KAABOO hits Del Mar, September 16th – 18th, 2016
For Southern California festivals, Coachella remains the standard, and FYF Fest is making a name for itself. But wrongly overlooked is sophomore festival KAABOO, which brings together a festival experience unlike the others, adding a strong comedy tent to the mix, to back the strong music lineup.
Kaaboo takes residence at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, and offers an experience aimed at comfort and enjoyment, marked by some noticeable differences from what you would expect at a music festival. For one, the audience is different, not only in the demographics, but in their demeanor. Fans are friendlier, in part because each stage has plenty of room, leaving you and your crowd with space, instead of packed in like sardines. The bathrooms are all actual bathrooms, which may seem primadonna, but is greatly appreciated at the end of a long day.
And, the days are long. The lineup features quality bands from top to bottom. Friday features Future Thieves and Finish Ticket early, with hidden gems The Dustbowl Revival listed just five up from the bottom, and ends with Hall & Oates, Fall Out Boy, and Jimmy Buffet. Add in some time to see Dana Carvey and Jeff Ross in the (very comfortable) Humor Me tent, and that’s a full day even if you don’t find time to sneak in sets from Echosmith, Andrew McMahon, The Gin Blossoms, Sugar Ray, and Citizen Cope. Yep, that’s all on Friday.
Saturday feels like good ole’ rock and roll day, with Aerosmith’s only performance of 2016, to be preceded by Lenny Kravitz (who cancelled his Guns and Roses opening gig), Goo Goo Dolls, Third Eye Blind, and current throwback sensation The Struts. That’s not to mention Sarah Silverman heading the comedy tent, and local band The Verigolds opening the day. Plus, find time for Flo Rida, Ludacris, Rac, Rooney, and Steve Aoki.
Sunday winds the festival down with Jack Johnson, Blues Traveler, Shakey Graves, The Avett Brothers, and Atlas Genius. And, by Sunday, you’ll be stuffed full of the food and drink options which abound throughout the festival. This year will feature Richard Blais and Brian Malarky, who run the top restaurants in San Diego. Need a drink to wash it down? Kaaboo features a ton of breweries, both local and not, and offers a wide selection of beer and mixed drinks.
Kaaboo started off strong last year, and is looking to build on that success with its unique mixture of music, food, and art. Passes are available here, both for single day and the 3-day pass. Gates open at 11:30 daily, with the outdoor music winding down at 10:00 before the indoor venues kick in to full gear, late in to the night. Keep an eye on the website for set times to plan your weekend taking in some rock legends and the end-of-summer breeze.