Being at Bayfest San Diego 2022

Southern California is no stranger to live music; hosting hundreds of festivals throughout the year is a steeple of the palm tree riddled lifestyle. Despite these high numbers, there are some festivals locals, transplants and vacationers alike won’t want to miss.  Bayfest is one of those festivals.  Waterfront Park in downtown San Diego annually welcomes […]

Machine Gun Kelly takes Mainstream Sellout Tour to Oakland

On Tuesday July 19th, Machine Gun Kelly’s Mainstream Sellout Tour hit Oakland Arena with special guests Avril Lavigne and WILLOW. The anticipation for this tour was extremely high due to all three artists releasing new albums prior to hitting the road together, all featuring a collab of some sort, as well as Colson Baker (aka, […]

California Roots 2022: Day Three

Cali Roots Day Three arrived with a bang Saturday. Despite Rebelution’s blow-out 90-minute light show spectacular of a set the previous night, over 14,000 reggae lovers of all genres and walks of life lined up on Fairground Road and entered with newfound energy, fresh outfits and all the love in the world. The sun was […]

Tropidelic drops “People Talk” single with Brother Ali

Cleveland reggae-fusion quartet Tropidelic quietly dropped their newest single “People Talk”, featuring the illustrious Rhymsayers emcee Brother Ali, off their forthcoming album All The Colors — due out August 5th. The release follows closely on the heels of their respective Cali Roots performances over Memorial Day Weekend and precludes their Sleeping Giant Summer Tour, featuring […]

California Roots 2022: Day Two

“I’m gonna get you high today, ’cause it’s Friday; you ain’t got no job… and you ain’t got shit to do…” Even though Ice Cube’s set wasn’t until Sunday, the famous words resonated Friday at Cali Roots and the pep in our step and stars in our eyes confirmed that magic was in the air. […]

10th Annual Dancefestopia revealed for fall in Kansas City

High energy is the best way to describe Dancefestopia in Kansas City. With more than 150 artists over the span of six days, September 6th through 11th, there is plenty to keep you busy at this 100% local, independently operated and funded music festival — one of the few remaining in the United States. If […]

California Roots 2022: Day One

Cali Roots 2022 came and went, and we are all the better for it. All the waiting, wishing, praying was worth it — just like we had faith it would be. Patience was a small price to pay for what we experienced Memorial Day Weekend and those hugs, smiles, laughs were the currency. Most of […]

An interview with Amy Sheehan of California Roots

Join us as Top Shelf Music journalist Allie Adams interviews Amy Sheehan, Operations Manager for California Roots Music and Arts Festival 2022. Amy has been a pivotal part of the festival’s growth towards becoming the FIRST green-certified festival in California. In this interview, Allie focuses on the festival’s green initiatives and why that is so […]

A chat with Atmosphere at Cali Roots Fest 2022

Who doesn’t love a good Atmosphere show? One half of the hip hop duo sits down with Top Shelf Music’s Alexia Johnson at California Roots Festival 2022, ahead of his big Bowl Stage performance. Tune in to hear what Slug thinks of the popular hip hop-meets-reggae Memorial Weekend event in Monterey, his summer plans to […]

This Ain’t No Picnic coming to Pasadena in August 2022

In the fine words of Sheryl Crow, “this ain’t no disco” and “it ain’t no country club, either”. That’s right, because alternative rock is harder and here to stay. In this same vein, the fine festival producers over at Goldenvoice introduced This Ain’t No Picnic to high acclaim, set to grace the Pasadena Rose Bowl […]

Almost one month before Lollapalooza 2022

It’s that time of year again in Chicago! No, we’re not talking about the green-dyed Chicago River for St. Patty’s Day… we’re talking GREEN Day and 170+ other musical artists taking the nine stages at Grant Park for the annual (and utterly massive) international music festival known as Lollapalooza! Four days of impressive lineups and […]

Traveling back in time with The Mixtape Tour 2022 in San Diego

Entering Viejas Arena on May 26th was like going back in time. Fans lined the amphitheater, dressed in their best 80s attire, exhilarated and antsy to get inside and start witnessing what the new Mixtape Tour would bring! For those who don’t know, this is the second national Mixtape Tour, with the first before the […]

Tech N9ne turns up St. Louis, Missouri

Tech N9ne recently travelled across Missouri from his hometown of Kansas City to perform for a packed crowd at The Pageant in St. Louis. Tech has played this venue at least 10 times over the years and it was clear he felt right at home. This night, the full room of rap fans were in […]

In memoriam of Andy J. Chaves, beloved artist gone too soon

Andy J. Chaves, the dynamic and ever-unique founding member of Tempe, AZ-based indie/alternative band Katastro, has died at 32. Known for his hard-hitting verses, overflowing charisma and spectacular style (in both fashion and overall swagger), the untraditional vocalist always marched to the beat of his own drum. The very drum that fellow band member and […]