Mission Bayfest 2024: Day One

Day One of San Diego’s Mission Bayfest 2024 on September 27th was a day I’ve been waiting all summer for — especially after capturing Bayfest in July! I was so excited to finally attend Mission Bayfest’s three-day festival, knowing they had an incredible lineup waiting for us. Also, let me say that Mission Bayfest’s venue at Mariner’s Point Park was an excellent choice for a beachside festival.

This spot feels like a slice of San Diego paradise, with sandy paths and gorgeous views stretching across Mission Bay from every angle.

Being right by South Mission Beach, it has the best chill, laidback vibe that gets you into the rhythm of the day. The peninsula layout is so cool, with tons of open space for everyone to spread out, dance, relax, and enjoy the music.

To start off Day One, Aaron Wolf hit the Under The Bridge Stage while the crowd was still trickling in; to my surprise, Wolf had him with a few more band members than usual, including Alific! It was amazing to see how much his band has grown since I first started seeing him around four years ago. The addition of the new members really added more layers and a pretty great vibe.

They pulled in the crowd easily and it was so cool to see all the new faces in the band adding their own flairs along Aaron’s soulful stage presence… we all felt right at home, like a big, warm ‘welcome back’ after months without reggae in the city time. I couldn’t have asked for a better kickoff to what’s bound to be an epic weekend!

Sensamotion hit the main stage at Marina Bay next with a performance so tight. They evoke that classic reggae feel but with just enough of their own Jersey flair to make it fresh. Sensamotion let The Irie take the helm next, back on the Under The Bridge Stage, bringing their fun, punchy, and upbeat energy to the forefront.

One of my absolute favorite bands from our own Ocean Beach hit the main stage by midday and I was beyond excited to see them live again!

I love Boostive and their one-of-a-kind sound! They have one of the most unique mixes of roots, including reggae, dub, hip hop, jazz, and world music influences, which is unlike anything I’ve ever heard. Also, their horn and percussion sections add so much depth, creating what they call “dub-hop”. I’m so grateful to have gotten to know this band because, to me, they feel like all my favorite genres meshed into one. Their music never ceases to get me dancing and, I swear, nobody’s standing still when they play!

Another one of our local queens, Vana Liya, hit the Under the Bridge Stage right as the sun was setting… and it was such a blast! Vana always has the sweetest energy and is an absolute ray of sunshine. Plus, she had the cutest rainbow holographic outfit that lit up, especially with the unique stage lighting. Her music is also always pure feel-good fun and the way she vibes with her band is awesome.

It’s always a blast seeing her live!

More hometown heroes Tribal Seeds took over the main stage by then, with their original frontman, Steve Jacobo, alongside his replacement Hector Lewis?! It was so awesome to see those two together onstage! Steve took a break for a while, so seeing him back up there felt like a reunion we’d all been waiting for. I hadn’t seen Tribal Seeds live since their show in 2021 at Concerts on the Green in Escondido a couple of years ago, so I was super excited to see Stevie back in action after a much-deserved break! They played a few tracks from their new album Ancient Blood, which was incredible; it was a treat to hear those songs live. Their performance made it nearly impossible for me to keep still! I’m pretty positive I got just a wee bit too distracted dancing the whole set to even focus on taking photos, but I think I did okay!

And seriously, who doesn’t love Stick Figure?! Stick Figure ended Day One with an absolute bang and seeing him for my fourth time this year was just as epic as the first! Fresh off his Wisdom Tour, it was amazing to catch Scott Woodruff and his band here in San Diego one more time. Those boys never fail to put on a great show. The crowd was utterly locked in throughout the set as Woodruff led us through hit after hit, blending reggae vibes with those feel-good beats. And as usual, Cocoa and Molly, the tour dogs, stole the spotlight for a bit. Cocoa chilled like the seasoned pro she is while Molly bounced around, amped as ever! Cheers to Day Two, coming soon!

Photography by Olivia Valdes

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