If Southern hospitality is a tradition, BeachLife Ranch just might be on its way to becoming its own surf-steeped version.
And that would probably be alright with founder Allen Sanford as the nascent country/Americana music festival wrapped up with a full slate of country artists on Sunday.
It was Year Two for BeachLife Ranch and Sanford is proving there’s something for everyone and that music with ocean breezes overhead and sand underfoot might just be something Redondo Beach can’t do without.
A congenial spirit was embodied everywhere: from security staff to food vendors to fans — die-hard three-day pass holders and parents with children alike.
The Marshall Tucker Band’s lead singer, 75-year-old Doug Gray, hit the right note before hitting his throaty vocals Sunday. The band had moved to later in the afteroon after another act bowed out a few days ago, according to organizers.
As the country-blues-rocker band took to the Highland stage, Gray grabbed the microphone: “Y’all gonna turn Southern now?” He seemed to be asking it of a middle-aged, clean-cut dude hanging over the VIP railing. The guy smiled widely and nodded. Gray then invited everyone to come to South Carolina, the band’s home, for a drink.
Good old-fashioned congeniality was the theme for the weekend, especially for BeachLife aficionados who purchased three day passes.
They were treated to mellow surfer rocker Jack Johnson on Friday where attendance was 10,1000. Wynonna Judd, The Doobie Brothers and Cody Jinks on Saturday brought in 8,200, according to organizers.
Sunday had a decidedly more country lineup. In addition to Marshall Tucker, ticket holders were scheduled to hear Midland, Chris Isaak and Grammy-award-winning Brad Paisley.
But the through line of the three-day festival was its easy-does-it sensibility.
On Sunday, Matthew Neagle and Kim St. Hilaire were out to the festival early.
Between them, the Palos Verdes Peninsula residents, have missed only one iteration of…
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