The second annual WEST BEACH MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL in Santa Barbara, CA wrapped earlier this month as a huge success. The three-day festival, which took place Friday, September 12, Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14, drew over 20,000 attendees and featured stellar performances from Ziggy Marley, Jason Mraz, Natasha Bedingfield, George Clinton featuring Lili Haydn, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Jackie Greene, The Expendables and more. Presented by Twiin Productions in association with Jacalyn Kane Productions and sponsored by COX Media, KRUZ@97.5 and The Santa Barbara Independent, it is one of the only U.S. festivals that takes place right on the beach.
Located seaside just west of Stearn's Wharf, the all-ages festival featured four stages of non-stop rock, reggae and jam bands; a DJ/electronic music oasis; arts and crafts vendors, and the "Sand Box" area produced by Tor Hyams and his company HyLo Entertainment - a specialized group that has put on other successful family event areas at festivals such as Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits - with activities oriented toward children. It catered to all types of concert-goers including those on a budget who just wished to watch the bands while sitting on the sand, to the more extravagant offering of Hawaiian-style cabanas right next to the stage with private food and drink service.
"We are extremely happy with the success and community support we have received from the festival. It is our desire to maintain the family friendly atmosphere as we build on our unique approach of letting the festival-goer enjoy world-class music, right on the beach," said twin brothers and festival organizers, Jeremy & Joshua Pemberton. "Additionally, the feedback we received from the artists performing was extremely encouraging. Many of them voiced the thrill they received playing in front of thousands on the beach overlooking the ocean!"
Wrote Josef Woodard of the Santa Barbara News-Press (9/16) 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."
