September on the West Coast not only marks the time of year University of California, Santa Barbara rolls back into session, it also heralds the return of the WEST BEACH MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL. Event producers Twiin Productions have announced that one of America’s only beach festivals will return for its third year Friday, September 18, Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2009.
The three-day gathering for music fans, families and beachgoers alike will feature non-stop performances by rock, reggae and jam bands G. LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE, STEEL PULSE, PEPPER, REBELUTION, IRATION, OZOMATLI, SOJA, SHWAYZE, THE AGGROLITES, STILL TIME, TOMORROWS BAD SEEDS, SASHAMON, DIRTY HEADS, THE KICKS, SUNSHINE BROS., PACIFIC DUB, THROUGH THE ROOTS, and ONE DROP. More musical talent will be unveiled at a later date leading up to the festival.
Located seaside just west of Santa Barbara’s renowned Stearn's Wharf, the all-ages festival will also feature arts and crafts vendors, activities oriented toward children plus The OASIS, a lush tropical inspired-area surrounded by palm trees located in the heart of the festival.
“It’s amazing how much growth the festival experienced this past year from 1,500 attendees in its first year to more than 20,000 attendees in its second year, but it’s not stopping there,” states Twiin Production’s Jeremy Pemberton. “This year the collaborations we have made with other organizations within the community have really set us up for an even stronger festival.”
“We are being strategic in our promotions and partnerships to allow maximum benefits for our community,” adds Twiin Productions partner Joshua Pemberton. “It’s our goal to drive tourism and consumer spending throughout our local businesses and hotels. We are very excited that this is only the beginning of our announcements. We have many more surprises to share in the near future!”
Last year’s WEST BEACH MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL drew over 20,000 attendees and featured stellar performances from Ziggy Marley, Jason Mraz, Natasha Bedingfield, George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Jackie Greene, The Expendables and more. Wrote Josef Woodard of the Santa Barbara News-Press (9/16/08) in his review, “…the festival experience is all about balancing well-coordinated planning and moments that verge on blissful chaos and cultural overload. By that classic standard, the West Beach Music and Arts Festival did its job nicely and has whetted the appetite for more of the same next year.”
Tickets for the WEST BEACH FESTIVAL go on sale May 23 via the festival’s website www.westbeachfestival.com. A limited amount of early bird three-day passes will be available for $75.00. Single day tickets will be made available for purchase at a later date. The festival guarantees that this price will not last long and encourages purchasing early in order to save money.
