While the sun never fully emerged for day two of this year’s Cali Roots festival, low overcast skies and light rain could not dampen the spirits of the 13,000 fans in attendance. Lines still stretched down the block in the hours leading up to the gates’ opening, and thousands rushed into the fairgrounds as soon as they could to take in the second day of the festival’s 14th iteration.
Starting the day on the Cali Roots stage, local act Estrella performed to kick the event off. Born and raised in neighboring Salinas, the importance of this local connection was apparent from the moment the artist walked onstage. Wasting no opportunity to acknowledge the emotional weight of the festival for herself and her band, Estrella declared, “This is a dream of ours… It’s so surreal; I’m so happy,” midway through her show, as she poured the culmination of her life’s work into a full set that included her original singles “What’s Worse,” “Paradisolation,” and “Outta My Control.”
In a much-anticipated Cali Roots debut, reggae veteran Nathan Aurora took the stage with his newest project, Aurorawave. Building on his tenure fronting the longstanding reggae act Iya Terra, Aurora drew a sizable crowd eager to witness this daring escapade, which blended reggae with rock and metal and quickly became one of the weekend’s most talked-about debuts. Culminating in the first audience circle pit in Cali Roots history, the set proved to be one of the festival’s most energetic as the band cranked the speakers for a full run that included “INFERNO,” “KINDNESS,” and “MEANT TO BE.”
In one of the more surprising and tender moments in recent Cali Roots memory, longtime festival host Owen Guyan brought legendary reggae MC Rocky Bailey onstage to introduce a band in tandem. Offering fans a peek behind the curtain, Guyan spoke at length about their friendship, Bailey’s influence in the reggae community, and his impact on Guyan’s life and career. A poignant tribute to the voices that move the genre, the speech echoed Bailey’s longtime mantra that “the message is in the music, and the music is in the message.”
As the sun began to set, Cali Roots veterans Atmosphere took to the Bowl stage for one of the weekend’s most engaging hip-hop performances. A project that mirrors the festival’s ethos in countless ways, the group’s lyrics resonated deeply with the Monterey crowd. Frontman Slug’s energy was undeniable throughout the set as he delivered a vivid survey of their most memorable earworms, including “Yesterday,” “Sunshine,” and “God Loves Ugly.”
Capping the night off with a bang, surf-reggae pioneers Slightly Stoopid stepped onto the Bowl stage for an unforgettable set that reflected the band’s more than 30 years together. Always eager to collaborate during their live shows, the performance began with a surprise appearance by hip-hop veteran Chali 2na as the band kicked things off with “Wicked Rebel.” The group seemed to have the energy to play all night, following up with “2 a.m.,” complete with a robust horn accompaniment. Taking every opportunity to include the audience, founding member Kyle McDonald sparked one up and passed it into the crowd before the band launched into their 2005 hit “This Joint.” In a genuinely eclectic set that drew from every era of their decades-long career, the Monterey crowd received a generous serving of the band’s greatest music, including “Officer,” “Closer to the Sun,” and “Bandelero.” Satisfied from the day yet still eager for more, fans slowly filed out of the Monterey Fairgrounds to recharge before the festival’s final day.
Check out more photos from Cali Roots Day Two.
