Darker Waves brings New Wave to the shores of Huntington Beach

This past Saturday, November 18th, marked the inaugural Darker Waves music festival on the scenic sands of Huntington Beach and under the sun of some perfect southern California weather. The new wave centric lineup, complete with performances by legends such as New Order, Tears for Fears, and the B-52s, was highly anticipated by fans of […]

Darker Waves are washing over Huntington Beach this fall

Dive into the depths of the darkwave music scene of the 80s, 90s, and beyond as Darker Waves Music Festival washes over Huntington Beach, California this fall. The inaugural festival promises an electrifying lineup, with headliners exciting for any music enthusiast like New Order, Tears for Fears, Echo & The Bunnymen, and The B-52’s. With […]

Cruel World 2022

Oh, what a wonderful Cruel World it was! Presented by Goldenvoice, this nostalgic New Wave fest graced Pasadena’s Rose Bowl on Saturday, May 14th (with the same lineup repeating the next day). Arriving midday, Christian Death was already rocking the side stage, while Sextile was crushing the main Outsiders Stage. Despite the heat, people were […]

Goodbye, Cruel World 2022

As a next generation New Wave kid, when Goldenvoice announced a brand new festival for late Spring of 2020, my little black heart was overjoyed. Morrissey, Bauhaus, Echo & The Bunnymen — need I say more?! Cruel World was going to envelop my entire Spotify and Pandora streaming life, all into one day. And, then, […]

Goldenvoice’s Cruel World Fest to span two days May 2022

Announced mid-February of 2020, Goldenvoice’s Cruel World was supposed to capture the hearts of retro rockers everywhere in May. Well, the world had other plans (as we all are aware). The inaugural event — hyped beyond belief, with headliner Morrissey alongside Bauhaus, Blondie, Devo among others — offers a title even only more applicable now […]

Goldenvoice announces Cruel World Fest to hit Los Angeles

Goldenvoice, the leading west coast festival name, loves to continually spice things up. It seems every year, Goldenvoice organizes and carries out novel weekends of music with varying themes. Tropicalia Festival in Long Beach highlights Latino acts; One Love Cali Reggae Festival in the same location revolves around the finest in reggae rock; Camp Flog […]

Surf’s up, buns out at the first ever BeachLife Festival

BeachLife Festival’s inaugural weekend spanned May 3rd-5th, 2019 and was as cool as the California breeze with an organic, laid back atmosphere, a stacked lineup and weather like you couldn’t imagine. Redondo Beach’s seaside lagoon location was primo for catching rays, indulging in delicious food, making friends and, obviously, dancing like there’s no tomorrow. The […]

KAABOO Texas coming to Cowboys Stadium

Six months ago, the fastest growing festival in the nation announced another site to call home. What was principally known as KAABOO Del Mar has now morphed into a festival conglomeration of epic entertainment proportions, encompassing the Caribbean waters and the state of Texas for 2019 on top of its sunny San Diego roots. 2019 […]

Arroyo Seco Weekend 2018: Day Two vlog

Top Shelf Reggae journalist Kristy Rose returns to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California for Day Two of Arroyo Seco Weekend 2018, capturing the entire day in top vlog fashion. Following sensational Day One performances, such as Jack White, Neil Young and The Pretenders, Day Two attendees were ready to rage, starting with a Prince […]

The Arroyo Seco Weekend 2018 experience

Considering large corporate festivals are not reggae in nature, getting approved for media credentials under the moniker 'Top Shelf Reggae' is, in itself, an accomplishment. Upon hearing the lineup for Arroyo Seco Weekend 2018, with rock legends Neil Young and Robert Plant attached, I immediately sent in an application without a shred of hope that […]