The California Roots Music and Arts Festival, also known as Cali Roots, is an annual event featuring several live performances by various artists across several musical genres. Because art installations are also part of the overall experience, patrons may also see live painting going on at the same time. The Cali Roots Festival began in 2010 as a single-day event, but due to popularity and recognition, it has grown into a three-day weekend experience attended by thousands of interested fans. The California Roots Festival has become one of the largest public events for reggae music in the US although other genres are also present.
The festival has the distinction of being held at the same fairgrounds that provided the venue for the pop music festival where Jimi Hendrix famously set his guitar aflame. Both
Tribal Seeds
and
Dirty Heads
took to the stage to headline the inaugural version of the California Roots Festival. The modest beginnings of the festival grew into what is now a Memorial Day weekend bash that includes many bands and some artists setting up installations to add to the overall atmosphere of the experience.
You can purchase tickets quickly and easily for the next Cali Roots festival at StubHub. Check out the ticket offerings for this and other festivals, tours, concerts, and performances at StubHub using the desktop site or the mobile app.
The next version of the California Roots Festival is scheduled to take place in May 2020. Things are set to run from May 22 to 24 over Memorial Day weekend at the
Monterey County Fairgrounds
.
The festival usually features live performances from several artists across many musical genres. Rock, hip hop, folk and reggae music are usually heard most prominently, but other styles of music may be present as well. The 2018 lineup for the California Roots Festival included live performances from bands such as
Rebelution
or
Slightly Stoopid
and artists like
Tash Sultana
and
Xavier Rudd
.
You'll find bands or artists across multiple genres performing at Cali Roots. For the most part, any fans of alternative rock, hip hop, hard rock or reggae should find something suited to their music tastes at the California Roots Music Festival. Other genres may be present, and some musical comedy acts usually make it into the lineup as well.
When it began in 2010, Cali Roots had several outdoors stages as part of the fairgrounds. Multiple bands could play shows for fans simultaneously. Those stages are still around today, but festival management added a new area in 2013 called the Bowl. The Bowl is a special outdoor arena that increased the available patron capacity by several thousand and gave artists and performers a larger area in which to play.
Many fans come to hear the great live music, but Cali Roots is an entire experience with lots of other things to see or do. You'll be able to relax and chill between awesome setlists thanks to some guided yoga. In addition, there will be an art retreat to view some of the work from great local painters and a workshop where you can learn the basics of painting yourself, too. Craft vendors will sell their wares, and food or drink options will be available throughout the fairgrounds.