BeachLife kicks off in Redondo Beach — with big name announced for fall festival

Rap rocker Travie McCoy got Seaside Lagoon swaying with his upbeat vibe at half-past noon on Friday, May 5, taking to the High Tide stage — kicking off the fourth BeachLife Festival.

McCoy convinced the crowds that “We’ll be Alright” — one of his more popular songs — but it soon became clear that the BeachLife brand is more than all right.

The companion BeachLife Ranch festival, which takes place in September and celebrates country and Americana music, will feature Jack Johnson as one of its headliners, officials announced on Friday. Soft-rocker Johnson, a former professional surfer, will take to the stage on one of BeachLife Ranch’s three nights. The rest of the lineup for that festival, set for Sep. 22 to 24, will be announced May 16.

This weekend’s BeachLife Festival, meanwhile, is expected to draw more than 11,000 people daily through Sunday.

The crowds were relatively light when the gates first opened around noon on Friday, but more and more people began filing into Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Beach. After overcast skies early, the sun came out in the afternoon — with concertgoers packing the areas around the four stages.

The atmosphere was festive. Attendees ate. They drank. And, of course, enjoyed the shows.

This weekend’s lineup has an eclectic mix, from pop/ska star Gwen Stefani, who is headlining the sold-out second day on Saturday, to rock stars John Fogarty and The Black Crowes, who will be the top acts on Sunday’s closing night.

And while the rock stars are the ones in the spotlight — this year’s iteration has more than four dozen acts on four stages — the festival is also about beach culture: Art, world-class food, spirits and family-friendly activities.

The festical being more than music, BeachLife cofounder Allen Sanford said, is by design.

“I would say we believe that better is better, not bigger is better,” Sanford said before the start of the festival. “Our goal and our focus has been to refine the customer experience, to make it even easier to access the festival, to enjoy the festival and then have a good time.”

BeachLife attracts visitors from all over the country.

Among those cross-country travelers on Friday were Mark Plaskow and Kim Kleinprinz from Indianapolis, who purchased three-day passes. This is Plaskow’s second BeachLife Festival — but Kleinprinz’s first.

Number one on their list to see is Fogerty, the Creedence Clearwater Revival legend and frontman. But they also want to enjoy some fun and sun.

“We look forward to it,” Plaskow said, “some great music and some mediocre dancing.”

The location of the festival was also a huge plus, Kleinprinz said.

“Any day on the beach with music is a good day,” she said.

Ashley Rego and Emma Corippo, meanwhile, came from the Central California coast for Friday night’s show.

“Most of these bands I listened to when I was younger,” Rego, from Arroyo Grande, said.

Corippo is from Paso Robles.

“We can’t come to all three days,” she added, “but I figured this would be like the best overall lineup.”

BeachLife rocked Redondo on Friday. And while Saturday’s show is sold out, tickets were still available for Sunday, as of Friday afternoon.

Poppy Harlo, led by Redondo Beach’s Cooper Jones, will be one of the opening acts for Sundays festivities, ahead of gospel/R&B singer and activist Mavis Staples, punk icon Jim Lindberg, CCR’s Fogerty and 1990s blues rock hitmakers The Black Crowes.

There’s no doubt the rest of the weekend will be just as electric — and eclectic — as Friday.