Stab Magazine | Stab's Guide to California Music Festivals
291 Views

Stab’s Guide to California Music Festivals

Words by Morgan Williamson  Anyone keen for a wig out with 50,000 strangers? It’s good for you. Surfing’s fun, but you know what else is? Spending 72 hours on a proper bender, swiveling skinny little hips on top of gelatin legs. Which if you’re going to do, bring a couple bottles of Pedialyte they’ll keep you fresh in the AM. California does a few things right: first to figure out gay rights, medical marijuana (although not first to legalize it…), beaches, bridges, cities, mountains, tunes and girls. But most importantly; knows how to party, thanks Pac! So music festivals are another category the golden state excels in. Here are five California festivals where your dancing feet will surely find you. For all events Stab strongly recommended you pick up a festival girlfriend. So do your best to keep it marginally together… *Rave and quasi-rave festys not included. Do us a favour and get that candy shit out of here! PLUR.* Coachella, Indio Valley: April 10-12 and 17-19Due to popular demand they run two of them. Weekend one has better special guests, weekend two is slightly less crowded. Both are hot, so hydrate (light beer will work). Book a hotel, or better yet camp on site, feel the disco. If you’re a filthy animal (and we hope you are) then go both weekends. Each year there’s going to be a conflict of bands playing at the same time… Do I see Alt-J, Father John Misty or Glass Animals? A dilemma that’ll surely dissipate as the day turns into night, then resurface Monday morning with a sickening force. Year after year Chelly serves up a damn fine musical cuisine. A few highlights from this year: ACDC, Tame Impala, Interpol, Steely Dan, Caribou, The War on Drugs, Flying Lotus, Jack White, Jungle, Action Bronson, Allah-Las, St. Vincent, ODESZA and the previously mentioned above. Coachella’s the most extravagant festival in CA. If you’ve never been, buy a ticket; the ride will follow. Outsidelands, San Francisco: August 7-10What better a setting than Golden Gate Park in the city? A boogie in the woods and fog. The coldest winter Mark Twain ever spent was summer in the San Francisco. If you happen to be hungry the food’s tasty and if you’re thirsty the craft beer and wine’s fine. Outsidelands has brought out Paul McCartney, Radiohead and Metallica in the past and never lacks in the lineup category. Oh, they also have a comedy stage; although your head will probs already be filled with laughter. Around 10 it shuts down. So if you’re still kicking, the city of love’s notorious for keeping the groove alive. Some notables from this year: The Black Keys, Elton John, Wilco, Robert DeLong, Tame Impala, Allah-Las, Hot Chip, Billy Idol, First Aid Kit, Kendrick Lamar, Devil Makes Three, D’Angelo plus other acts worth seeing. Fuck yeah! That’s what they say, right? Fuck Yeah Fest, Los Angeles: August 22 and 23The best named out of the bunch goes down at the LA Memorial Sports Arena. Lalaland’s fit for a good time. This fest goes on for just the weekend. Perfect for a well needed release for the nine to five folks. Here are some of the get down groovers from this years event: Flume, !!! (Chk Chk Chk), Dinosaur Jr., Run the Jewels, Mac DeMarco, BADBADNOTGOOD, Nicholas Jarr, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Thee Oh Sees, Neon Indian, Morrissey (for you depressed vegans out there) and that Kanye West guy. Infatuation with balloons transcends generations. Photo: Minerwines.com Bottlerock, Napa Valley: May 29th-31stLand of the California Cab Sauv, Napa Valley hosts one of Nor Cal’s better festivals. Complete with art installations to gaze into. And fine wine and dining to taste into. It’s a lovely place for outdoor music, set in midst of Sequoia trees in an area traditioned with good weather. This year’s whirl was assisted by Portugal the Man, Robert Plant, Public Enemy, Foster the People, No Doubt, Snoop Dogg, People Under the Stairs, the guy from Chicago and some dude from Kansas. Northern California’s riddled with musical ladies and gents popular in the 60’s and 70’s. The neon lights over the San Francisco Bay. Photo: sf.rack.com Treasure Island, San Francisco: October 17th-18thHere’s our final recommendation. Back to the beautiful city of San Francisco and the only festy on this list that you can still attend this year. There are other’s that’ll go down as the season progresses. If you’re on the southern coast; The Growlers put on Beach Goth every year (Oct 24th-25th) give that a look. It’s just not of the caliber presented here. TI’s a weekend festival in the middle of the San Francisco bay. This year will boogie to The National, STS9, Father John Misty, The War on Drugs, Run the Jewels, Panda Bear and Jose Gonzalez, Deadmau5 amongst a few others.

