EVENTS

7 Southern California music festivals to check out this summer

Brian Blueskye
Palm Springs Desert Sun

Looking for more festival experiences, or just a fun way to escape the summer heat? You're in luck, because there are several music festivals throughout Southern California this summer, and there's something for all musical tastes.

We've put together a list of seven fests featuring rock, jazz, country and more, and they're all within a couple hours' drive of the Coachella Valley.

Here are our regional picks.

Re:SET Los Angeles and San Diego

Boygenius will perform at both Re:SET festival dates in Los Angeles and San Diego on June 2-4, 2023.

What: Not into the large music festivals? Goldenvoice and AEG Presents, the promoter and parent company behind the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, has created a different three-day touring festival experience featuring four bands each day. The lineup features Steve Lacy, James Blake, Toro y Moi, Fousheé, boygenius, Clairo, Dijon, Bartees Strange, LCD Soundsystem, Jamie xx, IDLES and Big Freedia.

Fans can enjoy full sets from every artist on one stage without the worries of scheduling conflicts and large crowds.

When: Re:SET Los Angeles: June 2-4, Brookside at the Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena

When: Re:SET San Diego: June 2-4, Thrive Park at Snapdragon Stadium, 2101 Stadium Way, San Diego

How much: Single-day passes available at $99 to $275 and general admission (GA) festival passes are $250 to $650

More info: resetconcertseries.com

Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival

Samara Joy will perform at the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival on June 17-18, 2023.

What: Formerly the Playboy Jazz Festival, this annual event at the Hollywood Bowl features both established and up-and-coming names in jazz, such as Kamasi Washington, Samara Joy, Leon Bridges and more.

When: June 17-18

Where: Hollywood Bowl, 2301 North Highland Ave., Los Angeles

How much: Day 1 tickets are $41 to $129 and Day 2 tickets are $29 to $124

More info:hollywoodbowl.com

Sad Summer

Taking Back Sunday will headline the Sad Summer festival, which stops at the FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine, Calif., on July 29, 2023.

What: Pop-punk band Taking Back Sunday is hitting the road this summer and headlining a touring festival featuring Andrew McMahon & the Wilderness, Head Automatica, L.S. Dunes, Motion City Soundtrack and more.

When: July 29

Where: FivePoint Amphitheatre, 14-800 Chinon, Irvine

How much: Tickets start at $35

More info: sadsummerfest.com

Hard Summer

Diplo will perform at Hard Summer at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif., on August 5-6, 2023.

What: An electronic music festival featuring some of the biggest names in electronic dance music. Enjoy headlining back-to-back sets by Kaskade and John Summit, Diplo and Blond:Ish and Coachella 2023 alums Skrillex and Four Tet. Gorgon City, Dillon Francis, Black Coffee and more are also featured on the lineup.

When: Aug. 5-6

Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, 3911 South Figueroa St., Los Angeles

How much: GA festival passes start at $149 and day passes start at $149

More info:hardsummer.com

Nocturnal Wonderland

Nocturnal Wonderland will return for its 28th year at Glen Helen Regional Park in San Bernardino, Calif., Sept. 16-17, 2023.

What: This independent electronic music festival, which started in 1995 as a rave, is more of an experience than a festival. The site features three-dimensional structures, glow-in-the-dark worlds and more. Even though tickets are on sale, the lineup has not been released yet, but the 2022 festival featured performers such as Nostalgix, Adventure Club, Jack Beats and Armand Van Helden.

When: Sept. 16-17

Where: Glen Helen Regional Park, 2555 Glen Helen Parkway, San Bernardino

How much: GA festival passes start at $139

More info:nocturnalwonderland.com

Beachlife Ranch

The Beachlife Ranch festival in Redondo Beach, Calif., will return Sept. 22-24, 2023.

What: The best way to describe Beachlife Ranch is to imagine if the Stagecoach country music festival was at Redondo Beach. This year's lineup hasn't been announced, but the 2022 festival featured Dierks Bentley, Brandi Carlile, Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real and more.

When: Sept. 22-24

Where: 239 North Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach

How much: GA passes are $299 to $379 and VIP packages are $699 to $2999

More info:beachliferanch.com

Ohana Festival

The Killers will headline Ohana Festival at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, Calif., on Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, 2023.

What: Curated by Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, this three-day festival at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point features some of the biggest names in rock music. This year's festival features Vedder, Foo Fighters, The Killers, The Chicks, Father John Misty and more.

When: Sept. 29-Oct. 1

Where: Doheny State Beach, 25-300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point

How much: Single day tickets are $169 and $549 for VIP. GA festival passes are $479. VIP festival packages are $1499 to $9950.

More info: ohanafest.com

Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com or on Twitter at @bblueskye.