Shabang Music and Arts Festival began as a humble DIY event in the mountains above Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Three college students, Greg Golf, Carson Stone, and Alexander Schwend, aimed to throw “The Last Shabang” for 20 friends with a shared love of music and growing their community. Today, the festival is a sought-after West Coast weekender with over ten thousand attendees per year and a decade of uniting the 805 under their belt. 

The founders share, “It is hard to believe that Shabang turned 10 this May. When we started, we never imagined the journey that life had in store for us. A decade later, we arrived at the venue of our dreams with a line-up to match. What truly has kept us growing is our deep roots on the Central Coast; this anniversary is only possible thanks to this community. With camping and our biggest lineup yet, we’ve danced our way into a new chapter in Shabang’s evolution as one of California’s favorite grassroots festivals. Here’s to ten more years!”

The 2024 lineup featured performances from 2x GRAMMY-winner Thundercat, Canadian indie-pop band Peach Pit, rising surf-rock favorites Sun Room, and American folk-rock icons Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners. The live billing is continued with vaporwave pioneer George Clanton, singer-songwriter Kate Bollinger, hometown heroes Swede & Skogen, and The Walters .

Legendary electronic music acts like Techne label boss Noizu, GRAMMY-nominated SIDEPIECE, and the NYC-born house icons Walker & Royce took charge of the Funk Safari stage. The prolific dance music vocalist Kaleena Zanders also joined the decks, alongside disco-driven duo LF System, and Nala. Comedy TikTok act DJ Mandy joined the industry heavyweights who rose to fame for her “purposely disastrous attempts at mixing”. Rounding off the electronic lineup was Beatport Top 10 melodic-techno act Silver Panda, rising Realm Records-signed Jackie Hollander, and a special set from the festival’s beloved music director SAWYER. 

Proving their commitment to community participation through multiple initiatives and sustainability efforts, Shabang featured the infamous Battle of the Bands tour, which aims to uplift new talent by traveling across California to fill the remaining slots on the lineup. The annual competition provides winners with a monetary grant, studio time, and a platform to excel in their careers and showcase their music. 

Set in the idyllic Dairy Creek Golf Course, the festival offered brand-new camping packages with numerous activities for those staying on the picturesque grounds. Activities such as yoga classes, volleyball, and tours through the neighboring San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens were provided at the 2024 iteration of the Shabang Music and Arts Festival.

Shabang transformed Dairy Creek Golf Course into a kaleidoscope of color that highlighted the natural landscapes of the Central Coast and provided a perfect spring getaway from SoCal to San Francisco. With curated talent booking and strong ties to the community, the festival shares the voices and stories of both local artisans and global music acts alike.

Shabang’s 10th anniversary was nothing short of magical, promising to celebrate all the festival has built over the past decade and providing a glimpse into what the next chapter holds.  

For next year’s ticketing information and more, head to Shabang’s official website.