Cali-Roots 2015 Recap:
The 6th Annual California Roots Festival has come and gone leaving us with memories shared with friends, family and strangers around the sound-track of some great music. Jeff Monser and Dan Sheehan have worked hard over the years to build this festival up into a movement that fans can call home when such an event takes place.
3 stages over 3 days with 40 bands performing with nothing more than, at most, a 15minute overlap in sets. This means that fans had the opportunity to see every single band if they wanted to. Only a handful of sets overlapped 10-15 minutes into the others, but nothing that would keep you from missing an entire set because you were watching someone else.
Security did an outstanding job of being cool and patient with the fans. They were tossing beach-balls back into the crowd, joking and smiling with everyone, representing a position of guidance vs security or authority. The two biggest complaints we heard regarding the festival was the lack of reliable internet access and that fans weren’t able to purchase alcohol, unless you were in VIP or above…
First, I was told that more than 12,000 people were in attendance. That’s a lot of people on their smart-phones! Working in media, such as ourselves, we can be divas about access if we know it exists only because we want to publish what’s taking place as soon as we can if there’s opportunity to do so. The other part to that was there were vendors who brought credit-card machines that were unable to connect to the internet to accept purchases, but there were plenty of ATM’s around, but it’s hard to bite the bullet on that $4.95 fee each time. So we can sympathize with the internet frustration if you work in media or if you purchased a booth re-selling merchandise, but otherwise, is this really worth complaining about? If you’re a fan, post the selfie later!
As for the alcohol, I applaud Cali-Roots for not offering that as an option outside of VIP. I don’t know if that decision comes from the venue, the city or just a conscious decision Dan and Jeff made, but you sure do limit the amount of drunken episodes that can escalate quicker with the consumption of liquor over beer. Plus, their new Hoppy Roots beer was quite tasty!
Our hat’s off to an amazing staff that made this festival as enjoyable as possible. From Amy & Dan Sheehan and Jeff Monser to their staff of Ryan Romana and Alex Anderson with Press Junkie who enabled The Pier with most of the press and interviews at Cali-Roots. Dana Greer who manages the social media and does an outstanding job connecting Cali-Roots with the world including us fans and media affiliates. Ernie Cortazar III was a huge resource to those of us camping on site and Joe Wilson with Bulldog Media with all the amazing footage that was filmed and captured. We got to meet the infamous Kenny Burgess who did an incredible job with the Walk Through History booth and while the names don’t come close to stopping there, we extend our gratitude to those we didn’t directly connect with for their time and efforts.
These names are important because they all had a hand in making this event more than just a festival, but a place we can call home… A home where we vent about the internet and complain that there’s no liquor in the house, yet it’s a house we hate to leave.
Set-Lists at Cali-Roots 2015
Of the 40 acts that performed at Cali-Roots, The Pier was able to retrieve 37 Set-Lists. Unfortunately, we were unable to receive set-lists from The Roots, G. Love and Animo. If any of you fans have their sets recorded, send them over and we’ll add it below. The set-lists are in order of the festival based on the day and set-time.
There were a ton of guest appearances all over the weekend so if you see any that you think we should add, drop it in a comment and we’ll update it. Scroll below to see which bands played which songs and if your favorite band is below, perhaps make a playlist that mirrors their set-list!
Some stand-outs that we saw was SOJA playing “Thunderstorms” which they’ve never really played live and after they played it, they said they’d never play it again! That was before they brought J Boog on stage to perform his song “Let’s Do It Again”. Beebs and Her Money Makers covered TLC‘s “Waterfalls” a long with Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk”. Cypress Hill played all their classic hits while Iration rocked their new jam “Reelin'”. Leilani Wolfgramm covered Nirvana‘s “Come As You Are” while Slightly Stoopid, Fortunate Youth and Tribal Seeds piled on the guest features.
Following the festival and of the 40 bands that performed, my personal top 3 stand-outs from the weekend were East-London’s The Skints New Zealand’s Blue King Brown and Orlando, Florida’s Beebs and Her Money Makers. I was familiar with all three before the festival, but this was the first time I had the opportunity to see them live and their live sets blew me away. Let us know in the comments your Top 3 from the festival.
