October Music Festivals

AVALON: Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival October 12-22, 2023,  2 weekends! 
$126-up, jazztrax.com
Lineup Oct.12 Ray Fuller, Mindi Abair | Oct.13 Bona Fide tribute to Bobby Caldwell, Bob James Trio | Oct.14 The Braxton Brothers, Ronnie Laws, Kayla Waters, Sergio Mendes | Oct.15 Roberto Restuccia, Eric Darius, Kilauea with Daniel Ho, Boney James | Oct.19 Rob Tardick, Craig Chaquico | Oct.20 Jazz Holdouts, Keiko Matsui | Oct.21 Quintin Gerard W. & Lemek, Acoustic Alchemy, Rebecca Jade, Jesse Cook | Oct.22 Nathan Mitchell, Gerald Albright, Dotsero, Chris Walker tribute, Al Jarreau with Chris Walker with Regina Bell, Bobby Lyle & Eric Marienthal

SAN FRANCISCO: Breakaway Music Festival  October 13-14, 2023
Civic Center Auditorium
99 Grove St.
Oakland, CA
 $169.50-1000, breakawayfestival.com 
Lineup: Alan Walker, DJ Snake, Madeon, Nghtmre, Big Gigantic, Walker & Royce, What So Not, Wuki, Bonnie X Clyde, Devault, Hektor Mass, Henry Fong, Kaleena Zanders, Moore Kismet, Night Tales, Nina Jirachi, Rossy, Smoakland, Tsu Nami, Mojave Grey, Musubi, Rosedrive, Stage Takeover with Brownies & Lemonade

SACRAMENTO: Goldensky Country Festival October 14-15, 2023
Discovery Park
Sacramento, CA
$157.76 approx., goldenskyfestival.com
Line up: Eric Church, Jon Pardi, Maren Morris, Parker McCollum, Jordan Davis, Wynonna Judd, Lainey Wilson, Eli Young Band, Niko Moon, Ingrid Andress, Nate Smith, Jackson Dean, Frank Ray, Adam Doleac, Tenille Arts, Drake Milligan, Kidd G, Megan Moroney, Willie Jones, Lakeview, Avery Anna

EL CERRITO: Folk Festival October 14, 2023,  12-10 p.m.
El Cerrito Community Center
7007 Moeser Lane
El Cerrito, CA
Free, elcerritofreefolkfestival.org

BONNY DOON: Bonny Doon Art, Wine & Brew Festival October 21, 2023, 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Crest Ranch
12200 Empire Grade
Santa Cruz, CA  
$, age 21+ only, bonnydoonartandwinefestival.com
Party in the Santa Cruz Mountains with authentic local hospitality and fundraising by Bonny Doon Community School Foundation for the little community school Bonny Doon Elementary. Your ticket price includes choice of a wine glass or beer mug, an afternoon of wine and craft brew tastings from local wineries and breweries accompanied by live music

SELMA: Selma Rotary Marching Band Festival  October 28, 2023
The annual Selma Rotary Marching Band Festival parade begins at 9 a.m. and runs from Rose Street to Arrants Street and then down High Street. The halftime competition begins at 1 p.m. at Selma High School's Staley Stadium located on Wright Street. Selma Rotary Marching Band Festival. The parade will begin in downtown Selma at 9 a.m. with the Field Competition to follow at Selma High School. For more information contact the Chamber. cityofselma.com
 PERFORMANCES: Division 1A Warrior Marching Band & Colorguard; Division 4A Golden West High School Band and Guard Division; 5A Monache High School, Frontier High School; Parade Middle School: Abraham Lincoln Middle School, Parlier Jr. High School Marching Band; Parade High School 1A Warrior Marching Band & Colorguard; Parade High School 4A Edison High School

LOS ANGELES: Angel City Jazz Festival  October 13-29, 2023
angelcityjazz.com
Angel City Jazz Festival  Lineup

