducing BeachLife Festival-featured artist Jordana back to the stage for the smooth “Dark Days.” Local Natives’s set was the perfect mix of great melodies and mellow mood that allowed people in the crowd to dance and sing, and others to chill out and lay on the grass to enjoy some rest. The band finished with their anthem “When Am I Gonna Lose You.”
Incubus
While walking around the BeachLife grounds, I spotted countless Incubus merch items, whether they were purchased at the fest or were from fans’ personal closets (I was guilty of purchasing a hoodie myself.) The buzz ahead of their set was palpable; as the sun set for Day 2, the anticipation for their set to begin gravitated everyone towards HighTide stage as a large crowd loomed 30 minutes before the band took the stage. Finally, Incubus took the stage to “Quicksand,” a deeper cut that hypnotized the crowd leading into their next song “Nice To Know You” which felt like a seismic shift in tone that emulated the rocking waves of the ocean on a stormy night.
Throughout the set, Incubus oscillated back-and-forth in tone, casting a whirlwind of rock energy over the audience for some of their hits like “Pardon Me,” “Anna Molly,” “Vitamin,” “Circles,” and “Stellar,” and then slowing it down to a swaying melody with songs like “I Miss You,” and their iconic hit “Drive.” The band also left room for several interesting covers, including the Beatles’s “Come Together,” Portishead’s “Glory Box,” David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance,” and “Riders On The Storm” by The Doors which transitioned Incubus’s own into “Are You In?” perfectly. Lead singer Brandon Boyd shared his love for growing up in Southern California and how much it has meant for him and the band to still be playing shows like this now. The band recently revisited one of their most iconic albums and rerecorded it, producing Morning View XXIII with fresh ears and a more matured perspective. After a monumental show, the band contrasted their closing songs, with heavy hitter “Wish You Were Here” leading into “Aqueous Transmission” to close the night and “zen out” the crowd before sending them home for Day 3.
SUNDAY, MAY 5th
Atlas Genius
Australia’s own Atlas Genius began Day 3 for a noon show on the HighTide stage, waking the crowd up with infectious indie rock hooks. Vocalist/guitarist Keith Jeffrey from Adelaide, Australia pulled from a variety of upbeat songs such as “If So” and “Molecules” before giving the audience a taste of his new upcoming record by playing a track titled “63 Days.” In line with the unspoken common theme of BeachLife Festival, Atlas Genius also featured a few 80s covers like “Don’t You Want Me” by The Human League and “You Spin Me Round” by Dead or Alive. Lastly, he ended with his hit “Trojans.” After his set, I was able to sit down with Keith and discuss the new album, playing in the United States, changes in music culture, and what it’s like to have TWO songs featured in the illustrious FIFA video game soundtrack, so more on that is soon to come!
BeachLife Festival veterans Sugar Ray have played every single lineup since the festival’s debut in 2019, and the group still can’t seem to get enough! Lead singer Mark McGrath dished out jokes as easily as their beach party hits, wasting no opportunities to crack a joke and connect with the crowd in between songs. Fans came to expect their hits like “Someday,” “Into Yesterday,” “Fly” and “Every Morning,” but I did not expect Mark’s genuine remarks of gratitude to the crowd, thanking his fans for sticking with him through the 90s mirage of frosted tips and radio hits alike. The Newport Beach native also payed homage to true Ska roots, performing a cover of “What’s Gone Wrong” by local legends The Untouchables.
St. Paul & The Broken Bones
Perhaps one of the top vocal performance I’ve seen in person, vocalist Paul Janeway of St. Paul & The Broken Bones absolutely blew me away. Bringing the soul of Birmingham, Alabama to Southern California, the crowd at BeachLife Festival couldn’t help but stare in awe of Janeway’s incredible range, along with the band’s full harmonious and multi-instrumental sound. Songs like “Call Me” and “Apollo” displayed their full blend of funk, soul, and blues. Many fans left their set as new fans of St. Paul & The Broken Bones.
Tito Puente Jr.
From Puerto Rico to Redondo Beach, Tito Puente Jr. honored the legacy of his late father by making the crowd sing and dance to his Caribbean grooves. Fittingly on the Tito’s stage, lead percussionist Tito Puente Jr. spread joy with songs like “Salsa Na’Ma”, as well as borrowing from his father’s hits with “Oye Como Va.” With Tito’s music playing and a drink in hand, you might as well be dancing in the streets of old San Juan.
Courtney Barnett
New age rock icon Courtney Barnett brought folk and blues to the HighTide stage among engaged fans. A product of Melbourne, Australia, Barnett has been featured in some of the biggest music festival lineups across the globe over the past decade. Her enthralling mix of easy going folk rock and punchy garage rock always keeps fans on their toes. Her true stardom shone through on songs like “Avant Gardener,” “History Eraser,” “Nameless, Faceless,” and her closing track “Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go To The Party.” Her head-banging guitar breaks told the crowd that she feels at home onstage.
