Embarcadero Park (San Diego, CA) was home to the latest rendition of the Wonderfront Music Festival. The waterfront was a beautiful location for a weekend that promised the music community a celebration of culture, art, and unforgettable performances. Three days of various genres including EDM, Rap, Rock, Soul, Indie, Alt-Pop and so much more. After a nice drive down the coast to San Diego, I finally arrived downtown where I made my way toward the entrance a little ahead of schedule. No worries, this festival has an outstanding surrounding area with tons to do just a few steps into the Seaport Village. Shops and Restaurants were absolutely buzzing as the beautiful weather made a perfect start to the weekend. I made a quick stop to enjoy a free acai bowl before the gates opened and the weekend officially began.
As I made my way into the festival I took a quick little tour of the area. Despite the 5 stages on land (2 are on boats), the entire event grounds can be walked end to end in just about 5-10 minutes depending on the foot traffic and your excitement for each set. This made it very easy to see every artist that you were looking forward to seeing, even in the case of a scheduling conflict, you could still easily split your time between two sets.
While unpacking my gear I enjoyed my first set from Erick The Architect who got a mosh pit going while the crowd was just rolling in. The EDM crowd for Friday was probably the youngest of the three days, but they 100% brought the energy for every performance regardless of the set time. While I did not know much of the early music, every single artist from bLAck pARty to The Botanist took advantage of each and every second during their sets. This made for an amazing opportunity to discover some new tunes. A personal favorite of mine was FAMJAM4000 by Jordan Ward who had one of the best mainstage performances from any of the days.
As the evening rolled around, the crowd grew pretty significantly with many attendees rolling in from work, school, or other daily weekday activities. I made my way to the Hazy Stage to see Cavetown, who I first watched on Youtube years and years ago during the peak of cover artists on that platform. The clouds had rolled in but the energy and light given off was clear with colorful outfits from both themselves and their fans. A few younger fans had their parents with them and one of the dads even told me “I was in for an amazing show!” Sure enough, those expectations reigned true, with smooth vocals and joyful melodies. Cavetown told stories and spoke of relationships, the process of getting to where he is today. If you get the chance you can certainly see him on the Pierce The Veil tour in the Fall.
After sunset, the big headliners took over the night, with Daniel Caesar and then Peggy Gou. Daniel Caesar has been a rising star in the last few years — the vocals were amazing and the music was beautiful. Due to a heavy backlight and a strong fog, I am not positive that I actually saw his face during the performance. In what was an otherwise gorgeous set, I really do wish we would have seen something a little softer here and there but still, it was solid in every other aspect. Peggy Gou’s contrast from Caesar brought the up-tempo energy back from the silky smooth R&B of the previous set. The crowd was bumping through the rest of the night. Even mother nature was happy with the set, holding out on the rain until just after day one closed out.
Day two brought us the Rock, Funk, and Soul of the festival. I knew looking at the lineup that this was going to be my favorite day of the weekend. I once again made it as early as possible to unpack and relax before making my way over to the ever so amazing Magdalena Bay. The duo appeared in monochrome outfits, one red, one blue, and gave exactly the performance expected of them. The ethereal band moved and grooved with a funky bassline, some synth piano, and absolute vocal perfection from Mica Tenenbaum. From the opening “She Looked Like Me!,” a couple costume changes, to “The Ballad of Matt & Mica,” Magdalena Bay kicked off the most anticipated day with one of the best performances of the entire festival. It was visually stunning and I can’t wait to catch them on tour sometime in the near future.
It was a tough act to follow, but Portugal The Man was ready to give it their all. Now you may know their big hit “Feel It Still.” but they offer a lot more than just one song. Tracks like “Dummy,” “Modern Jesus,” and “So Young” have guided this band to levels of success beyond their imagination. This was my third time seeing them live, and every single time they sound exactly like their records. While they weren’t necessarily flying around the stage with the same movement as Magdalena Bay, the visuals add to the stage presence they possess when they perform. Rain had just begun, somehow providing even more energy to a crowd that was ready to rock through the night. For many this would be one of two rock/alt sets to enjoy on the mainstages tonight.
