Without music festivals, it has been difficult for many Northern Californians to mark the passage of time. As schools let out and the sun heats up this part of the state, fun-seekers are accustomed to running away to cool bodies of water and shady forests to commune with nature and fellow music fanatics, but the COVID-19 pandemic robbed us of long-standing cultural milestones.
Music festivals are back now—most of them, anyway. We lost the Guitarfish Music Festival in Cisco Grove, the Vans Warped Tour, and the longstanding Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in Boonville. Some new ones, however, have joined the party, including two at the Black Oak Ranch in Laytonville—Hog Farm Hideaway (June 10-12) and The Days Between (Aug. 5-7). The raucous Burger Boogaloo in Oakland has been rebranded as The Mosswood Meltdown (and, yes, John Waters is still the master of ceremonies), while the locally produced For the Funk of It fest has moved down from Belden to the Lake Concow Campground.
The stages are set. Time to get back to tradition and take a road trip. The CN&R recommends packing face coverings and COVID tests with your hula-hoops and flasks. The pandemic may have waned, but big crowds still should be approached with caution. Have fun and stay safe out there.
Huichica Music Festival: June 10-11, Gundlach Bundschu Winery, Sonoma. Featuring: Allah-Las, Damien Jurado, ESG, Woods, Turnover, La Luz, Lilys, Mary Lattimore, more. Tickets: $85-$225 (single day) to $295 (two days). huichica.com
Hog Farm Hideaway: June 10-12, Black Oak Ranch, Laytonville. Featuring: String Cheese Incident (three headlining sets), The Infamous Stringdusters, Hot Buttered Rum, Galactic, Holly Bowling, Pimps of Joytime, more. Tickets: $120 (single day) to $365 (three days). hogfarmhideaway.com
Father’s Day Bluegrass Festival: June 16-19, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley. Featuring: Della Mae, Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, more. Tickets: $20-$80 (one day) to $75-$195 (four-day passes, camping included). fathersdayfestival.com
Country Summer: June 17-19, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa. Blake Shelton, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Chris Young, Josh Turner, more. $35-$159 (single day) to $279-$459 (three days); camping extra. countrysummer.com
Kate Wolf Music Festival: June 23-26, Black Oak Ranch, Laytonville. Featuring: Taj Mahal, Iris Dement, Ani DiFranco, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Darlene Love, Bruce Cockburn, Tim Bluhm, Calexico, more. While officially sold out, there may be tickets available on the sanctioned resale site: katewolfmusicfestival.lyte.com. General fest info: katewolfmusicfestival.com
Stilldream Festival: June 23-27, Blue Mountain Event Center. Wilseyville. “Auditory lineup” for this EDM party is a surprise. Tickets: $149-$179. Parking and camping extra. stilldreamfestival.com
High Sierra Music Festival: June 30-July 3, Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds, Quincy. Featuring: Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Greensky Bluegrass, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Lettuce, more. Tickets: $75.75-99.75 (single day) to $200.75-$335.75 (for two- to four-day passes, with camping). Parking extra. highsierramusic.com
Mosswood Meltdown: July 2-3, Mosswood Park, Oakland. Featuring: Kim Gordon, John Waters, Bikini Kill, Dirtbombs, The Linda Lindas, Flipper, more. Tickets: $99-$149 (single day) and $149-$249 (two day). mosswoodmeltdown.com
California WorldFest: July 14-17, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley. Featuring: Old Crow Medicine Show, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Monsieur Perine, Battle of Santiago, MaMuse, more. Tickets: From $70-95 (one day) to $155-$245 (two to four days). Camping extra. worldfest.net
Redwood Ramble: July 14-17, Camp Navarro, Navarro. Featuring: The Meters, The Mother Hips, George Porter Jr. & Dumpstaphunk, The Brothers Comatose, T Sisters, more. While officially sold out, ticket-holders have been reselling via the Ramble Gathering Place on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/RambleGatheringPlace. Event info: redwoodramble.com
Northern Nights Music Festival: July 15-17, Cook’s Valley Campground, Humboldt/Mendocino. Featuring: Claude Vonstroke, Troyboi, Clozee, SNBRN, David Starfire, QRION, Deep Groove Society. Tickets: $329 (includes general camping). northernnights.org
The Days Between: Aug. 5-7, Black Oak Ranch, Laytonville. Dark Star Orchestra, Melvin Seals & JGB, Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass, Jackie Greene, Banana Slug String Band, more. Tickets: $310-$330 (three-day pass). daysbetweenfest.com
Outside Lands: Aug. 5-7, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Featuring: Green Day, SZA, Weezer, Mac DeMarco, Pussy Riot, Best Coast, more. Tickets: $175 (single day); $409 (three days). sfoutsidelands.com
Petaluma Music Festival: Aug. 6, Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, Petaluma. Featuring: Jackie Greene, Anders Osborne, Dustbowl Revival, Rainbow Girls, Joy & Madness, more. Tickets: $60. petalumamusicfestival.org
For the Funk of It: Aug. 12-14, Lake Concow Campground, Concow. Featuring: Lyrics Born, Orgone, Jazz Mafia’s Grateful Brass, Sal’s Greenhouse, Smokey the Groove, more. Tickets: $100-$125 (single day); $250 (three days). Camping/parking extra. ftffest.com
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