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Happy Thursday!
We’re headed into back-to-back weekends of music festivals here in Southern California starting this week and running through mid-November.
Whether you’re into loud and rowdy punk rock, the infectious grooves of EDM, moody ’80s vibes or you’re ready to boot-scootin’ boogie to some country tunes, there’s pretty much a music festival coming up that will fit your style.
The inaugural Left Coast Luau is happening at Oak Canyon Park in Silverado on Saturday, Sept. 9, led by Texas rockabilly group The Reverend Horton Heat. The single-day fest is donating its profits to the Maui Strong Fund to support those affected by the recent devastating wildfires in Maui. Reporter Holly Alvarado has more on that here.
Last week, I shared that I’d be heading to the Parish at House of Blues Anaheim to check punk rock band Face to Face‘s frontman Trever Keith at his sold out “Sight and Sound” art exhibit and acoustic performance. It was a super intimate affair with about 200 fans that checked out his art and sang along to his covers of Bob Dylan, John Prine, George Jones and Zach Bryan‘s music, as well as some new solo country-Americana songs and stripped down versions Face to Face hits like “A-OK” and “Blind.”
The latter two songs are fire in their original punk rock delivery and get crowds moshing, but in this more vulnerable state, they’re actually tearjerkers. While a new solo album from Keith is imminent, he did announce that Face to Face, which hails from Victorville, will return to perform shows in Southern California next year.
So what am I up to this week?
Well, I’ll be at Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, Sept. 9 as the venue celebrates its 30th anniversary with a sold-out homecoming show with Gwen Stefani. She’s had a long history with the venue, with this upcoming show being her 10th appearance there either solo or with her Anaheim-based rock-ska band No Doubt. Since it is a hometown gig, I compiled a list of 10 songs we hope to hear from Stefani on this special occasion and you can check that out here.
Here’s what else is going on in the Southern California music scene.
Yee-Haw! The Coastal Country Jam is back
For the first time since 2019, the country music festival will return to Southern California. Originally held as a single-day event at Huntington State Beach, Coastal Country Jam has expanded to two days and moved to Marina Green Park in Long Beach. It’s all happening on Sept. 16-17 with Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn, Maren Morris and more. Holly Alvarado talked to producers Activated Events about why they switched up locations and what it’s going to be like for fans that have waited for four years to see this festival again.
Ghost wants you to confess your sins at the Grammy Museum
The Swedish metal band Ghost has set up a confessional-style pop-up photo booth inside the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles ahead of its shows at Kia Forum in Inglewood on Sept. 11-12. Fans can duck inside the booth and walk away with a commemorative photo strip and see a display of the Papa Emeritus III outfit worn by frontman Tobias Forge. Reporter Peter Larsen has more details on that here.
Beyoncé celebrated her 42nd birthday at SoFi Stadium in style
R&B superstar Beyoncé had a tremendous run at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood with sold-out stops on her Renaissance World Tour on Sept. 1-2 and 4. The final show of the tour fell on Queen Bey’s 42nd birthday and it was a celebrity and surprise-filled affair. Music icon Diana Ross came out to sing “Happy Birthday to You” to Beyoncé during her set, there were limited-edition birthday T-shirts and the fans fulfilled Bey’s request to dress to impress in all silver to mark the occasion. Check out a photo gallery of fans turning up at Beyoncé’s party on Monday here.
More Music News
Swifties react to Eras Tour movie tickets being resold
Taylor Swift’s ‘The Eras Tour’ concert film is coming to movie theaters Oct. 13
How Ozomatli turned its song ‘Moose on the Loose’ into a children’s book
Maxwell says to expect musical fireworks at Hollywood Bowl finale
BeyHive reacts to Diana Ross singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Beyoncé
Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour dazzles diehard fans at SoFi Stadium
Travis Scott will bring his 2023 Utopia – Circus Maximus Tour to SoFi Stadium
Until next week, thanks for reading and keep rockin’!
Read previous editions of the Festival Pass newsletter
Festival Pass: Left Coast Luau’s throwing a party with a purpose
Festival Pass: Emo tunes meet feel good vibes at California Is For Lovers Fest
Festival Pass: A family-friendly country music campout is coming to Chino
