With sun shining just about every day, Southern California is the music festival capital of the world. Home to Coachella, the biggest and most popular music festival in California, there is basically a festival popping off every month in Southern California, especially in or around our great city of Los Angeles.
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If you’re looking for a California music festival to attend in the winter or spring months, we have laid out the best music festivals for you to select from, and they’re ordered chronologically (by date). Best of all, these music festivals all provide something for every niche. Whether you’re looking for a hip hop festival or a post punk / new wave music festival, or maybe an EDM fest in Southern California, we got you covered. These music festivals are also a perfect alternative to Coachella.
We’ll be giving away tickets and weekend passes to many of these music festivals (we’ve already started!). Be sure to sign up for our newsletter and / or follow us on Instagram to score some tix.
1. Skyline LA
When: February 25-26, 2023
Where: Expo Park
Who’s Performing: Diplo, Dom Dolla, Meduza, Peggy Gou, Charlotte de Witte, Michael Bibi, & more
Why?: For starters, Skyline is LA’s biggest house and techno event. Diplo is headlining, and you know he always bring the party! But it doesn’t stop there, the entire lineup is bangin’ and every EDM lovers dream. Music will be non-stop across two stages at Expo Park. This festival is 90 percent sold-out! Get your tickets now to ensure you entry!
If you want to press your luck, you can follow us on Instagram where we will be giving away a couple pairs of weekend passes to Skyline, or sign up for our mailing list where we usually drop giveaways first!
2. CRSSD Festival (Spring)
When: March 4-5, 2023
Where: Waterfront Park, San Diego
Who’s Performing: Polo and Pan, Odesza, Kavinsky, Bedouin, Luna Li, and more.
Why?: Um, all we have to say is POLO AND PAN AND ODESZA!!! But also, the entire lineup is unique and honestly, a breath of fresh salty sea air. CRSSD is a great music festival for festival goers that love to dance. Mix that with the Waterfront location on the San Diego Bay, you can’t go wrong with this beautiful setting. It’s all about those chill beach vibes, as well as having the option to dance all day and all night long.
Grab yo’ tickets before they run out.
3. Beyond Wonderland
When: March 24-25, 2023
Where: NOS Events Center (San Bernardino)
Who’s Performing: Kaskade, Tiesto, Wax Motif, AC Slater, Deorro, Elephante, Ellen Allien, Felix Da Housecat, Ferry Corsten, Flosstradamu & a lot more.
Why?: From old school to new school, all you ravers and club kids need to fall into the vibrant dream that is Beyond Wonderland. Bring the good vibes, open your mind and be ready to dance, connect and love until the wee hours.
Tickets are on sale now, grab them before they disappear into the rabbit hole.
5. Punk In The Park Ventura
When: March 25, 2023
Where: Ventura County Fairgrounds
Who’s Performing: Pennywise and Suicidal Tendencies, along with Strung Out, Fear, Manic Hispanic, Dwarves, The Bronx, Drain, Deviates, Slaughterhouse, Raptors, and more.
Why?: Following successes in Orange County and beyond, Punk in the Park is planning to rock yet another West Coast city in 2023 – Ventura. Punk in the Park Ventura is a dual-stage event featuring headliners Pennywise and Suicidal Tendencies. The unlimited craft beer tasting of over 80 different beers is an added bonus for those who are 21+, the coastal location of the Ventura County Fairgrounds is idyllic, and the incredible lineup is just the icing on the cake.
Tickets to Punk In The Park are on sale now.
6. BeachLife Festival
When: May 5-7, 2023
Where: Redondon Beach, CA
Who’s Performing: Gwen Stefani, The Black Keys, Pixies, Modest Mouse, Tegan and Sara, Band of Horses, The Head and the Heart, Mavis Staples & a lot more.
Why?: On the waterfront in Redondo Beach and boasting that coveted So Cal lifestyle, BeachLife is steps away from the big blue Pacific Ocean and is the perfect music festival for anyone that wants to experience Southern California beach culture. Not only is the lineup ripe with a little something for everyone, but this is also a great music festival choice for foodies. Read on!
