A new festival is coming to Santa Monica, with the Killers and Olivia Dean topping the inaugural bill. Ocean Way Festival—produced by the much-reviled Coachella organizer Goldenvoice—will take place on September 26 and 27. Jack White, Khruangbin, and Sublime are also among the performers.
Elsewhere on the bill are Durand Jones and the Indications, Alvvays, SG Lewis, 54 Ultra, Hiatus Kaiyote, Blond:Ish, Poolside, and a DJ set from Hot Chip. The festival, which spans the beach between Santa Monica Pier and Bay Street, takes its name from the street where Allen Sides founded the Ocean Way Recording studios.
Caroline Torosis, mayor of the City of Santa Monica, said in a press release, “Santa Monica is in the middle of a renaissance. The city is welcoming the world to its shores, and Ocean Way Festival is how we're making sure our own community is at the center of it.”
With the iconic Santa Monica Pier framing the main stage, Ocean Way Festival brings together rock, indie, soul, house, and more across two stages for two full days. The festival has received full support from the City of Santa Monica and was christened with the name of the street, Ocean Way, where Allen Sides founded Ocean Way Recording Studios more than 40 years ago.
“Santa Monica has an incredible music history, and Goldenvoice has been fortunate to be part of that story,” said Nic Adler, VP Regional Festivals, Goldenvoice, in a press statement. “From legendary shows at the Civic Auditorium to the origins of Ocean Way Recording just steps from the beach, there’s a creative legacy here that’s unlike anywhere else. Ocean Way Festival is our opportunity to celebrate that history while building something that feels authentically Santa Monica for years to come.”
