“One of my favorites, ever!” That’s what I tell anyone that asks me about Dry Diggings, an easygoing backyard vibe of a festival held in the tree-shaded grass of the aptly named Grass Valley Fairgrounds in Nevada County, CA. The lineup blends classic roots and culture with a healthy dose of west coast reggae and draws me in every year. A second round of artist announcements — featuring Matisyahu, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, J Boog, DENM, Thrive! and Little Stranger — proves 2022 is no different.
Founded by the same team as California Roots, the dynamic duo of Jeff Monser and Dan Sheehan, Dry Diggings since its inception in 2017 has become the much-needed flip-side of the proverbial Cali Roots coin. The most important differences: onsite camping for artists and festival-goers alike, a lower ticket price point and greater ease of access from parking to strollers.
If festival camping is your thing, Dry Diggings deserves a spot at the top of your bucket list.
It’s one of the only large reggae festivals on the west coast offering the convenience of camping where you party (read: no driving!). The organizers have done a great job ensuring there’s not only ample space for campers, as well as RV’s, but a flow to the campsite that promises great after-hours wandering feng shui. Trust me, neighbor vibes are immaculate here and you may find yourself pleasantly meandering amongst your newfound friend groups.
I say this is one of my favorite festivals for many reasons — it’s easy. It’s mellow. It’s tons of low-pressure fun. It can get a little sweaty during the day, but the warm nights are magically electric, abuzz with weed smoke and laughter. If you didn’t get a chance to make Cali Roots, or are just missing the vibe, this is for you.
If there’s one good thing to come out of COVID, it’s the fact that festivals seem to be adding extra days with abandon. Not that we’re complaining. Instead of the usual two days of Dry Diggings past, we now have FOUR days to look forward to.
FOUR days of really great reggae.
FOUR days of camping with your pals.
FOUR days of dancing in the sunshine and under the moon.
Speaking of really great reggae, this second artist announcement is stacked with talent, from New Zealand all the way to Jamaica. Roots and culture artists like Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Anthony B join west coast reggae favorites Rebelution, Iration and Through The Roots — to name a few. Add a little island influence from Katchafire and Landon McNamara and you have one of the most well-rounded reggae festival lineups around.
All ticket types are available, from single-day to 4-day VIP, camping and everything in between. Read all the fine print and make sure you have a ticket in addition to your camping or parking pass, if applicable. Plus, there’s still one more artist announcement to go! Can’t wait to see ya there.
Dirty Heads at Dry Diggings 2021:
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I attended the 2022 festival and i have tons of photos to share