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.

KROQ, Travis Barker & John “Feldy” Feldmann Present
2nd Annual Back To The Beach
With blink-182, Goldfinger, The Used,
Reel Big Fish, The Story So Far, Streetlight Manifesto, The Aquabats, And More

Festival Returns On Saturday, April 27 & Sunday, April 28
To The Sands Of The World Famous
Huntington State Beach In Southern California

Tickets Starting At $79.99 For A Weekend Pass
Kids 10 And Under Get In Free With Paid Adult Admission

KROQ, Travis Barker and John Feldmann come together once again to present the 2nd annual Back To The Beach, returning to Huntington State Beach on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28. This weekend destination festival debuted last year, and over 30,000 fans came out to see some of the biggest names in modern ska, punk and reggae. Back To The Beach will feature performances from blink-182, Goldfinger, The Used, Reel Big Fish, The Story So Far, Streetlight Manifesto, The Aquabats, and many more, performing on the shore of the Pacific Ocean in picturesque Orange County, California.

The daily band lineup for Back To The Beach is as follows (subject to change):

• Saturday, April 27

  blink-182, Goldfinger, Reel Big Fish, Streetlight Manifesto, The Aquabats, Save Ferris, The English Beat, and The Drowns

• Sunday, April 28

  The Used, The Story So Far, Anthony Green, The Wonder Years, Less Than Jake, Story Of The Year, Teenage Wrist, and Lowlives

John “Feldy” Feldmann of Goldfinger, co-producer of Back To The Beach, says, “Back To The Beach has been one of the funnest things I’ve ever been part of. What could be better than a mostly ska festival?? I grew up on ska music and I had the best time of my life last year at the show… This year may even be better! Travis and I are so excited to do the show yet again… I cannot wait!”

“We are so excited to have blink-182 as part of this year’s event,” adds John Reese, Back To The Beach Producer and CEO of Synergy Global Entertainment, Inc. “A huge thank you to California State Parks for having us back for another year. We couldn’t ask for a more beautiful venue with a more perfect lineup.”

Back To The Beach will feature a carnival midway, beach games, great food (with vegan options), craft beer and cocktails, and more. Families are invited to explore the Lil’ Punk Kid Zone, which will be a fun all-inclusive safe place for kids 10 & under who are accompanied by an adult. The area will feature healthy food options including a fruit cart, and will give kids a place to play and engage while still being part of the festival experience. Under a tented shade zone, new moms will have a clean, private place to breastfeed, as well as hand washing areas and clean bathrooms for families only. The area will offer face painting and beach games, as well as arts and crafts and much more. While kids enjoy the time of their lives, parents can sit and relax while still listening to and seeing the festival on jumbo screens.

Tickets go on sale Friday, January 25 at 10:00 AM PT at http://backtothebeachfest.com. A limited number of Weekend General Admission passes will be available for $79.99 (plus fees), while supplies last. VIP ticket package options are also available. For this all-ages family friendly event, kids under 10 get in free when accompanied by an adult with paid admission.

Back To The Beach is produced by Synergy Global Entertainment (SGE), blink-182‘s Travis Barker and Goldfinger‘s John Feldmann.

Back To The Beach partners include: Rockstar Energy Drink, Kona Brewing Company, Sailor Jerry Rum, Mike’s HARDER, Cupcake Vineyards, Corona Extra, and more to be announced.

For more information on Back To The Beach, visit:

• Website: http://backtothebeachfest.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/backtothebeachfest
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/backtothebeachfest
• Hashtag: #backtothebeachfest

Wrap up videos from Back To The Beach 2018 can be seen here:

• https://www.facebook.com/backtothebeachfest/videos/162077364462213/
• https://www.facebook.com/backtothebeachfest/videos/162383164431633/

KROQ, Travis Barker & John “Feldy” Feldmann Present 2nd Annual Back To The Beach first appeared on Game On Media.