Thank you again Cali-Roots…
Friday, May 22nd, 2015
Leilani Wolfgramm Set-List:
(11:00 – 11:45am at the Cali-Roots Stage)
Come As You Are (Nirvana Cover)
Sinner
Let It Ring
Adrian
Rebel
Sunshine
Drums
Herbivore
It Was Written
Trevor Hall Set-List: (12:00 – 1:00pm at The Bowl)
Jago Ma
Green Mountain State
Still Water
Unity
Wish Man
My Beating Heart
Good Rain
Well I Say
Obsidian (ft Nahko)
Blue King Brown Set-List: (1:00 – 2:00pm at the Cali Roots Stage)
Intro
Renegade
Say Peace
Rize Up
All Nations
One People
Border Crosser
Us & Them
Mo Truth
Sun Dried Vibes Set-List: (2:00 – 2:30pm at the Original Stage)
WILT
I & I
Nugg It
Young One
Irie Vibes
Late Night
Nahko & Medicine For The People Set-List:
(2:30 – 3:40pm at The Bowl)
Vultures
Aloha
Risk It
7 Feathers
Warrior
Wash
Man 2
Jon Wayne & The Pain Set-List: (3:40 – 4:10pm at The Original Stage)
Profit Over People
Helpful
It Aint So (ft Nahko)
Festival Friends
Pulse Drop
Dilated Peoples Set-List: (4:10 – 5:20pm at the Cali-Roots Stage)
Intro
Good As Gone
You Can’t Hide
Marathon
Live On Stage
No Retreat 
Kindess For Weakness
Babu
CTD
Delilah
Mr. Slow Flow
You
Directors
Let Your Thoughts Fly Away
Show Me The Way
Love & War
War
Work The Angles
Back Again
This Way
Worst Comes To Worst
The Supervillains Set-List:
(5:20 – 6:00pm at The Original Stage)
Git Ir Done
Ex-Girlfriend
Drinking Last Night
Hell
Puddles
Resin/Mjj/Drinking
Crippie Weed
Careless/Moving Out
20 Excuses
Hey Fuck You
Way That I Like it
John Butler Trio Set-List: (6:00 – 7:10pm at The Bowl)
Used To Get High
Pickapart
Anything
Blame It On Me
Ocean
Don’t Wanna
Ragged Mile
Zebra
Better Than
Funky Tonight
Livin’ 
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad Set-List:
(7:00 – 7:45pm at The Original Stage)
Enemy
Foundation – Cop
Pockets – Healing
Steady
What Kinda World
Missing You More
Take Your Place
Love You More
Seasons Reprise
Higher
Steel Pulse Set-List: (8:00 – 9:10pm at The Cali Roots Stage)
Blues Dance
Sound Check
Makka Spliff
Drug Squad
Black Enough
A Who Responsible
Not King James
Baby Con
Don’t Shoot
Stepping Out
SOJA Set-List: (9:30 – 11:00pm at The Bowl)
I Believe 
Strength To Survive
Let’s Do It Again (ft J Boog)
Rest of My Life
Singature
Changes (ft Dustin Thomas)
Let You Go (ft. Ocean Pleasant)
Driving Faster
I Don’t Wanna Wait
Thunderstorms
Not Done Yet (ft. Alfred the MC) – SAMBA
To Whom
You and Me
Promises and Pills (ft Alfred The MC)
Shadow
Saturday, May 23rd, 2015
Beebs and Her Money Makers Set-List: (11:00 – 11:45am at The Cali Roots Stage)
Nights Dream
Out The Door
You Don’t Owe
Running Away
Hand Out
Jammin
Learn
Sumpin
Water Falls/Uptown (Covers)
Crazy
Miss K
KBong Set-List: (11:45 – 12:15am at The Original Stage)
Hold On
In Session
Rising
Opportunity (ft Hirie)
Bend Down Low (Cover)
Livin’ Easy (ft Scott of Stick Figure)
Mike Love Set-List: (12:00 – 1:00pm at The Bowl)
Leaders
