Article Contributed by Nick Gumas
Published on 2026-06-22
To kickstart the summer season of 2026 in Northern California, Good Vibes Presents once again filled the Monterey Fairgrounds to its capacity for the annual Cali Roots Festival. Officially celebrating the 15th iteration of the event which has grown an emphatic international following around this community, the grounds hosted a plethora of fans who flocked from around the globe as its stages promoted an equally diverse collection of artists who have earned their own acclaim from local celebrities to generational icons.
Showcasing how close to the hearts of all in the Monterey community that Cali Roots has become, local act Estrella made the short drive from her home in neighboring Salinas to embody the familial sentiment of the festival in her set. A soulful blend of reggae and coastal jazz, her down to earth, yet enthralling performance immaculately set the tone for the weekend to come.
With momentum continuing to build, Southern California-based artist DENM took charge of the day’s narrative early on as he graced the mainstage. Embodying a Bradley Nowell-style of energy into his stage presence, rhythmic delivery, and commanding physical authority, he brought a genuine coastal feel to his mid day performance. Starting with incredible enthusiasm and mellowing out just enough to land on a smooth note, he played a full account of his hits, including “Wandering Soul,” “Life’s 2 Short,” and “Wild Trip.”
A favorite in the growing list of artists who have earned indefinite invitations to play the Fairgrounds each and every year, Boston reggae rock act The Elovaters gave a sunset performance early Friday evening. Anointed by festival organizer Dan Sheehan as a future Cali Roots headliner a few short years back, the anticipation leading up to the performance was palpable from a group who continuously finds ways to exceed expectations. Earning the audience’s emotional investment from the moment they took the stage and opened with their 2023 single “Roll Up,” the crowd jumped in synchronization with frontman Jackson Wetherbee’s movement throughout the rendition. Taking a beat to revere the moment, drummer Nick Asta addressed the crowd early in the set, declaring “This is honestly our favorite festival in the world,” making a toast and reminding the audience that they were playing on the historic stage where Jimi Hendrix famously burned his guitar at the Monterey Pop Fest.
Closing out the night on the Cali Roots stage, powerhouse festival favorites Common Kings gave an electric showcase in front of an audience that has come to expect their annual presence in Monterey. As the band came onstage, the screens behind them featured a tribute to the late Island reggae artist, George “Fiji” Veikoso, in an unspoken homage to the pioneering musician who had passed away late last year. While fans were quick to notice the absence of the band’s longtime guitarist, Mata during the set, enthusiasms were not dampened on any front by the small change in lineup. Far from the only surprise of the evening, by special request, the band took a moment to deviate from their usual setlist to play a cover of Sublime’s immortal 1991 hit “Badfish.” Not shying away from their recognizable works either, the band continued to play a full collection of their own fan favorites including “Wade In Your Water,” “No Other Love,” and their contribution to the 2020 Cali Roots Riddim album, “There I Go.”
Completing the hat trick with his third performance at the festival, West Coast hip hop icon Ice Cube took the stage late Friday evening for a headlining performance that chronicled the history of California rap. As the house lights cut out in the moments before the show, Ice Cube addressed the audience in the dark from backstage to energize the crowd as he announced his intentions to celebrate his more than 40 years in music. Sauntering onstage while throwing up a West Coast hand sign, he was joined by longtime collaborator WC as he opened with a truncated version of his single “Keep It Gangsta.” Not wasting an opportunity, he reminded the audience that he was in fact performing on a Friday, as audio from his 1995 cult film “Friday” played over the speakers, immediately launching into a rendition of his classic song by the same name. In a performance defined by constant crowd engagement and a staunch awareness of the music the audience came to hear, the set featured a consistent stream of Ice Cube’s hits through the decades including “Straight Outta Compton,” “No Vaseline,” and “It Was a Good Day.”