stabfm // Mar 8, 2016
Words by stab
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Words by Morgan Williamson 

Anyone keen for a wig out with 50,000 strangers? It’s good for you. Surfing’s fun, but you know what else is? Spending 72 hours on a proper bender, swiveling skinny little hips on top of gelatin legs. Which if you’re going to do, bring a couple bottles of Pedialyte they’ll keep you fresh in the AM. California does a few things right: first to figure out gay rights, medical marijuana (although not first to legalize it…), beaches, bridges, cities, mountains, tunes and girls. But most importantly; knows how to party, thanks Pac! So music festivals are another category the golden state excels in. Here are five California festivals where your dancing feet will surely find you. For all events Stab strongly recommended you pick up a festival girlfriend. So do your best to keep it marginally together…
*Rave and quasi-rave festys not included. Do us a favour and get that candy shit out of here! PLUR.*

Coachella, Indio Valley: April 10-12 and 17-19
Due to popular demand they run two of them. Weekend one has better special guests, weekend two is slightly less crowded. Both are hot, so hydrate (light beer will work). Book a hotel, or better yet camp on site, feel the disco. If you’re a filthy animal (and we hope you are) then go both weekends. Each year there’s going to be a conflict of bands playing at the same time… Do I see Alt-J, Father John Misty or Glass Animals? A dilemma that’ll surely dissipate as the day turns into night, then resurface Monday morning with a sickening force. Year after year Chelly serves up a damn fine musical cuisine. A few highlights from this year: ACDC, Tame Impala, Interpol, Steely Dan, Caribou, The War on Drugs, Flying Lotus, Jack White, Jungle, Action Bronson, Allah-Las, St. Vincent, ODESZA and the previously mentioned above. Coachella’s the most extravagant festival in CA. If you’ve never been, buy a ticket; the ride will follow.

Outsidelands, San Francisco: August 7-10
What better a setting than Golden Gate Park in the city? A boogie in the woods and fog. The coldest winter Mark Twain ever spent was summer in the San Francisco. If you happen to be hungry the food’s tasty and if you’re thirsty the craft beer and wine’s fine. Outsidelands has brought out Paul McCartney, Radiohead and Metallica in the past and never lacks in the lineup category. Oh, they also have a comedy stage; although your head will probs already be filled with laughter. Around 10 it shuts down. So if you’re still kicking, the city of love’s notorious for keeping the groove alive. Some notables from this year: The Black Keys, Elton John, Wilco, Robert DeLong, Tame Impala, Allah-Las, Hot Chip, Billy Idol, First Aid Kit, Kendrick Lamar, Devil Makes Three, D’Angelo plus other acts worth seeing.

Rich Fury for FYF Fest

Fuck yeah! That’s what they say, right?

Fuck Yeah Fest, Los Angeles: August 22 and 23
The best named out of the bunch goes down at the LA Memorial Sports Arena. Lalaland’s fit for a good time. This fest goes on for just the weekend. Perfect for a well needed release for the nine to five folks. Here are some of the get down groovers from this years event: Flume, !!! (Chk Chk Chk), Dinosaur Jr., Run the Jewels, Mac DeMarco, BADBADNOTGOOD, Nicholas Jarr, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Thee Oh Sees, Neon Indian, Morrissey (for you depressed vegans out there) and that Kanye West guy.