ZZ Top
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, rock legends ZZ Top need no sort of introduction. Their rock/blues tone is absolutely irreplaceable, and with people filling up the entire LowTide stage, the crowd was ready to rock. The onstage band consisted of drummer Frank Beard and lead singer/guitarist Billy Gibbons since 1969, adding bassist Elwood Francis to fill in for member Dusty Hill, who passed away in 2021.Their setlist contained many monumental hits, including ‘Gimme All Your Lovin’, ‘Just Got Paid’, ‘Jesus Just Left Chicago’, ‘Legs’, and ‘Sharp Dressed Man’, and opting to tease the crowd by only playing the first few notes of ‘La Grange’ before the BeachLife Festival team made a shocking announcement.
Unfortunately, this is where BeachLife Festival 2024 ended. Due to high winds monitored by the event team, an announcement was made for festival-goers to exit the grounds for everyone’s safety immediately. They declared the festival would wait one hour to reassess conditions with hopes that the wind would die down, but later stated that the conditions were still unsafe to continue and officially closed the festival, missing out on remaining acts such as Fleet Foxes, Trey Anastasio, Classic Tab, and My Morning Jacket. The BeachLife Festival team apologized for the inconvenience, and assured that this was in the best interest and safety of everybody attending.
While this marked a bummer for the end of the individual day, this mishap did not cast a shadow over my experience that weekend. I learned that BeachLife Festival is a very homegrown experience and celebrates the South Bay communities of Redondo, Manhattan, and Hermosa Beach by coming together to celebrate together for a weekend. That grassroots effect is felt throughout the festival, from the vendors to the attendees to the artists. I got the chance to meet several friendly strangers, hear some awesome music, and enjoy the many accommodations that BeachLife Festival promised and delivered on. Being a first-time BeachLifer, I can guarantee I’ll have my eyes on next year’s lineup announcement.
We should first note that Ultra came to Taiwan not once but twice this year, so Taipei was in for a treat as everyone danced the weekend away at the last festival of the year! Even the weather cooperated – strangely warm weather for December was perfect for relaxing on the grass during the day and then raving at night.
The festival kicked off on Friday afternoon with artists like Anfisa Letyago playing on the Resistance stage and KSHMR on the Main Stage where fans got to hear music he had never played anywhere else in the world yet.
David Guetta ended Day One of Ultra Taiwan, letting us know that it was his first show since he was in Ibiza over the summer. He played fan-favorites, both new and old, like “I’m Good (Blue)” and “Titanium,” which kept everyone on their feet dancing and singing until the firework and flame-filled finale.
On Saturday, Senna started us off on the Main Stage while fans wandered into the grounds and explored activities on the grounds like getting their hair done, taking photos with the Ultra Taiwan sign, and showing off their countries’ flags. We loved seeing all of the different flags from various continents around the world, which is always a reminder of how music brings us together.
Joleen and Taiwan’s own Dalis jammed at the Ultra Park Stage, welcoming in festival-goers as they entered through the gates, and Massano welcomed both the dancers and those who wanted to sit and listen at Resistance’s amphitheater stage as the sun set.
And the Main Stage floor was kept packed with DJs like Mykris and W&W, who played just before the high-energy Timmy Trumpet, whose trumpet playing and antics (which included drinking vodka from the bottle while running across his console) would cause the crowds to cheer wildly in delight.
Alesso closed out the festival with a pyro and light show-filled set and played songs that had everyone jumping and screaming out the words. From “If I Lose Myself” to “Heroes,” new cheers would erupt every time he transitioned into a new song. Before ending with another stunning firework show, Alesso said that he came and played here in Taiwan three years ago while the world was locked down, and he will cherish forever that moment because it was safe here in Taiwan to have shows. He thanked everyone from the bottom of his heart, and we know all of the people in the crowd were grateful, too.
Ultra Taiwan is coming this weekend! From December 8-9 you could be raving to your favorites at Dajia Riverside Park. Check out the lineup, and then buy your tickets here if you haven’t already gotten them.
This weekend, Piedmont Park hosted their annual iteration of Music Midtown, featuring a stacked lineup of musicians and activations, including Pink, Billie Eilish, Flume, Niall Horan, The 1975 and Guns N Roses. Check out the photos below, taken by Gaby Deimeke.
A surprisingly impressive lineup just dropped from local Austin, Texas music festival Illfest. Featuring over 50 EDM artists over 4 stages, and not complete without crazy visuals and art installations, this will for sure be the place to be in September.
We’re most excited to see Louis the Child, Jai Wolf, Slander, and Boogie T on Saturday, and Cheat Codes, Chromeo, Griz, Madeon and Kayzo on Sunday. Check out the lineup below for the full list of acts, and head to https://www.illfest.com/ to grab tickets.
crowdsurfermag.com 