Images by Johnnie Crow and Sandy Beitler
Words by Sandy Beitler

As my first experience in San Diego, I got to be part of the inaugural Wonderfront Music + Arts Festival which took place November 22-24, 2019. Wonderfront was a 3-day Music and Arts festival along the beautiful downtown San Diego waterfront. This massive festival extended from the Broadway Port Pier all the way to Hilton Bayfront Park. Now, if you’re an out-of-towner like me, you had no idea how far that really was until you tried walking it from stage to stage to see bands. Lucky for me I was with someone who knew their way around, but we still had a hard time getting where we needed to be when we wanted to be there. There was a lot that we got to see but also a lot we had to miss with so many things being scheduled at the same time or being so far apart that you just had to choose something closer. The plus to that was, I got to see new bands that maybe I wouldn’t have otherwise.

Wonderfront had over 100 Artists and more than 10 stages for the 3 day event, with a myriad of genres to choose from. There was Jazz, Reggae, Rap, Hip Hop, Punk, Dance and even Comedy. Not only did the festival have a plethora of musical acts, it had silent discos, arts, crafts, skateboarding, local food fair, craft beverages, jet boat rides, sunset cruises, and yacht parties. There was so much going on that the fun didn’t have to end when the festival finished at night. They had offical after parties at local clubs and on ships. So if you weren’t done enjoying the scene you didn’t have to be.

Day 1 started late Friday afternoon, and featured performances by Aminé, Bad Suns, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, CNCO, Cofresi, Don Omar, Duckwrth, EarthGang, Earthless, Gioli & Assia, Lil Baby, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Miguel, Parquet Courts, Pepper, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Schizophonics, X Ambassadors, Ximena Sarinana, Banda Tierra Brava, Los Crecidos, and Seis en Linea.

Day 2 got things going before noon on Saturday, and included sets by Migos, Big Gigantic, J.I.D, Bob Moses, Bryce Vine, Common Kings, Flatbush Zombies, MGMT, Nicky Jam, Pennywise, Phantogram, Reykon, Slightly Stoopid, The Knocks, Thievery Corporation, TOkiMONSTA, Vince Staples, Zion y Lennox, Jhay Cortez, Alice Merton, Allie X, BoomBox, Z-Trip, Fakear, Goldfish, Grandson, The Vandals, Wild Belle, Andy Frasco and The U.N., Capyac, Chesca, Henry & the Invisibles, Jordan Hollywood, Marie Monti, Steve Fulton Music, The Routine, Wild Prxfits, Grandma, Jesse Baez, and Brewfish.

Day 3 was another all day affair capped off by Guitar Legends 3, a partnership with America Salutes You – an all star benefit concert to support Military, Veterans, First Responders and their families which was recorded for future broadcast. The show was led by Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), joined by George Thorogood, Nancy Wilson (Heart), Steve Lukather (Toto), Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers), Charlie Starr (Blackberry Smoke) and Kenny Aronoff and the LA All-Star Band. Other perfomers were Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Los Angeles Azules, 3LAU, Banda Los Sebastianes, Bas, Big Wild, Busta Rhymes, Grace Vanderwaal, Hippo Campus, Jonas Blue, Lil Dicky, Los Tucanes De Tijuana, Manchester Orchestra, Moon Taxi, Suicidal Tendencies, Tribal Seeds, Tyga, Walk The Moon, X, Khea, Broods, The English Beat, Japanese Breakfast, Z-Trip, Chrome Sparks, Diamante Electrico, Donna Missal, Exmag, Ghost Light, Victoria La Mala, Haddon Cord, SoDown, SunSquabi, Cydeways, Glades, Donavon Frankenreiter, Rob Machado & Friends.

Wonderfront and San Diego have an exciting and interesting festival here. San Diego makes the perfect back drop for this very diverse and spread out event and I look forward to seeing how they improve the event for 2020.

Wonderfront 2019 Day 1

29 photos

Wonderfront 2019 Day 2 by Sandy

31 photos

Wonderfront 2019 Day 2

24 photos

Wonderfront 2019 Day 3 by Sandy

46 photos

Wonderfront 2019 Day 3

52 photos

The First Wonderfront Music + Arts Festival Entertains San Diego Waterfront first appeared on Game On Media.

There’s a new festival coming to San Diego that’s unlike anything this city has ever seen and unlike any other festival of its kind. Here are just a few reasons why Wonderfront Festival is different from the rest.

LINE-UP

Other Festivals: Talent buyers spend big bucks on a handful of headliners while leaving the rest of the lineup in the dust.

Wonderfront Festival: Our lineup is stacked from top to bottom with relevant, current artists–some established, some emerging, all badass.

SWITCHIN IT UP

Other Festivals: Focus on the same style of music.

Wonderfront Festival: We are switching things up and keeping things fresh with a multitude of genres including Hip Hop, EDM, Indie Rock, Latin, Reggae, and a bit of Punk to top things off.

IN & OUT PRIVILEGES

Other Festivals: You enter and you do not exit, ALL. DAY. LONG. Festival fatigue, anxiety and all sorts of side effects are not uncommon with the single-entrance model.

Wonderfront Festival: We give you the power to customize your experience with our festival re-entry policy. Hit up a local bar or restaurant in between sets, catch the ferry to Coronado Island, boat/SUP/kayak on the water, or take a nap at your hotel (which will be only steps away). Go, explore, be free–and then come back for your favorite nighttime act and the silent disco.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Other Festivals: Far away af. Also? Hot af and dusty af.

Wonderfront Festival: You’ll be kickin’ it all weekend long along the glistening waterfront of America’s Finest City, not to mention, minutes away from the bustling downtown, a short Lyft to Little Italy and a 15 minute ferry ride to Coronado. Views for days in the blissful, sunny November San Diego weather.

P.S. Our gates are one mile from the airport with train and trolley stops in walking distance. Bam!

HAMPING

Other Festivals: Laying your head down on rocks and dirt after a long day is the most luxurious sleep situation you’re going to get, unless you’ve booked an expensive hotel that is an hour away.

Wonderfront Festival: Chic, comfy hotels (with special Wonderfront package deals) are literally steps away from our festival stages and the downtown after parties. Get some deep zzz’s before going at it again on Day 2 & 3.

ALL THE THINGS

Other Festivals: You listen to music, see a little art and maybe hang with some cool girls with hula hoops.

Wonderfront Festival: With us, your GA Pass gets you access to all the things; Silent Disco, Giant Sports Bar, The Hideaway, all the game zones, the yacht parties, the water taxis with bars and bands, the comedy, the art exhibits, the lounges. ALL of it. The only extra activities would be the rental of kayaks, SUP boards, wave runners, even speed boats; which will all be offered on festival grounds.

CRUISING BETWEEN STAGES

Other Festivals: Walking between stages takes up half of your day, not to mention the sand that gets in your shoes and the blisters that start to form if your shoe selection favors fashion over comfort.

Wonderfront Festival: Getting from stage to stage is part of the experience aboard water taxis with bars and bands, take scooters between the venues, jump on the festival’s Old Town Shuttle tours moving you between the venues, or take our WonderFRED electric buggies. And if you prefer to walk the beautiful promenade, check out the entertainers along the way–it’s all there for you, friends.

Convinced? Purchase your tickets here!

Wonderfront Festival Gives San Diego Music Fans Festival Freedom first appeared on Game On Media.