Rap rocker Travie McCoy got Seaside Lagoon swaying with his upbeat vibe at half-past noon on Friday, May 5, taking to the High Tide stage — kicking off the fourth BeachLife Festival.
McCoy convinced the crowds that “We’ll be Alright” — one of the songs he performed on day one of three — but is soon became clear that the BeachLife brand is more than all right.
The companion BeachLife Ranch festival, which takes place in September and celebrates country and Americana music, will feature Jack Johnson as one of its headliners, officials announced on Friday. Soft-rocker Johnson, a former professional surfer, will take to the stage on one of BeachLife Ranch’s three nights. The rest of the lineup for that festival, set for Sep. 22 to 24, will be announced May 16.
This weekend’s BeachLife Festival, meanwhile, is expected to draw more than 11,000 people daily through Sunday. over.
The crowds were relatively light when the gates first opened around noon on Friday, but more and more people began filing into Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Beach. After overcast skies early, the sun came out in the afternoon — with concertgoers packing the areas around the four stages.
The atmosphere was festive. Attendees ate. They drank. And, of course, enjoyed the shows.
This weekend’s lineup has an eclectic mix, from pop/ska star Gwen Stefani, who is headlining the sold-out second day on Saturday, to rock stars John Fogarty and The Black Crowes, who will be the top acts on Sunday’s closing night.
And while the rock stars are the ones in the spotlight — this year’s iteration has more than four dozen acts on four stages — the festival is also about beach culture: Art, world-class food, spirits and family-friendly activities.
The festical being more than music, BeachLife cofounder Allen Sanford said, is by design.
“I would say we believe that better is better, not bigger is better,” Sanford said before the start of the festival. “Our goal and our focus…
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