Tickets are on sale now, grab them before they disappear into the rabbit hole.
7. The Palm Tree Music Festival
When: May 13, 2023
Where: Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, CA
Who’s Performing: Kygo, Ellie Goulding, Tove Lo, The Midnight, The Knocks, & a lot more.
Why?: Similar to BeachLife festival, The Palm Tree Music Festival will also take place on the sand boasting some epic ocean views. With a focus on dance music, luxury and tropical vibes — Palm Tree is also a great choice for those that prefer a 1-day festival as opposed to a weekend bender!
Tickets are on sale now, grab them before they disappear into the rabbit hole.
8. Just Like Heaven
When: May 12, 2023
Where: Brookside Park at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, CA
Who’s Performing: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, MGMT, Future Islands, Empire of The Sun, M83, Hot Chip, Fever Ray, Peaches, The Sounds, The Faint & a lot more.
Why?: Another favorite of ours, dance punk and electro-pop is alive and well at Just Like Heaven. Each time we attend this festival it’s always one of our most favorite music festival experiences of the year, boasting a throwback indie lineup that makes you fawn over the days you’d burn a mixed CD for your crush.
Tickets to Juse Like Heaven are now availableto the general public! Grab them before they’re gone!
9. Cruel World
When: May 20, 2023
Where: Brookside Park at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, CA
Who’s Performing: Siouxsie and The Banshees, Iggy Pop, Billy Idol, Love and Rockets, Adam Ant, Echo & The Bunnymen, Molchat Doma, The Soft Moon & a lot more.
Why?: Since it’s inception in 2022 (announced in 2020, but we all know what stopped live music that year…), Cruel World has stood firm as one of the best niche music festivals, if not the best. Truly a Gen X’ers and old-er Millenial’s dream, especially for early goths and punks. This year’s lineup has us falling at our knees yelling “we are not worthy!” This year marks Siouxsie’s first North American performance in 15 years. The legendary, Iggy Pop, the writer of “The Passenger” famously covered by Siouxsie, will also be performing. AND! Love and Rockets are making a grand return to the stage as the band last performed together in 2008.
As expected, tickets are sold-out, but you can join the waitlist or cross your fingers and eyes that they announce a second festival date like they did in 2022. You can also spend the extra dough on some resell tickets.
10. Sick New World
When: May 12, 2023
Where: Las Vegas Fair Grounds
Who’s Performing: System Of A Down, Korn, Deftones, Incubus, Evanescence, Turnstile, Chevelle, Mr. Bungle, Papa Roach, Death Grips, Flyleaf, Placebo, HO9909, Melvins, HEALTH, Spiritbox, Failure, The Sisters of Mercy and a lot more.
Why?: Okay, okay, Sick New World is not in Southern California, but it’s close enough and we are so amped over the lineup! The inaugural Sick New World Festival boasts a stacked lineup of bands from the hard rock and al genres including: headliners System Of A Down, Korn, Deftones and Incubus — along with over 50 artists
Unfortunately, Sick New World sold-out almost instantly. Its niche throwback hard rock lineup really appealed to many. If you really want to attend this epic music festival you can try purchasing resale tickets via VividSeats. We prefer this option when all else fails because they offer a 100% Buyer Guarantee.
BONUS: Rolling Loud California
When: March 3-5, 2023
Where: Hollywood Park (adjacent to SoFi Stadium)
Who’s Performing: Travis Scott, Future, Playboi Carti, Saweetie, Kamaiyah & more
Why?: As the “world’s premier rap festival brand,” this year will be in sunny Los Angeles boasting over 100 acts that rule he hip hop and rap scene. From lesser known and underground names, to some of the biggest rap heavyweights, Rolling Loud California is the festival for all you hip hop heads.
Grab yo’ tickets before they run out.
More Music Festivals Options Instead of Coachella
Stay tuned for our Best Summer Music Festivals in 2023 edition.