It would only take a turn of the head to look over to The “Event.Com Stage” where Janelle Monae would do what Janelle Monae does best. Put on a show with an outfit that was fit for the Met Gala. I mention this of course as she is coming off one the best Met Gala outfits in recent memory. With a black and white striped cape/jacket combo, Monae immediately caught the attention of everyone in the vicinity. Of course she performs with energy that is debatably greater than anyone else that took the stage, but she also values the ability to be outspoken in her show. She took a moment to talk about the music she creates and the cultural impact she and many other black artists have had on our modern society. The importance of speaking up for any of the many injustices happening in the present day. Remembering the who and how we have found much of the enjoyment in our everyday lives. Monae lives up to the expectation you would hope to see both as a person and an artist. Truly unforgettable and made it worth every second in what became a very wet and rainy night.
Now I invite you to turn your head back to main stage #2, the Cyprus Stage, as Foster The People make their presence known. The headlining alt/electric rock band brought a very similar vibe to the set as their predecessors Portugal The Man. As the synth kicked in the audience settled in to Mark Foster and the pretty red lights swinging in. They started off with some tracks from their new album Paradise State of Mind and then found a pleasant mix between the new and the “classics” for which many fans know them. Of course nostalgia bias may kick in but my absolute favorite songs were the closers. “Sit Next To Me” and “Pumped Up Kicks” have been anthems for so long and the crowd participation during these two records out matched that of anything in recent memory. It wasn’t just about their show or how they played but the community they created shouting their favorite songs at the top of their lungs. For many this would be the final mainstage show of the night and it was a great way to finish it out. Of course, it wasn’t the end just yet but many had to make a decision as we approached the mainstage performance of Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, and the rock set from Neon Trees on the opposite side of the Park. I found that many of the rock fans bolted over to the Hazy Stage, however, there was still a clear favorite as the final headliner crept closer.
A man of many talents Anderson Paak was a show to die for. Backed by what he calls “The greatest band in the world, The Free Nationals” there was no doubt we would be in for a treat. Greeted with the biggest smile you’ve ever seen, .Paak led us through “The Seasons” with many tunes like “Heart Don’t Stand a Chance” and “Bubblin”. He made sure to give each member of his spectacular band a solo moment to show off their musical prowess while also taking a few trips over to his drums which sat on a platform high above the stage. While there weren’t any crazy musical celebrity guests, even the speculation created a fun atmosphere during the set. I can only dream of the scenario as many audience members spoke of “what if” as one half of Silk Sonic performed “Leave The Door Open.” Sure, there was no Bruno Mars, but .Paak can still put on a masterclass of his own and he made sure each and every person knew that. All this talent to close the night, and if it wasn’t enough, DJ Peewee was planning to make an appearance at an afterparty in the San Diego area that night.
Alas we reach the third and final day of Wonderfront: the “Soulful Sounds, Iconic Rock, & Chill Vibes.” As usual I arrive right at gates open to allow for some time to just enjoy the San Diego breeze and the amazing views which remain just as refreshing as the first day. The day started out with Vacations, hailing from the land of Australia, the group brought the chill vibes even through some minor technical difficulties. With a short delay at the start of their set, they played some cute little acoustic “hold music” as the techies came over to help solve whatever problems arose. After the short delay, they went right into a set full of songs from their new album No Place Like Home, as well as some of their hits “Telephones” and “Young” to name a few. Despite the early struggle they kept high spirits and it spread to everyone who made it to see one of the earlier acts of the day. A perfect opener from what was sure to be a fantastic finale.
After a short break, I made my way back to the main stages to catch the elusive 4 Non Blondes performing a limited number of shows in recent memory. Lead vocalist Linda Perry brought the energy and the looks with an eye black that covered most of the upper half of her face, as well her signature hat that truly brings back the rock of the 90s. Another special piece of the set was opening with the band’s biggest hit as an acoustic “What’s Up” immediately started a sing-a-long with those who showed up on time. We would get a reprise later in the set but it was a great moment if you were able to arrive on time. The rest of Bigger, Better, Faster, More! was played through the set and it was clearly a favorite artist for many attendees I met at the barricades. Despite the earlier set time, the crowd was still very significant to that of the late night performances. Many close to the front also found a moment to have a short conversation with Sarah Gilbert who made a surprise appearance in the pit.
