Photo by Brian Sweeney IG @sparked_interest_photography
By Rebecca Gonzales
If you have never been to a festival before, CaliRoots is the one to go to! It’s fun for all ages, and set in a beautiful location in Monterey, California. This three-day music festival had something for everyone. There was not only fantastic music but delicious food vendors for every palate. Including non-GMO and vegetarian/vegan options. The Sierra Nevada tents were set up everywhere, so you didn’t have to walk very far for a cold beer, which was sold at a reasonable price.
This event was family friendly, which was a bonus for families since most musical events seem to exclude people with children. My husband and I have a two-year-old, and he came along for the fun. People were kind and respectful when smoking, and always walked away from us to partake. Next year I will bring ear plugs for my son since it is an outdoor venue and the music was deafening. I would also bring extra money, because the clothing vendors were out in full force, with unique pieces you couldn’t find in stores. There were retail vendors offering everything from hoodies, to smoking devices.
Friday night we met Matisyahu, who was gracious and full of smiles. He even sang to my son and sought us out after his performance because my son’s father told him that Sunshine was his favorite song. We took pictures after, and he was kind enough to chat before being whisked off to his next gig.
As the day turned to night, we took pictures and swayed to the hypnotically calming beats as each band took the stage. The night was full of energy, and good music, which included *Matisyahu, Stick Figure, SOJA, and Rebelution. Good times were had by all who attended. On Saturday we had the pleasure of seeing Tribal Theory, Protoje, Alborosie, Yellowman, Iration, Nahko w/Medicine for the People, and Nas.
The vibe was peaceful and just crowded enough to create an excitement that was palpable. There were other families in attendance, and the fun was at an all time high, no pun intended.
As I wandered around, I came upon a booth that caters to people interested in becoming bone marrow donors. The process is simple, to get started, they collect a small sample of DNA by swabbing the inside of your cheeks for a full 60 seconds. After you fill out paperwork and drop the swabs in an envelope, they seal it and send it, to the bone marrow registry, after a screening process. If you are a match, then they will contact you with further instruction. This program was implemented to save lives. The woman working at the booth told me a personal story that was the catalyst for her efforts. If you can save a person’s life, why wouldn’t you? I decided to be on the list.
The festival wrapped up on Sunday, and Collie Buddz, and Anthony B. slayed. The entire event was well secured, without feeling like it was a militarized zone, or intrusive. Cannabis consumption was allowed for those over 21. There were no violent altercations at this festival; it was all love. I’m looking forward to their 2018 lineup; this year was beyond impressive.
Check out more photos from CaliRoots!
