BeachLife is quietly becoming one of the premier music festivals in the US. With nearly 40,000 turning out, attendees could not have asked for more over a picture perfect 3-day weekend in beautiful Redondo Beach. Fans from all over the world rocked out to over 55 bands across four unique stages featuring some of the best live music on the planet today. Whether you were into classic rock, alternative, or reggae, there was something for everybody at this year’s festival.
Saturday’s mission was to explore some of the killer concessions BeachLife had to offer in 2022. Upon entering the festival, fans were immediately exposed to tons of killer food and drink options curated to satisfy even the pickiest foodies. I personally dug the Rock & Brews popup adjacent to the Riptide stage, while others I spoke with enjoyed all of the tasty treats found throughout concession alley. I unfortunately succumbed to the Spicy Pie stand on multiple occasions as this pizza was sheer unadulterated pleasure. Regardless of proclivity, food and drink choices were abundant and free flowing all day long!
From a musical perspective, Smashing Pumpkins had the distinct pleasure of headlining BeachLife on Saturday. It was no surprise to the thousands crowding the Hightide stage how amazing their performance truly was (and one that won’t soon be forgotten). Classics such as “Today,” an acoustic version of “Tonight, Tonight,” and “1979” rocked Redondo Beach and the Smashing Pumpkins faithful to their core. In addition, best-in-class acts like Vance Joy and Stone Temple Pilots set fire to their respective setlists and left the capacity crowd wanting more. Special recognition goes out to Michael Franti & Spearhead, Matisyahu, and Donavon Frankenreiter for their unbelievable Day 2 performances.
Bottom line, Day 2 of BeachLife 2022 was solid and well worth the price of admission. While the heat (and lack of shade) left a bit to be desired from a comfort perspective, performances across the board were straight fire. With Magic! and The Charities heating things up and The Smashing Pumpkins cooling it down, Saturday was a day filled with fun, friends, and laughter on the pristine sand of Redondo Beach. If Day 2 is any indication of things to come on the final day of the festival, fans will be in for a real treat courtesy of BeachLife.
Overheard: “The selection of craft beer at the Rock and Brews popup was outstanding!” “Michael Franti’s performances are always special, and Saturdays was no exception. This guy is the real deal!” “I loved all the vegan options available to me and my family—thanks!” “STP crushed their set and may end up being the best performance of BeachLife—bar none.”
