Dry Diggings 2023: Day Two

As the sun shone brightly in the cloudless sky on the second day of the 2023 Dry Diggings festival, the Gold Country Fairgrounds and Event Center in Auburn, California, continued to pulsate with the rhythm of reggae music. Day two brought a wave of excitement, heartfelt moments, and stellar performances that left festival-goers buzzing with energy.

The day kicked off at the Diggings Stage with the punk-fused sounds of Kyle Smith. But this wasn’t just any ordinary performance. Drummer, Scotty Beatz took the opportunity to make the festival even more memorable by proposing to his long-time girlfriend, Brianne, right there on stage.

And the best part? She said yes!

Kyle Smith also wowed the audience with his exceptional mouth trombone skills, demonstrating his musical prowess and setting a high bar for the rest of the day.

Next up on the Diggings Stage was SA-ROC, whose powerful performance kept the reggae vibes flowing. Her stage presence and lyrical prowess had the audience captivated from the first note, proving why she’s a force to be reckoned with in the reggae scene.

Over at the Prospector Stage, Boostive and Twist brought their respective unique blend of reggae-inspired tunes. Separately, their infectious melodies and catchy rhythms had everyone dancing, creating a lively atmosphere that spread from the stage into the audience.

Fan favorite, Artikal Sound System continued the reggae celebration on the Diggings Stage, delivering a set that had the crowd bopping along as front woman, Logan Rex bounded across the stage hypnotizing us all. Their fusion of reggae, pop, and dub elements with a hint of heavy metal created an otherworldly experience, transporting the audience to a musical oasis. Bassist, Fabian Acuña was absent as he recently became a dad but drummer Adam Kampf, keyboardist Chris Cope, and guitarist Chris Montague masterfully held down the rhythm section.

Back on the Diggings Stage, Shwayze brought his unique blend of reggae-infused hip-hop to the eager crowd with backing from Daniel Gallardo and Bikini Trill’s Tony Barker Stern. His infectious energy and feel-good tunes had everyone grooving along, making it impossible not to dance – especially when he hit us with a rendition of Lauryn Hill’s 1998 masterpiece, “Doo Wop”.

Aaron Wolf, a rising star in the reggae scene, graced the Prospector Stage following Shwayze’s set. His music, blending elements of reggae, folk, and hip-hop, carried conscious lyrics lifted everyone up. Wolf’s performance was a testament to his rapid rise in the music industry, leaving no doubt that he’s a talent to watch.

Fortunate Youth took the Diggings Stage and delivered a mesmerizing set that drew the audience closer together.

The highlight of their performance was when they invited all the artists at the festival to join them on stage for a once-in-a-lifetime hoedown.

The stage became a hub of musical talent, with artists from across the festival coming together, exchanging instruments and sharing microphones to create an unforgettable moment of unity and collaboration.

But the surprises didn’t end there. Live painting was also in full swing during Fortunate Youth’s set, courtesy of the talented artist known as Marple. As the music flowed, Marple’s brushes danced on the canvas, creating a vibrant and visually stunning masterpiece that perfectly encapsulated the festival’s spirit.

As the sun began to set, SOJA took the Diggings Stage by storm. Their genre-blurring performance, blending reggae, rock, and roots music, had the crowd passionately singing along and swaying to the memorized rhythm. It was a testament to their status as reggae legends.

Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived when Dirty Heads headlined the Diggings Stage. Their dynamic and genre-blurring set was the perfect way to close out day two of the festival. With hit after hit, they had the audience singing along and dancing into the night.

As the last notes of Dirty Heads’ performance echoed through the fairgrounds, it was clear that day two of Dry Diggings 2023 had been a resounding success. The festival once again delivered an unforgettable day filled with incredible music, heartfelt moments, and a sense of unity that only reggae music can provide. With one more day to go, anticipation was building for what day three would bring to this reggae paradise.

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