BeachLife Nails the Return of Music Festivals

Tomorrow's Bad Seeds performs Friday afternoon. — Tomorrow’s Bad Seeds opening BeachLife Festival on September 10th. Photo by Nikki Phillips courtesy of BeachLife Festival.

Though only celebrating their second birthday, BeachLife Festival has really put the icing on the cake. Last weekend, thousands united between the stage and sand at King Harbor in Redondo Beach, California. With food vendors from smokehouse barbecue to Jamaican vegan and beyond, there was a little something for everybody. Pop up photography and art exhibits, including original paintings by Dave Navarro, brought a bright and creative touch to the festival. Four stages spread across the area – not a single one disappointed!

Paris Jackson dazzles on the Riptide Stage late Friday afternoon. Photo by Nikki Phillips courtesy of Beachlife Festival.

Opening day kicked off on all the right notes with SoCal locals, Tomorrow’s Bad Seeds, leading the lineup as the first band to play the largest Hightide Stage. The reggae rock group set the tone for the weekend with strong reception from the crowd – many who know the band all too well, considering they are from the neighboring town just a few blocks north. We were really feeling the girl power at the Riptide Stage with two inspirational acts, Zella Day and Paris Jackson. While each artist had fairly different indie vibes, one was for rockin’ and one was for chillin’ – both of which we did. Both women are based in Los Angeles, so if you live in the area, I highly recommend checking them out in the future.

Larkin Poe rocks the Hightide Stage Friday afternoon. Photo by Nikki Phillips courtesy of BeachLife Festival.

The fierce female energy was also radiating across the way from the Hightide Stage as Larkin Poe left us absolutely speechless. The sister duo from Nashville lit up the crowd from the first second they stepped on stage to the very last. We were most impressed with these badass ladies who carried the perfect balance of stage presence and performance. Their unique blend of genres reminds us how much we love jamming out to roots rock. They are currently touring North America through October – don’t miss them if they stop in your city!

Cage The Elephant performs at the Lowtide Stage on Friday night. Photo by Nikki Phillips courtesy of BeachLife Festival.

Our alternative rock dreams came true as the afternoon turned to night. From Silversun Pickups to The Revivalists to Cage The Elephant, we were ecstatic to watch them all energize the Hightide and Lowtide Stages. Silversun Pickups and The Revivalists had us head bobbing at an optimal rate while enjoying our drinks without spilling. As the sun went down, we sank our feet into the sand only to be blown away by Cage The Elephant minutes later. The band’s explosive energy accompanied by an array of lighting and fog took the show to another level. They served a job well done, paving the way for the ultimate headliners and final performance of the night.

Jane’s Addiction headlines the festival on Friday night. Photo by Nikki Phillips courtesy of BeachLife Festival.

Closing out the night were the guys of legendary alt-rock band Jane’s Addiction. Anticipation from the audience rose as the clock struck 9. It felt like a rewind to the 90s and we loved every minute of it. The rock-n-roll mood was loud and proud. Stage effects such as lights and fog intensified the show, but what really had us mesmerized was something else… two women in bondage attire emerged suspended gracefully from the fixture and served as a stunning aerial visual to the band’s performance. Fans who couldn’t get a ticket to the sold out show even gathered outside of the festival grounds to listen to the echoes of the music and applause. It felt like yesterday that we heard Jane’s Addiction come onto the scene – just fast forwarded by three decades!

BeachLife Festival set the bar for returning events. It was organized and laid out well. Between the ice cold water station, clean bathrooms and tasty snacks, we were happy campers. The staff and security were attentive. We did not witness a single altercation or argument – to say it was nothing but good vibes is cliché, but so true. Keep up with us for the recap on day two and three!

Check out BeachLife Festival’s Instagram for additional content!

Photos and Post by Nikki Phillips (Instagram | Twitter)

Did you attend BeachLife? Comment below.