The Santa Cruz Music Festival is back with more venues, which means more stages, and yes – more music! The last few years, the festival was held in the cold, wet months of February and March, but a new Fall date (this weekend: October 19th & 20th) gives hope for sunshine and thus, smiles.
Besides better weather, the date change has allowed festival organizers to be more deliberate in their planning with several extra months to coordinate talent and logistics. What does that mean for you? Well, generally… a better experience.
This year has a lot to offer! In addition to the long lineup of hand-selected artists, there are plenty of ticket options for every type of visitor. To start, VIP ticket options come with free drinks from participating bars throughout the festival, free gifts from select sponsors, and access to all the after-parties. If that’s not your style, then there are Full Experience Passes and ParkPlus Passes, as well as one-day passes available too.
Now that the set times have been released, let’s talk about music. Chances are you already know who Hippie Sabotage and Jai Wolf are so what are you filling your day with leading up to this?
After studying the lineup, here are my recommendations (and where you will be able to find me all weekend).
On Saturday, in order by set times:
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM – San Lorenzo Park – Worthy
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM – San Lorenzo Park – Christian Martin
photos courtesy of Instagram
If you’ve ever heard of the Smile High Club, then you have got to check out their takeover upstairs at the Catalyst! It will be a mix of House, Soul, Funk, Bass Music, and who knows, you might even get a mix of some Hip-Hop if you’re lucky!
7:15 PM – 8:30 PM – Catalyst (Upstairs) – Jarrad Cleofé B2B Stripess
8:15 PM – 9:00 PM – Catalyst (Upstairs) – Olswel
9:00 PM – 9:30 PM – Catalyst (Upstairs) – Tokay
9:30 PM – 10:00 PM – Catalyst (Upstairs) – Thedemiurg3
At 10:00, you are going to have to make a run for it, if you want to catch the following artists who are set to perform within the same hour. Since Surf City Billiards and the Catalyst are about a block from each other, start there. And then make your way to the Civic Auditorium.
10:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Surf City Billiards – Smasheltooth
10:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Catalyst (Atrium) – Sumthin Sumthin
10:00 PM – 11: 00 PM – Civic Auditorium – Louis Futon
photos courtesy of Instagram
Make sure to get a good night’s rest because Sunday is the day we do our HOUSEWORK and that means we will be dancing all day and night!
On Sunday, in order by set times:
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM – San Lorenzo Park – RYBO
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM – San Lorenzo Park – Lubelski
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM – San Lorenzo Park – Porky
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM – San Lorenzo Park – Mikey Lion
photos courtesy of Instagram
Did someone say, “Desert Hearts” because it sounds like we are going to be getting really HOUSEY in the park and under the sun for this 5-hour block! But wait… there’s more.
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM – Surf City Billiards – Oszo
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Surf City Billiards – Anthony Zmoda
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Surf City Billiards – Nico Crespo
9:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Surf City Billiards – Ryan Lincoln
10: 00 PM – 11:00 PM – Surf City Billiards – Ugly Girls in Miami B2B DJ Yosemite
11:00 PM – 12:30 PM – Surf City Billiards – Miss Dre
Santa Cruz’s own, Spicy Boys Club is taking over the last night at the Billiards and they are sure to bring you every variation of House Music you can think of. Each DJ brings their own flavor, but you can be sure that each flavor is extra spicy. Come close out your night with these metaphoric peppers and find out why hot sauce goes so well with House Music.
Every year, Santa Cruz Music Festival brings together tons of local, independent talent. Take this time to discover a few new artists, producers, or DJs and you’ll be surprised at how quickly your music library develops.
Let’s make sure we all have a great time! Here are some last minute tips to ensure a smooth weekend.
- Ticketing booths open at 11:00 AM on Elm Street and 12:00 PM at San Lorenzo Park each day.
- Arrive early because parking will be limited. Bring coins/cash because meters, parking garages, and lots have fees. Even better, take an Uber or Lyft, or public transportation.
- DON’T FORGET YOUR TICKETS AND ID.
- Wear walking shoes – it’s about a 10-15 minute walk from San Lorenzo Park to Pacific Ave. where most of the other venues are located and it’s another 10-minute walk from Pacific Ave. to the Civic Auditorium.
- Lead by example. Pick up after yourself. Watch out for one another.
Make sure to follow @santacruzmusicfestival on Instagram to stay up to date on festival news. See you on the dance floor!
If you still don’t have a ticket, use code SPICYBOYSCLUB for a discount!
A Vibe Called West 
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