Give and Receive
I Love You
Good News
Human Race
Upfulness
Barbershop
Healing
Moving On
Permanent Holiday
John Brown’s Body Set-List:
(1:00 – 2:00pm at The Cali Roots Stage)
Dust
Resonate
Step Inside
Nah Give Up
Mystery
Shadow
Badman
Plant
High Grade
OJB
Hands
Arise Roots Set-List: (2:00 – 2:30pm at The Original Stage)
Intro
What A Shame
Loving You
People Are You Ready
Moving Forward
Love You Right
Give It Up
Cool Me Down
Dangerous
Collie Buddz Set-List: (2:30 – 3:40pm at The Bowl)
INTRO 
NICE UP YOURSELF
I FEEL SO GOOD
Let Me Know
SENSIMINA
SMOKE THE WEED
MEDLEY:
MARY JANE
LEGALIZE IT
COME AROUND
Interlude….. (Turn Your Lights Down)
GIMME LOVE
TOMORROW’S ANOTHER DAY
WAITING IN VAIN
HOLIDAY
WON’T BE LONG
NOW SHE GONE
MOVIN ON
**ENCORE**
GREETINGS MEDLEY
WHAT A FEELING
MAMACITA
PRESCRIPTION
BLIND TO YOU
Soul Majestic Set-List: (3:40 – 4:10pm at The Original Stage)
Intro (Setting The Tone)
Long Road
Right Now
Rockaway
Sound of the Riddim
Burn Some Herb
Officer
Stay With Me
Provider
Outro (Bellyfull-Exodus-Sherriff)
Chronixx Set-List: (4:10 – 5:20pm at The Cali Roots Stage)
Alpha & Omega
Start a Fyah
Eternal Fyah
Aint No Giving – They Don’t
Most High
Thanks and Praise
Rising Sun
Access Granted
Rain Music
Somewhere – Smile Jamaica
Capture Land
Who Knows – Here Comes Trouble
Perfect Tree
News Carrying Dread
Rasta Man Wheel Out
Clean Like A Whistle
Behind Curtain 
Spirulina
Warrior
Odd Ras
Ethan Tucker Set-List: (5:20 – 6:00pm at The Original Stage)
Rock Me
All I Need
Tease Me
Dream
Cool Kids
High Time
Crazy Tonight
Never Be
Dirty Heads Set-List: (6:00 – 7:10pm at The Bowl)
Franco Eyed
Burn Slow
Dance All Night
Garland
Lay Me Down
Your Love
Check The Level
Hip Hop Misfits
Silence
Dub
Radio
Antelope
Spread Too Thin
Goonies (Sloths Revenge)
Sound of Change
Medusa
My Sweet Summer
Summer Remix
The Skints Set-List: (7:00 – 7:45pm at The Original Stage)
This Town
RubaDub
Mindless
In The Night
On A Mission
Ratatat
Tazer Beam
Friends & Business
Eyes In The Back of My Mind
Forest For The Trees
Culture Vulture
Michael Franti & Spearhead Set-List: (8:00 – 9:30pm at The Cali Roots Stage)
Hey Hey Hey
Hello Bonjour
Stay Human
People In Da Middle
All I Want Is You (Franti In The Crowd)
SOS / Love Will Find A Way
I Got Love For Ya (ft. Kelly)
Crazy
Yell Fire
11:59 (Franti In The Crowd)
Closer To You (Franti In The Crowd)
Life Is Better With You
Let It Go (ft Ethan Tucker)
Say Hey
I’m Alive
Once A Day
All People
Sunday, May 24th, 2015
Pacific Dub Set-List(11:00 – 11:45am at The Cali Roots Stage)
Intro
Cross That Line
Sundown
Tight Rope
To The Sky
Best Of All Time
Wasted
Dreaming
Utica
Fortunate Youth Set-List (12:00 – 1:00pm at The Bowl)
Burn One
My Love
Trippin’
One Love
Sweet Sensi
Fiya
Positive
Love Is…
Jah Music
Til The End
Pass The Herb
Sweet Love
So Rebel
Peace Love & Unity
Common Kings Set-List: (1:00 – 2:00pm at the Cali Roots Stage)
