Arts & Entertainment

This Year's Davis Music Fest Will Last 2 Days & Will Feature 65 Acts

By Landon Christensen

The Davis Music Festival, now in its third successful year, will last two days, beginning Saturday, June 22 at 11 a.m. and ending in the late afternoon on Sunday, June 23.

One of the most highly anticipated music events in the area, the festival will showcase 65 acts in 13 different venues and is expected to attract two thousand concertgoers to downtown Davis where they will enjoy music spanning genres from folk to metal. 

A highlight of this year's festival is the appearance of renowned SXSW veteran JD McPherson, who will demonstrate the timeless “swinging, visceral abandon of real rock ‘n’ roll” in a special performance at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, a new participant in this event.

Other notable acts include the groove-driven, soulful roots-rock of Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express, the genre-bridging talents of Jon Langford, and the charged, edgy lyricism of John Vanderslice, along with a legion of national and Bay Area favorites including Sea of Bees, Dave Nachmanoff, Garrett Pierce, Boca do Rio, Misner & Smith, Surrogate, and Rin Tin Tiger. Never limited to one type of music, the lineup is especially diverse this summer, bringing together musicians and audiences to experience traditional rock, unsigned indie discoveries, folk music, metal, bluegrass, and electronica.

Participating venues include a variety of Davis favorites, including Sophia's Thai Kitchen, G Street Wunderbar, Little Prague, City Tavern, and Vini Wine Bar, as well as the all-ages environs of Delta of Venus, Bike 4th, The Lodge and Pence Gallery.

Two outdoor stages sponsored by Armadillo Music & Tickets and the Davis Art Center cater to kids of all ages, and the celebration will conclude on Sunday at Central Park.The Davis Music Festival is the annual flagship event of the non-profit organization Music Only Makes Sense, dedicated to raising funds to benefit music and performing arts education programs in local public schools. 

The Festival depends heavily on the generous support of community businesses, and sponsorships are still available. 

Director Danny Tomasello projects, “The support from our community, music fans, bands and business leaders has been overwhelming. We hope to exceed expectations and deliver an unforgettable weekend of fun."

Advance tickets are $25 General Admission and are available at Armadillo Music (205 F St., Davis), or online at www.davismusicfest.com, Prices increase to $30 at the door on the day of the festival. The provided wristband will grant attendees access to every venue over the two days of the event except the JD McPherson set at the Mondavi Center, which is available to the first 300 interested ticket holders for a $15 upgrade. 

Stay current with the most recent festival news on the website and watch for the upcoming app, which will make planning a personalized festival experience simpler than ever.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here