California Roots Music and Arts Festival, commonly known as Cali Roots, is a festival that started in 2010. It is held at the Monterey County Fairgrounds every year over Memorial Day weekend. This three day festival has grown to one of the largest Reggae festivals in the world with over 11,000 in attendance each day. Acts come from a variety of musical genres including Reggae, Rap, Hip Hop, Rock, and Folk.
The first show in 2010 was headlined by Dirty Heads and Tribal Seeds. Each year, some of the top Reggae bands including Slightly Stoopid, Iration, Pepper, Steel Pulse, The Green and SOJA grace the stage. The Marley clan is usually represented both in person and in spirit as many of the bands pay tribute to a legend in Reggae, Bob Marley, throughout the festival by covering his songs.
In 2021, Cali Roots is set to take place from Friday, May 27th to Sunday, May 29th. Headlining acts include Rebelution and Atmosphere on Friday, Stick Figure and Sean Paul on Saturday, Damian Marley and Ice Cube on Sunday. There is a nice infusion of art and Reggae culture throughout the Monterey Fairgrounds, along with drink refreshments and food vendors featuring international cuisine. The crowd at Cali Roots is more of a younger and lively crowd than you would find at say the Monterey Jazz Festival. While there are some families in attendance, it tends to be more for the teenage to young adult demographic.
The festival organizers are dedicated to both spreading positivity through music and sustainable practices. For example, last year the California Roots Music and Arts Festival joined a project to plant 5,000 redwood trees with the Redwood Forest Foundation. If you are a fan of Reggae music and art or simply enjoy good vibes and energy, Cali Roots festival can be a highlight for both locals and visitors to the Monterey Peninsula alike!
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