Ohana Fest is this weekend and this year has all the makings of a historic event, even by SoCal standards. Besides some major names in music, in addition to Ohana Fest, this year you also get Encore!
Ohana Fest will be at Doheny State Beach and it includes so many amazing artists! I am most excited about Black Pumas on day one (September 24th). I think front-man Eric Burton has the voice of a generation; it actually gives me chills, so I’m really excited to see them live.
Kings of Leon and The Regrettes are also going to make some earth-shattering noise; figuratively speaking! My Morning Jacket is guaranteed to rock.
The sleeper band may be Greer, but go early to catch them along with Plague Vendor. Plague Vender is absolutely one of the best live bands and Brandon Blaine is a virtual dancing machine.
Day two (September 25th) features Pearl Jam front-man Eddie Vedder, Spoon, Cold War Kids, and The Aquadolls. Obviously Vedder will be phenomenal, but I also look forward to Long Beach’s Cold War Kids because I know they will be fantastic. They’ve been touring with Kings of Leon, make sure to catch them
For me, day three (September 26th) will definitely be amazing! Getting to shoot Pearl Jam is always a full circle moment for me; I grew up watching the “Jeremy” video on MTV, so it is a big deal to get to photograph them later in life. Let’s just say I will be smiling from ear-to-ear! It’s always cool to see Vedder do his thing; he invites members from the other bands (and other special guests!) to join him onstage, so you just never know what you’re going to get with Eddie.
Day three has the fantastic Brandi Carlile, Yola, Jade Bird, Cavetown and more! Such a great mix!
This is such a fun festival to cover as a photojournalist because the stages are right next to each other. It is very well produced, and it’s awesome sitting on the beach, plus there are a lot of giveaways.
As for the bonus show… Encore, what a lineup! Encore will take place the following weekend (October 1st and 2nd), and it will also take place at Doheny State Beach.
BECK LIVE | PHOTO by GREEN-EYED BLONDE PHOTOGRAPHY
Encore Day one lineup includes Pearl Jam, Beck, Lord Huron, White Reaper, ZZ Ward, and more! You get a free Pearl Jam show, folks! Plus Beck?! Seriously, it will be incredible!
PEARL JAM LIVE | PHOTO by TINY TOYLAND
Day two of Encore again features Pearl Jam, plus Brandi Carlile, Sleater-Kinney, and many others.
As we are in the world we are in, there are COVID protocols in place. You will need to bring proof of a negative COVID-19 test OR proof of full COVID-19 vaccination. If you are not fully vaccinated, a negative COVID-19 test result must be obtained within 72 hours of attending. You can check the full rules and helpful tips on their site.
Any way you look at it, tons of great music coming to the OC! TWO weekends of amazing performances for the price of one!