Cali Vibes returns to Long Beach with a mix of reggae, rock and rap music

Southern California beach culture, hip-hop icons and island vibes and sounds are all coming together as the second annual Cali Vibes music festival returns to Marina Green Park in Long Beach Feb. 17-19.

“This is a celebration through music of the California lifestyle, with one of those main pillars being the water,” said Nic Adler, vice president of festivals for concert giant Goldenvoice, producers of the three-day fest, which includes a robust lineup of reggae and rock music acts while also highlighting several hip-hop artists.

“Almost all the bands come from the water, they’re surfers, they’re beach culture, there’s a DNA of reggae past and reggae future,” Adler continued. “We can talk all about the beach and water, but this is in Long Beach, and Long Beach has produced some of the best hip-hop acts of all time. Hip-hop is just crucial in this mix. All of these bands look up to Snoop, whether they’re playing reggae or rock or hip-hop, Snoop’s a legend.”

Long Beach rap Icon Snoop Dogg will also be performing at Cali Vibes this year, doing a special evening jam set on Saturday, Feb. 18. Former pro surfer and soulful beach rocker Jack Johnson will also be doing a special evening jam session on Sunday, Feb. 19.

In all, the long weekend fest will include about five dozen acts performing across three stages. Rebelution, Stick Figure and 311 lead the charge on Feb. 17, while Dirty Heads, Damian Marley and Cypress Hill keep the party going on Feb. 18. Slightly Stoopid, Tash Sultana and Stephen Marley close out the fest on Feb. 19. Pepper, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Rome & Duddy, Trevor Hall, Warren G, Method Man & Redman, Common Kings, Fortunate Youth, Matisyahu, Soja, Steel Pulse, Collie Buddz, Iya Terra, Ozomatli featuring Chali 2na and Cut Chemist, Hirie and more will also perform.

“To me, if you look at what that California sound is, a lot of it sits inside this lineup,” Adler said. “These are all bands that are just fun. It’s just easy fun, good-listening music and what festivals should be about.”

The festival will also showcase up-and-coming Caribbean talent on its BoomYard Stage, which was created to give locals a taste of what’s happening with island music.

“We just felt that if we’re going to say the word reggae and really put it on display, then it was our responsibility to show what the future of the music is and that’s really what’s come out of BoomYard,” Adler said. “It’s this very authentic, very on the level, what’s trending right now in the islands. Not what’s hot here in L.A. or what’s hot in the states, but what are the hottest artists on the streets of Jamaica right now? That’s happening at Cali Vibes.”

While Cali Vibes is about bands that exemplify that beach lifestyle, the acts don’t all necessarily all come from seaside communities.

“Our band has always loved tropical vibes even though we’re from Nebraska, I could not wait to get out to the coast,” said Nick Hexum, frontman of rock, alternative and reggae band 311, who really made a name for themselves upon relocating to Los Angeles.

At this point, 311 has rocked by the sand many times throughout their career.

The last time they played a big beach festival was Redondo Beach’s BeachLife last year, where their breezy party-vibe hits like “Come Original,” “Down,” and “Do You Right” had the crowd dancing in the sand.