For reggae fans, Cali Vibes isn’t just a weekend Festival —it’s a ritual. Held in the ocean-kissed heart of Long Beach at Marina Green Park, it’s where palm trees meet basslines, and bands like Fortunate Youth return to a kind of spiritual home. With their latest single “CA Vibes” nodding to the magic of the event, the band is gearing up for another round of sun-soaked connection and communal groove at this year’s fest, running this weekend June 7–8.
“We were vibing in [Corey’s] garage. It felt like a festival,” Fortunate Youth frontman Dan Kelly told The Pier during a recent interview. “For us, the closest festival is right down the street in Long Beach—Cali Vibes. But the song goes deeper than that. It’s about the vibes: festival vibes, friendship vibes, band vibes.”
That sense of atmosphere—of musical kinship—is what makes Cali Vibes something special. It’s not just the lineup (which always reads like a greatest hits of the reggae-rock movement) or the ocean breeze; it’s the sense that everyone there already knows each other, even if they’ve never met.
“It’s the memories. The good times. You meet new people who become friends, and then it becomes tradition over time,” said Kelly. “It’s like camping or going on a cruise—you get to know your neighbors.”
For Fortunate Youth, those neighbors include not just fans, but fellow bands and behind-the-scenes crew—everyone from the horn section to the hospitality team. As keyboardist and producer Corey Draskovich put it, “In this scene, there’s just a great sense of community. Dan did a great job of expressing that in the lyrics. It makes us feel at home—what California has always meant to us.”
The band has long embraced the road, but Cali Vibes, with its picturesque backdrop and deeply rooted scene, holds a particular place in their hearts. “You have your regular spot and see the same faces there every time,” Corey added. “That home feeling comes from those familiar faces, those smiles, the greetings from friends you haven’t seen in months but feels like yesterday.”
Cali Vibes, in essence, is more than a destination—it’s a gathering of tribes. It’s a soundcheck under palm trees, a chorus echoing over grass fields, and a hug from a fan who’s followed the band since the early days. Fortunate Youth doesn’t just play the festival; they live it, breathe it, and celebrate it.
And when they take the stage this year, surrounded by friends old and new, don’t be surprised if you catch them grinning mid-set, soaking in the moment. Because for Fortunate Youth, and for everyone who calls this scene home, Cali Vibes isn’t just a festival—it’s a heartbeat.
Cali Vibes is happening this weekend June 7-8 at Marina Green Park in Long Beach, CA. Leading the charge, Stick Figure, Rebelution, and Slightly Stoopid return to bring their signature reggae rock anthems to Long Beach. Other key performances will come from Fortunate Youth, The Elovators, Little Stranger, Pepper, and Cypress Hill.