• October 13, 2023 Sam Rivers 100 - A celebration of the Musical Legacy of Sam Rivers LACMA 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Free
• October 14, 2023 Destiny Muhammad Trio with Special Guest Teodross Avery at The World Stage 4321 Degnan Blvd. $20
• October 15, 2023 Crump/Laubrock/Smythe + Jeong Lim Yang's Zodiac Trio at 2220 Arts + Archives 2220 Beverly Blvd., $20
• October 16, 2023 Angel City Jazz + Vernacular: Intergenerational Improvisation Night at Oracle Tavern 1640 N Spring St. $10-20 door donation
• October 21, 2023 Root Progressions: Gloria Cheng, Linda May Han Oh and Jon Jang at Zipper Hall, Colburn School, 200 S. Grand, $25
• October 22, 2023 Todd Sickafoose's Bear Proof + Kirk Knuffke Trio at the Moss Theatre, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica, $25
• October 25, 2023 Harriet Tubman + OCEANS AND Tim Berne, Aurora Nealand and Hank Roberts Zebulon 2478 Fletcher Dr. $20 age 21+
• October 26, 2023 Nicole Mitchell's The Mandorla Letters Book Reading at October 26, 2023 @ 6:30 pm Santa Monica Public Library - MLK Jr Auditorium 601 Santa Monica Blvd Santa Monica, CA. Free
• October 27, 2023 Mat Maneri Quartet + Ennis Harris 'Images & Silhouettes' 2220 Arts + Archives 2220 Beverly Blvd $20
• October 28, 2023 Nicole Mitchell's JBM: Images Beyond + Next Jazz Legacy Showcase at REDCAT at Disney Hall 631 W 2nd Street. $25
• October 29, 2023 TC3 with Hubert Laws + The Billy Mohler Quartet at REDCAT at Disney Hall 631 W 2nd Street Los Angeles, CA, $25

SAN FRANCISCO: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass  September 29-October 1, 2023
Free, hardlystrictlybluegrass.com
Golden Gate Park's Hellman Hollow (formerly Speedway Meadows)
San Francisco, CA

SAN FRANCISCO: Portola Festival September 30-October 1, 2023
Pier 80
San Francisco, CA 
$250-up, portolamusicfestival.com
Lineup is posted in September Music

DANA POINT: Ohana September 29-October 1, 2023 at Doheny State Beach
Dana Point, CA
Tickets: ohanafest.com 
2023 headliners include Eddie Vedder, The Chicks, Foo Fighters, Pretenders see Lineup! 

CALIFORNIA CITY/EDWARDS: Wasteland Weekend   September 27-October 1, 2023
Mojave Desert
Edwards, CA
$200 approx., wastelandweekend.com
Worlds largest Post-apocalyptic music festival 
 Lineup: V2A, AHTCK, Militia Vox, Elishia Sharie, Fleischkrieg, Old Blood, Jason Charles Miller, ArnoCorps, Soldiers of Destruction, Xtine & The Reckless Hearts, Anthea, Living Darkness

PERRIS: Same Same But Different September 28-October 1, 2023
Lake Perris State Park
Perris, CA
$350-up, ssbdfest.com
Camping available
Lineup: Big Wild Griz, Louis the Child, Polo & Pan, Playground Set, Hippie Sabotage, What So Not, Bijou, Blu Detiger, Boombox, CVBZ, Eazybaked, Glamingosis, KR3Ture, Kyle Kinch, Maddy O'Neal, Mat.JOe, Mija, Moontricks, The Motel, PartiB0169, Phantoms DJ, Sodown, Speaker Honey, Sunsquabi, Weiss, Aviator Stash, Bix King, Boostive, Cam Steen, Chucky Motion, Combover, DJ M3, Fresh Veggies Micro Brass, Hollywood Prinicple, Jacklndn, Kaipora, Kat Hall, L'Eclair, Mitchum Yacoub, Mr. EOS, New Constellations, Paper Idol, Spacehall Sound Machine, Sunsets, Truthlive, Voss & Things, Wes Light, Whiskerman

GRASS VALLEY: Celtic Festival September 30-October 1, 2023
Nevada County Fairgrounds,
11228 McCourtney
Grass Valley, CA
$80-85, kvmrcelticfestival.org
With a marketplace, foods, camping available and music throughout, this is California's premier Celtic Festival and Fair.
See musical lineup...

ONTARIO: Huck Finn Jubilee  October 6-8, 2023
Bonelli Bluffs & RV Resort
120 E. Via Verde Drive |
San Dimas, CA
$96.87 for Saturday pass; $150 for 2-day pass, huckfinn.com / product-category/ tickets/
Keeping Bluegrass alive in Southern California! 2023 Line up

SACRAMENTO: Aftershock Music Festival October 5-8, 2023
Discovery Park
1000 Garden Highway
Sacramento, CA
$169-up, aftershockconcert.com
Line up:  Guns N Roses, Avenged Sevenfold, KORN, Incubus, Godsmack... see lineup

