Man, the highs at Cali Vibes on Friday were off the charts! From the crack of dawn, you could feel the energy buzzing in the air. It was like the whole California music scene came alive for three epic days. With reggae, hip-hop, and ska on the menu, you just knew it was gonna be legendary. And celebrating 50 years of hip-hop? That was just the cherry on top.
By noon, it was a run to the main stage rail. Surfer Girl would be the first band to open, energizing the audience and shaking off the morning cobwebs.
Next up was Eli-Mac, who turned up the heat in her performance alongside her talented dancers and band. Her soulful rendition of a Lauryn Hill classic, coupled with her own heartfelt tribute, was a treat for all of us.
Cisco Adler took the stage, injecting the crowd with positivity and inspiring messages, urging every one of us to reach for our dreams. It felt surreal to be writing a review of the festival as a devoted fan. By the end of his set, Adler left the stage and was on his way to coach his kids’ basketball team. Familiar tunes kept the spirits high, which had me in a good mood.
And when Collie Buddz hit the stage, Long Beach exploded with excitement. The dude had us all feeling like we were in our own little hot-boxed paradise. And when he brought a lucky fan onstage for “Blind to You,” it was like we were all part of something special.
As the clock struck 4:20 PM, a brief intermission between sets allowed for a surreal scene to unfold. The biggest amount of smoke I had ever seen at a festival overcame the crowd creating an atmosphere unlike any other.
The crowd was completely immersed in the atmosphere, fully vibing as the Common Kings took the stage, dressed to ignite the party – and they certainly delivered.
The visuals on the screen were going just right as they played all the crowd’s favorites and couples were in love. As the day transitioned into darkness during Iration’s set, the party spirit only intensified. Opening with their latest hits, Iration ensured the night was alive with energy. Their surprise drone show added an extra layer of excitement to the experience, with the band playfully joking about the drone being extraterrestrial involvement, much to the delight of the much-enthused crowd.
Growing up as an LA native, the Ragamuffin festival held a special place in my heart from the 80s to the 2000s, affectionately known to us as Bob Day. Fresh from the opening weekend of the Bob Marley movie “One Love,” we were treated to performances by Damian Marley and Stephen Marley. Stephen and Damian released a new tour asset today with Live Nation for the Traffic Jam Tour starting this weekend.
Their sets were a beautiful blend of their music, collaborations, and tributes to their father’s legendary repertoire, each echoing the spirit of Bob Marley himself. Damian’s heartfelt connection with his father, evident in his constant glances at the screen playing videos of his father, added an extra layer of poignancy to the event, embodying the essence of One Love.
As the night drew to a close, anticipation reached its peak for the headline act, Stick Figure who took the stage blasting us off with intergalactic visuals from out of this world, accompanied by entrancing introduction music that had the crowd on the edge of their tippy toes ready to explode with excitement. In perfect harmony, the audience sang along to Scott’s melodies, completely immersed in the music. Stick Figure‘s electrifying 10-minute experimental jam held the crowd captive, showcasing their mastery over their craft. Special guest appearances from artists like Miles from Slightly Stoopid, TJ O’Neil, and Collie Buddz added to the magic of the night, with Cocoa the tour dog who even made her way out during the set. We would get a great pyrotechnics display marking the end of an unforgettable Day 1 at the festival.
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Day II at Cali Vibes. Long Beach Marina, Saturday February 17, 2024
Saturday morning had high energy at the gates, and there would be a hard sprint if this Stoopidhead wanted a spot on the rail.
Claire Wright would open the main stage and bring this early relaxed vibe for the day. She interacted with her fans and was grateful to be opening for Gwen Stefani.
K Bong and Johnny Cosmic would come in hot like the sun on the crowd, and just as energetic as the night before, K Bong danced and jumped around as maestro through the stage. Johnny Cosmic‘s soulful voice and powerful guitar rips were blazing hot.
The next set would be Little Stranger who turnt it into a party. They would play crowd favorites leading to “Hollywood Not.” A great set from the boys.
Straight out the Slum Beach we have another Silverback Music artist DENM who brings the laidback backyard barbecue vibe.
As the day got hotter, the bands got hotter. It was time to skank and mosh and get the crowd energized. The Interrupters would do all the above and then some. One thing about this band,hey do their best to make personal connections to their fans in the crowd and it’s always great empowering energy as well.
It is now the 4:20 hour and Wiz Khalifa hits the stage. He plays all his bangers which would give us a tribute to all artists who had passed away on the big screen during See You Again. He would end his set to Young, Wild & Free. (Fun fact Snoop Dogg ended his Cali Vibes 2023 set with the same song.)
I would take a nap right after his set and wake up to hearing B Real introducing Slightly Stoopid and stating a Let’s get Stoopid chant.
Which we did. Stoopid had one mission in mind and it was to blow the crowd away with great sounds, visuals, and guests. The list of guests was JR King of Common Kings, Kaleo of Pepper, Chali2na, the funk Doobiest, B Real, Angelo Moore, and all the band members of the Common Kings.
The artist that everyone was waiting for was upon us. The Queen of Orange County. Gwen Stefani, would hit the stage with her band and dancers. She switched it up from solo music to No Doubt music. After a few songs I thought about the Gwen fans and left the rail for the night. I made my way to the Boomyard stage. Thank you Cali Vibes for a great year. Day 3 was a family day for me and that’s my memories only for me. I love you all.
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Day III at Cali Vibes. Long Beach Marina, Sunday February 18, 2024
Cali Vibes transcended mere festival status once again this year, emerging in the air was what my mind, body, and soul craved. Witnessing the talents of such an eclectic mix of artists both familiar and fresh, with a collective love from the audience was a dream.
Highlights from Day I included performances by Damian Marley & Stephen Marley and Stick Figure. I was captivated by the Vibes stage, particularly by The Interrupters and the excellence of Slightly Stoopid who are always a blast to see live. Catching up with Gwen Stefani after 27 years was a nostalgic delight. Her beau Blake Shelton made an appearance onstage with his wife to sing their new song “Purple Irises.” Mystic Marley‘s soulful voice which is featured on “One Love” a film about her grandfathers legacy, was a captivating highlight with members of her production team in the audience. She’s definitely an artist who is holding her own, with a unique and incredibly beautiful sound. On day III, both Grammy-winning artists SOJA, and The Roots delivered stand out performances, while Ice Cube maintained his undeniable gangsta aura. After a couple of songs from the OG rapper, I found solace backstage, along with a delicious hot cup of coffee to enjoy. I couldn’t help myself but to step out of the covered photo pit for a song or two when Rebelution took the stage, just to feel the light rain from the skies which seemed like a gift from Bob Marley himself, allowing us the privilege like his infamous quote “to feel the rain and not just get wet”. Rebelution provided a serene conclusion to the 3-day festival with their trademark sounds.
In summary, Cali Vibes proved to be another incredible experience, set against the backdrop of Long Beach Marina and featuring a lineup of Silverback Music artists, all enveloped in an atmosphere of pure love. It was an unforgettable event, and I eagerly anticipate next year’s installment.
Day I and Day II written by Mark A Dennis, Edited by Maggie St.Thomas Day III written by Maggie St.Thomas.
Photographs by Mark A Dennis, Maggie St.Thomas
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