Intro
The Light
Fall In Love
DJ section
Everyday People
Alcoholic
Your Turn
24/7
IDGAF
(Bass Solo) to Next Episode
Before You Go
Wade In Your Water
Sickness
No Other Love
X-men (Outro)
Fear Nuttin Band Set-List: (2:00 – 2:30pm at The Original Stage)
Intro 
Jah First
It’s Not So Easy
Friends
Rebel
Dun Di Place
Tribal Seeds Set-List (2:30 – 3:40pm at The Bowl)
Garden
Rock The Night
Blood Clot
Fill It Up (ft New Kingston)
Dawn
In Your Eyes (ft. Kyle of Slightly Stoopid)
Run The Show
Moonlight
Creator
In Your Area
Warning
Love
Vampire (ft The Expanders, Fortunate Youth, Stick Figure)
Cas Haley Set-List (3:40 – 4:10pm at The Original Stage)
Release Me
I’m Free
Connection
More Music More Family
Hold Up My Heart
Big Hope
E.N Young Set-List: (5:20 – 6:00pm at The Original Stage)
Intro
Creation Rebel
Creation Remix
Creation Dub
Inspiration 
Be Back Real Soon
Eye of the Storm
Never Leave Your Side
Don’t Burn Bridges
OverpoweringBlessedLove
Imagine Peace
Warriors
Cypress Hill Set-List: (6:00 – 7:10pm at The Bowl)
Get’em Up
Real Estate
Rockweilier Break
Hand On The Pump
When Shit Goes Down
Kill A Man
Latin Thugs
Tequila Sunrise
Weed Medley
Sugar Hill Break
Insane In The Brain
DJ/Percussion Solo
Throw Your Set
Boom Biddy
Cock The Hammer
Lick A Shot
Illusions
Ain’t Going Out
Rock Superstar
Fisbhone Set-List: (7:00 – 7:45pm at The Original Stage)
Party at Ground Zero (w/Angelo Moore Spoken Word Intro)
Ma and Pa
Cholly (w Sample of I Feel Like Bustin Loose by Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers)
The Suffering
Unstuck
Everyday Sunshine 
Alcoholic
Iration Set-List: (8:00 – 9:10pm at The Cali Roots Stage)
Intro Dub
Wait and See
Get Back To Me
Changed My Mind
Electricity
Back Around
Mr Operator (ft Simone on Violin)
Automatic
Reelin
Uptown
BOB
Summer Nights
Turn Around
Bowl For Two (ft Geoff Weers of The Expendables)
Falling
Time Bomb
Slightly Stoopid Set-List: (9:30 – 11:00pm at The Bowl)
[This is based off their written set-list on stage. Some songs may have varied live]
Dabs
Bandolero
Champion
Don’t Stop
Don’t Care 
Anywhere
Wicked Rebel
Crazy
Somebody
Up On A Plane
Wiseman (ft Don Carlos)
Just A Passing Glance (ft Don Carlos)
Movin (ft Don Carlos)
Baby I Like It (ft. Ethan Tucker)
Ska Diddy (ft Angelo Moore of Fishbone)
Older (ft Angelo Moore of Fishbone)
Del Roy
2am
No Cocaine (ft Tribal Seeds)
Officer
Pussy Gets Wet
Collie Man
**Encore**
3 Piece Chicken Meal
Speedometers (ft. Cypress Hill)
Related Links:
Live: SOJA at Cali-Roots 2015
The Pier: Catching Up with Trevor Hall
Live: Fishbone at Cali-Roots 2015
Live: Fortunate Youth at Cali-Roots 2015
Live: E.N Young at Cali-Roots 2015
The Pier: Getting To Know The Skints
Jam In The Van at Cali-Roots 2015
Article By: Mike Patti
Photos By: David Norris, Peter Monti
Video By: Andrew Aroche, Aaron Solomon, Peter Monti
Watch: The Pier at Cali-Roots 2015
