Josh Heinrichs feeling the vibes at the 2013 California Roots Music & Arts Festival
It was a beautiful Thursday in Southern Oregon. I was up early, trying to make sure I had everything dialed before linking with Indubious and crew to head down to Monterey, CA. Indubious was performing at the 2013 California Roots Music & Arts Festival on Sunday and also at an after party for the event on Saturday night. The 3-day festival was completely sold out and over 18,000 people were suppose to be there.
The Crew at the Selah International Booth at the 2013 California Roots Music & Arts Festival
After a thorough pick up and pack it all in venture, we finally got on the road around noon. Riding in one of the coolest buses I’ve ever kicked it on, our RV status allowed us passengers to be free. This, combined with good friends to chill with, made the 9 hour trip seem way shorter than it was. Got to send a Big UP to Steve and Evton for driving all of us!
It was dark and kind of late by the time we showed up at camp Thursday night, but staff on duty were friendly and got us into our camp area in due process. The artist camping area was at the very far end of the fairgrounds, pretty much as far as you can get from the main stage. That didn’t really seem to make sense to me, but I did get a lot of exercise running back and forth all weekend because of it.
SkillinJah performing at the 2013 Cali Roots Festival
After we were all settled in camp, we took a stroll around the premises to try and familiarize ourselves with the venue before thousands of people showed up the next day. It’s always weird to walk around festival grounds the night before it really starts: like a ghost town or something. Everything all set up, ready to go, looking cool, but absolutely no one around.
A ways down the walk, we spied Lawrence Hansen of Mystic Lion hanging outside his booth and chatted him up for a bit. He took us over to the main stage to show us the back drop he had created for the festival, just as the lights were being tested. His artwork looked absolutely amazing and made me wonder just what my camera would capture over the weekend…
Fortunate Youth performing at the 2013 Cali Roots Festival
The next morning was pretty mellow, until the main gates opened that is… That’s when the swarm of partying festival goers arrived and filled the place up with high energy and irie vibes! Then: it was time to for Rogue Agent Photo to do some work!!
There were 3 stages: the Main Stage, the Marley’s Mellow Mood Stage, and the ehydroponics.com Stage. Being the Rogue Agent that I am, I had planned to capture every performing act that was listed on the bill. However, due to a photography contract that I disagreed with, but was required to sign anyways for one of the bands, I opted out of shooting their performance. I got shots of everyone else though (save the DJ sets on the ehydro stage.)
Through The Roots Performaing at the 2013 Cali Roots Festival
Since the performances were continual on all 3 stages, I had to hustle from stage to stage to shoot every act. Therefore, it’s hard for me to give detailed reviews on the performances with only being able to attend 10-15 minutes or less of them. There were many fantastic acts that performed over the weekend at the 2013 Cali Roots Festival. Biggest standouts for me on Friday were: Rootz Underground, The Green, Fortunate Youth, Josh Heinrichs & SkillinJah with 77 Jefferson, Stranger, Through The Roots, Arden Park Roots, and Kings & Comrades.
Rootz Underground Performing at the 2013 California Roots Festival
Rootz Underground absolutely KILLED IT on the Marley’s Mellow Mood stage and was one act I was really looking forward to seeing on Friday. The lighting during their set was fantastic. The sun decided to radiate a perfect warm glow right on stage the entire time. Rootz Underground are a group of individuals I have had the pleasure to hang out with over the years and am honored to know on a personal level. I had so much fun dancing and shooting their act and made sure to be there for the entire set.
When I was finished shooting the rest of the show that night, I found Evton B and our Indubious fam hanging with the Rootz Underground crew in the dining area…we chilled and filled our minds and ears with meaningful thoughts and words…the night was still young…and the people outside still wanted to party…
Evton B of Indubious, Stephen Newland of Rootz Underground, and Ellen Burton of Ellen Burton Photography
You can check out the gallery of images that I (aka Rogue Agent Photo,) captured on Friday HERE…Lots of good times, tons of great people, and a successful production at the 2013 California Roots Music & Arts Festival. Definitely a festival that was run super tight on a higher level!!
Much Love & Respect to the Indubious Fam and to the Festival Organizers for having Rogue Agent Photo as part of the team! Reviews and Photo Galleries for Saturday and Sunday at Cali Roots Fest 2013 will be up on RogueAgentPhoto.com soon come…so keep your peepers peeled!!!
♥ BOOM ♥
Live Art at the 2013 California Roots Festival