Once again it was just a quick head turn to the other mainstage where Jason Mraz would be bringing as much of the color as he possibly could. Not just through himself but his set and his band members. Each person seemingly wears a different color than the other. Of course Mraz is known for bringing a light hearted feeling to the stage, and he truly makes it known that he wants everyone to go home happy. The music is about enjoyment, pleasure, and just overall having a good time. If you looked out over Wonderfront I’m not sure you would have seen anything but smiles from ear to ear during. As for the ongoing competition of most audience participation, “I’m Yours” has to be top 3 if not a clear winner. It has only been streamed idk… a few billion times prior to this performance and that doesn’t even include the fact the streaming wasn’t popular when it was actually released. Sometimes I see artists get tired or exhausted with their hits but Mraz gives no sign of that at all. Every single note of every single song is sung with a gratefulness to be in the position he is today. I truly appreciate that in a performer and I’m sure I was not the only one.
At the same time, many in the crowd made a dash to Leon Thomas who was playing the Hazy Stage across the park. If you were born in late 90s/early 2000s many know Leon as Andre from the Nickelodeon show Victorious. He was a top talent on that show and while I’m sure he has worked to get recognition beyond that, I do know many were excited to see someone they grew up watching on stage. Let me tell you Leon Thomas does not disappoint. He has bridged the world of acting, singing, and music production, among many other talents to show why he has grown as much as he has in the last few years. “Mutt” is one of his biggest records to date and it is no surprise with the skills he has. The Grammy winning R&B artist takes you on an emotional journey with the lyrical and vocal dynamics in his work. If you haven’t had a chance to listen to his debut album I recommend it if you like any level of smooth soul or R&B.
Now you may have caught it early on but yes… there is a yacht stage. After some discussion with my new group of friends from the festival, we decided we couldn’t miss out on a chance to check out a boat ride across San Diego while enjoying some music. Time was tight but we made a break to the City Cruises Yacht Stage located just a short walk (or brisk jog) outside the Wonderfront gates. We were greeted by an amazing crew that quickly boarded us where we got a front row seat of Jalen Ngonda, who would be serenading us the entire ride around the bay. The music was beautiful and Jalen was spectacular. Many had made their way over from his previous set on land, but it was the music on top of everything that made such a great atmosphere. As we departed we could see the views of downtown as well as the crowds at the mainstages inside the festival. The breeze during the ride and the community among fellow passengers made the entire ride worth the trip. I entered with 4 or 5 friends and I probably met another 10 or so people that I had meaningful conversations with, in just the one hour we spent relishing the yacht. It’s a unique experience that is not offered in most places and definitely has not been an option at any of the festivals I have previously attended.
Closing out the night there was another question to be had, do I see Khruangbin or The Fray? Answer: I cannot decide, let’s split the time. So I made my way over to Khruangbin right as they started their set. I did not know much of them prior to the festival but I had heard from many in attendance that they put on a great show. It is more of a jamband vibe, but they move so elegantly and with such theatrics that it makes their exceptional instrumental abilities all the more impressive. The musical trio of Mark Speer (lead guitar), Laura Lee (bass), and Donald Ray Johnson Jr. (drums), were so flawless and worked so perfectly with each other it’s as if they had been doing this for thousands of years. Nothing ever seemed out of place. Every note, every movement, every audio/visual aspect fell right into place alongside them. It is a performance that makes you want to go home and put an album on repeat for the next month (and onwards). As we approached the midway point of the set I dashed across the park to catch the back end of The Fray. This band was another big Nostalgia pull for me. I was fortunate enough to catch all of the big hits I wanted to hear and they all sounded just as I had hoped. “Over My Head,” “You Found Me,” and “How To Save a Life” had been on my playlists for such a long time it was such a cool feeling to hear them all live, especially when they were just as good as expected. The Fray, as many of the rock bands did, brought a sing-a-long energy to the stage. The classic outwards pointing mic for the crowd to shout the hooks of songs back to them on what probably was a bit too small of an area for such a large crowd to be at one time. That didn’t stop everyone from belting their heart out. It was a simple realization that no matter which stage you chose to end the fest at, you made a good decision.
My biggest takeaway from Wonderfront is actually a larger concept than the festival itself. Yes, it is a celebration of music and culture in the San Diego area but it is also a reminder of the collaboration and diversity that makes multi-genre festivals so unique. In recent years I have seen many of the small variety festivals pushed to the wayside and it always disappoints me. It’s so rare that you get to see so many different types of artists, and meet so many unique people from so many places anywhere else. Wonderfront does an amazing job at completing its mission and keeping the community a center of everything they do. If you are able to attend next year, I would certainly recommend it. If there is a restriction keeping you from that, I recommend finding something similar in your area where you can hopefully push the same community as this festival does each year.
GALLERY: Wonderfront Festival in San Diego, California (May 16-18, 2025)