Crowd-balloons-2014

Infatuation with balloons transcends generations. Photo: Minerwines.com

Bottlerock, Napa Valley: May 29th-31st
Land of the California Cab Sauv, Napa Valley hosts one of Nor Cal’s better festivals. Complete with art installations to gaze into. And fine wine and dining to taste into. It’s a lovely place for outdoor music, set in midst of Sequoia trees in an area traditioned with good weather. This year’s whirl was assisted by Portugal the Man, Robert Plant, Public Enemy, Foster the People, No Doubt, Snoop Dogg, People Under the Stairs, the guy from Chicago and some dude from Kansas. Northern California’s riddled with musical ladies and gents popular in the 60’s and 70’s.

treaSUEW ISLAND

The neon lights over the San Francisco Bay. Photo: sf.rack.com

Treasure Island, San Francisco: October 17th-18th
Here’s our final recommendation. Back to the beautiful city of San Francisco and the only festy on this list that you can still attend this year. There are other’s that’ll go down as the season progresses. If you’re on the southern coast; The Growlers put on Beach Goth every year (Oct 24th-25th) give that a look. It’s just not of the caliber presented here. TI’s a weekend festival in the middle of the San Francisco bay. This year will boogie to The National, STS9, Father John Misty, The War on Drugs, Run the Jewels, Panda Bear and Jose Gonzalez, Deadmau5 amongst a few others.

beach gothuse

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

“There’s More Opportunity Than Ever In Surfing — You Just Have To Think Outside The Box”

Says the guy doing ad spots with Em Rata and starring in Nike posts.

Sep 20, 2025

Alex Knost, Mikey Feb & More Star In Non-Conformist Waveriding Demonstration ‘Choice Glance’

Where all great surfing variants collide.

Sep 20, 2025

Hossegor, Day One: Four Hours At The Quiksilver Festival 2025

A leisurely warm-up.

Sep 20, 2025

Kelly Slater Calls Out Surf100 Winner Eithan Osborne

And Eithan DGAF.

Sep 20, 2025

Can A Team Of CTers Beat Freesurfers, Poorly Slept Australians, And The Local Heavies In Hossegor?

This year's Quiksilver Festival is about to start. Here's what you need to know.

Sep 19, 2025

Watch: Chippa Wilson Wreaks Havoc On A Head-High Left, Signs 5-Year Deal With New Brand

Brixton, out. Who's in? Find out in 'Deadbeat'.

Sep 18, 2025

Eithan Osborne Is Officially $100,000 Richer After Winning Surf100 California

“I would say I’m finally gonna get a good nights rest, but… I don’t think…

Sep 18, 2025

The $100,000 Surf100 California Finale, Presented By Pacifico

Our six-figure, audience judged, 100-minute deathmatch.

Sep 18, 2025

What Not To Do With $100,000

How not to torch your cash with Albee Layer, Matt Meola, and Ryan Miller.

Sep 17, 2025

Mike Stewart Just Took One Of The Wildest Teahupo’o Drops In History — At 62 Years Young

A Stab Interview with surfing's pre-eminent tube theorist... and practitioner.

Sep 14, 2025

Two Kiwis Started A “Surf” Brand In London, Accidentally Collabed With Adidas

Always do what you should do...

Sep 13, 2025

Watch: Kael Walsh’s 2025 Stab Edit Of The Year Entry ‘Strung’

The 2022 champ might just win it again — but sorry, no Bitcoin this time…

Sep 11, 2025

Film Review: We Went To The “Yi-Wo” World Premiere

And Thomas Campbell has successfully increased our attention span.

Sep 11, 2025

The Surf100 x Pacifico $100k Finale — Everything You Need To Know

Watch & score the 100-minute finale on Wednesday, September 17th.

Sep 11, 2025

We Asked About Sharks, 3000 Surfers Answered

And the results show: you're full of contradictions.

Sep 11, 2025

Empty Set: How Do You Approach A New Spot And Get Waves?

Mason Ho, Tosh Tudor, and Kepa Acero share their tips.

Sep 10, 2025

“I Want To See The Winner Get Stretchered Off The Beach With A $5K Check”

Julian & Co. invite a 20 year-old carpenter to Stab High, courtesy of Bum Rush

Sep 9, 2025

Take Stab’s 2025 Audience Survey, Win A New Surfboard + Kit

Fins, boardshorts, and Premium subscriptions also up for grabs.

Sep 8, 2025
Advertisement