There’s nothing quite like Day 1 of Cali Vibes — the energy is fresh, the stages are spotless, and everyone’s walking in with a sense of anticipation that only Long Beach can deliver. This year, the festival opened with EmilyBrimlow, and honestly, it couldn’t have been a better call. Her set was breezy and soulful, warming up the crowd with her honeyed vocals that felt tailor-made for a sunny afternoon on the Marina Green lawn. It was lowkey but captivating — like she was inviting us all to take a deep breath before the weekend madness.
From there, things picked up quick. ChadTepper hit the stage with full-throttle energy, diving headfirst into a punky, chaotic set that definitely got people talking. Love him or not, he came out swinging — dropping tracks like “California” and moving with the kind of confidence that doesn’t ask for permission. His fans were all in, and even skeptics had to admit the dude brought heat.
PROF followed with one of the most unexpectedly fun sets of the day. The Minneapolis rapper brought a sharp contrast to the beachy backdrop — delivering gritty, hilarious, high-octane bars with wild charisma. The crowd was eating it up. It was raw, weird, and completely unforgettable, giving the day a needed jolt of something unpredictable.
The afternoon rolled on with stacked performances across the park. CollieBuddz and JBoog brought their veteran presence, dishing out island anthems with ease. Both artists delivered tight, crowd-pleasing sets — and from behind the lens, you could see just how locked in the fans were. That connection between performer and audience? It was everywhere.
To no one’s surprise, one of the biggest standout set came from The Elovaters. Their set had the entire crowd buzzing — clean transitions, massive stage presence, natural light, and vocals that hit just right. You can feel them stepping into a new tier, and the crowd felt it too. These guys aren’t just rising — they’re arriving.
Iration took the stage during golden-hour. Showcasing a beautiful set that pulled in one of the biggest crowds of the day. They’ve got their formula down: tight instrumentation, hooks for days, catchy lines, and that perfect balance of polished and playful. It’s no wonder they keep getting booked for fest lineups — they’re built for moments like this.
As the sun dropped behind the skyline, Dirty Heads turned the dial way up. Their set was top notch — lights, visuals, surprises. They brought out Rome Ramirez (who also had his own set) for “Lay Me Down” and the place erupted. You’d think we were back in 2010, but with better lighting and more tequila.
Meanwhile over at The Greens Stage, Shwayze kept the party going late, bringing that classic Malibu swagger and feel-good flow that had the crowd bouncing all the way to the exits. His set was the cherry on top — playful, nostalgic, and effortlessly cool. At the same time, Stick Figure took over The Vibes Stage with the kind of set you expect from the headlining band it is. Musical notes of fan favorites wrapped the crowd in a warm embrace — ethereal, steady, powerful. It was calm and cathartic, the perfect end to a stacked day. Between Shwayze and Stick, the evening wrapped with a reminder of just how wide the reggae music spectrum really is.
Day 1 felt like a mic drop… but the encore was still to come. Day 2 up next.
