BeachLife Ranch Festival Returning Sept. 22-24, With May Festival Set To Be Biggest Yet

The BeachLife Ranch festival in Redondo Beach, California, returns Sept. 22-24 after last year the event introduced the Los Angeles area to the “Coastal Country” sister festival concept to the BeachLife Music Festival that launched in 2019.

Earlybird tickets are available starting at 10 a.m. today through Front Gate Tickets, with general admission three-day passes starting at $299.

Last year’s event was topped by Brandi Carlile, The Lumineers and Dierks Bentley, with a focus on Americana and country-leaning music and curated food and beverage, such as California tri-tip barbecue and tequila. 

Festival organizer and co-founder Allen Sanford called the first BeachLife Ranch a success although the event is still finding its identity and audience.

“It’s a difficult brand exercise,” Sanford said of developing a second festival at one location, with some fans expecting a Stagecoach or large-scale country atmosphere provided by other festivals.  “I think it was a little confusing last year because people were trying to figure out what we were doing, but when they went to the festival, it’s still the same good time, still boutique catered to the consumer, not big lines, not crazy busy, just a different vibe more inspired by Central California, country/Americana and folk.” 

The site, at the Seaside Lagoon on Redondo Beach, accommodates 11,000 fans per day right on the waterfront, making for a comfortable experience and limiting lines and traffic. Single-day options are available as well as various VIP options, hotel packages and other options. 

“We’re trying to make it easy on fans. This stuff should not be that difficult,” Sanford says, noting the option of re-entry intended to allow local attendees to enter and exit the site at will, “which does mess with our security (protocols) and add some costs.”

He said the goal is to refine the messaging for BeachLife Ranch, as the event looks to serve a different audience than the May BeachLife event, which leans more alternative and ‘90s rock, reggae and roots.

“For a first year festival it went great,” added Sanford, who said only 20% of people attending the May festival attended BeachLife Ranch. “We had established brand credibility with BeachLife, but some people didn’t know what to expect or what it was. The consumer experience walking away from it was that it was fantastic and just as fun as BeachLife, except you’re wearing cowboy hats and line dancing instead of board shorts.”

The lineup can be expected following the May installment of BeachLife, this year topped by the Black Crowes, Gwen Stefani and The Black Keys May 5-7. 

Sanford says the May festival is on track to sell out all three nights, “the best year we’ve had.”  The lineup includes Pixies, Modest Mouse, Kurt Vile, John Fogerty, Sublime With Rome, Tegan & Sara and many others.

Only one artist has been back multiple times.

“The Sugar Ray thing has been really interesting and has become kind of a cult following,” Sanford said of the ‘90s pop group known for the infectious hits “Fly,” Every Morning” and “Someday,” led by Mark McGrath and a fixture in the hearts of ‘90s kids.  

The group has played BeachLife each year, with a high-energy noontime set that draws a large crowd and sets the tone for the rest of the day, with the charismatic frontman hamming it up for the crowd, telling stories and playing the hits with gusto. 

“Every year we’ve done ‘Sugar Ray Brunch’ and it’s gotten bigger each time,” Sanford said. “Each year, we ask fans who they want to see next year, and ‘Sugar Ray’ is on top of the list every time, alongside some of the biggest bands in the world.” 

The nightime sets are a big deal, too, of course.

“The show-stealer this time is Gwen,” said Sanford, who oversees talent buying for the event. “If you grew up in the ‘90s in the South Bay or in the BeachLife community — No Doubt, Sublime, that’s about as big as you can get. Having her just brought us to a different level.”