MONTEREY: Rebels & Renegades Music Festival October 6-8, 2023
Monterey County Fairgrounds
2004 Fairground Road
Monterey, CA 93940
rebelsandrenegadesfest.com 
Americana, Outlaw Country, Bluegrass, and Folk music weave together a multidimensional festival experience for music lovers at an iconic venue in the Monterey Bay.
Lineup: American Aquarium, Boy Named Banjo, Brent Cobb, The California Honeydrops, Channing Wilson, Charley Crockett, Danno Simpson, The Devil Makes Three, Elle King, Flatland Calvary, The Infamous Stringdusters, JD Clayton, Jaime Wyatt, Jamestown Revival, Kurt Vile, Mike & The Moonpies, Molly Tuttle, Morgan Wade, Old Crow Medicine Show, Paul Cauthen, Peter One, Rayland Baxter, Reckless Kelly, Satsang, Shakey Graves, Shane Smith & The Saints, Sierra Ferrell, The Steel Woods, TK and the Holy Know Nothings, Turnpike Troubadours, Vincent Neil Emerson, The War And Treaty, Whiskey Myers, Whitey Morgan, Wilco, The Wood Brothers, Wyatt Flores

CARSON: City of Carson Jazz Festival October 7, 2023, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Anderson Park
19101 Wilmington Ave.
Free, recreation. carson.ca.us
Line up:  Jamison Ross headliner, Jazz in Pink, Donald Hayes, Greg Rose, Jordan Busa, DJ Alcatraz, CSUDH Band and more! Free, $100 vip seating and tables available

PALMDALE: Kaleidoscope Art & Music Festival, October 6-7, 2023, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Palmdale Amphitheater
2723 Rancho Vista Blvd.
Palmdale, CA
Admission and parking are free, cityofpalmdale.org
Celebration of the arts in the high desert includes five musical acts, artisan displays with original works for sale, muralists creating art live, free Brush Strokes class, painting, children's activities, and Fresh Made Market where you can purchase tasty bites, locally crafted beer and wine.

FELTON: Brewgrass Festival October 7, 2023, 12-8 p.m.
Roaring Camp Railroads
Felton, CA
$65-100, roaringcamp.com
Optional Tasting Train, Live Music, Craft Beer & Cider, Local Food Vendors, Free Kids Activities
Lineup: Yonder Mountain String Band, Hot Buttered Rum, Wolf Jett, Water Tower, The Goat Hill Girls, The False Bottom Band, Rattle Can, and more!

GARDEN GROVE: Elvis Festival "The Spirit of Elvis" October 8, 2023, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Historic Main Street between Garden Grove Blvd. and Acacia Parkway, 12911 Main Street for mapping
Garden Grove, CA
Free, facebook.com/ElvisFestival
Free parking  at Coastline College and Concorde University lots off of Acacia Parkway and Garden Grove Blvd  
23rd Annual Elvis Festival returns to Historic Main Street in Garden Grove for an all-day tribute to Elvis Presley with concerts and a Car Show. Past Line up: The Decades Band featuring Kirk Wall, Lil Joe Banuelos; Scot Bruce returns  with his Elvis in the Early Years show;  Beatles-Elvis combination with The Walrus Beatles Tribute Band and award winning tribute artist James King; Martin Anthony and Abbit the Average Elvis and Stilt Elvis and Hound Dog.  Along with solo performances, the King of Cadillacs Car show, Elvis fan clubs, strolling Elvi, specialty vendors and merchants plus food trucks on site. Location: Use the address of 12911 Main Street, Garden Grove  Free admission, reserved seating options, facebook.com/ElvisFestival/

 

 

Past events

Desert Daze Pioneertown, CA September 30-October 2, 2022

Dirtybird Campout Waterford, CA October 7-9, 2022

Escape Halloween San Bernardino, CA October 28-29, 2022

Angtown Music Festival Grass Valley, CA October 20-23, 2022

Joshua Tree Festival Fall Joshua Tree, CA October 6-9, 2022

Lost In Riddim San Jose, CA October 1-2, 2022

Second Sky Festival Oakland, CA October 29-30, 2022

Sonoma Harvest Music Festival Sonoma, CA October 8-9, 2022

IRVINE: Irvine Global Village

NAPA/SONOMA: Ragtime Romp  
winecountryragtimefestival.com
Taking place in multiple venues, the festival features ragtime bands and live music

PERRIS: Desert Daze returns in 2024 October 10-13
Moreno Beach
Lake Perris, CA
$, camping extra fee, desertdaze.org

BERKELEY: Community Music Day  10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Crowden Music Center
Berkeley, CA
Price Free
crowden.org
Crowden's annual Community Music Day is a free musical

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.