Returning for the eighth time since 2017, Happy Sundays, a free community-made, community-based “anti-festival,” will have it all in Long Beach’s Zaferia District on Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25. Known for giving comedians a platform and fostering independent artists, this year’s edition of Happy Sundays is introducing Space Talks and aerospace panels educating the community on development projects in the area. Among the artists and bands announced for the festival are Mike Watt & The Missingmen, Shamon Cassette, Soft Palms, Sego, Zzzahara, and many more. See the full lineup below!

“We’re trying to show that a different way is possible,” explain the founders of HAPPY SUNDAYS (Julia Kugel and Scott Montoya). “Concert tickets and music festivals have become pricey and somewhat detached and we’re trying to provide a more grassroots approach which benefits everyone involved. There’s more music out there than what’s on the radio and there’s alternatives to paying high ticket prices and hidden fees. This is the first year as a two-day fest and we’d like to eventually expand it to a week-long city-wide event. We’re stoked to be able to introduce the space talks to highlight the advancement in space travel and technology. Music and science are similar in that they both involve creativity and thinking outside the box,”.

“Independent venues are vital because they allow new artists to grow organically without the prejudice of likes and followers. The pandemic caused lots of independent music venues to get swallowed up by corporate promotion companies and majority of Long Beach’s independently owned music venues are in Zaferia and 4th St, which is where our fest takes place.”

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When and Where is Happy Sundays?

For its eighth year, Happy Sundays will return to Zaferia District, a haven for independent venues located in the heart of Long Beach, on Saturday, August 24, and Sunday, August 25. Unlike other festivals, Happy Sundays takes place across multiple venues in Long Beach, with comedy shows at Long Beach Playhouse, a Tattoo Heritage Project pop-up at Fear City Tattoo, and educational aerospace panels at Long Beach Art Theatre. 

Live performances will be at Alex’s Bar, Bamboo Club, Compound, and Port City Tavern. Although the festival is for all ages, bars such as Alex’s Bar and Port City Tavern are only for those 21 and older.

Since the festival is not limited to one space, times and locations may vary between the two days. We encourage you to look at everything scheduled and determine which events fit into your plan for Saturday and Sunday.

Who’s Performing at Happy Sundays?

San Pedro band Mike Watt & The Missingmen descends from a long history of combining punk with surf rock, jazz, and other genres under a West Coast flair. Watt, best known as the bassist of the Minutemen, formed the punk trio out of his other group, Mike Watt and the Secondmen, and continued to carry on a distinctly punk sound dominated by relentless drums.

Hot off two collaborative albums with Jaz Infinite and Al Lover, respectively, Shamon Cassette is a well-traveled musician whose eclectic songs take all possible sounds through a kaleidoscopic blender. Hailing from Japan, the LA-based artist seeks to find the spaces between a number of genres, ranging from lo-fi hip-hop to psych-rock. 

Consisting of Happy Sundays founders Julia Kugel and Scott Montoya, Soft Palms embrace a sunny brand of dream pop unique to them. With their 2020 self-titled debut, they showed off an acquired taste in influences defined by airy production present in the ethereal vocals echoing across all eight tracks.

Self-described as “art-punk by non-punk non-artists,” Utah-bred band Sego has gradually evolved since its inception as a duo. Whether it’s their inventive reimagining of Kendrick Lamar’s “YAH.” or the many melodic punk ballads on their latest project, TWO BOYS, the four-member band has no trouble moving crowds and creating intimate experiences.

Recently featured on TheMouth.TV, the presenters of Happy Sundays, LA native Zzzahara is consistently characterized by a sense of longing in their songs. Gaining recognition for their collaboration with Eyedress, known collectively as The Simps, their solo material is just as noteworthy, carrying a dreamy, brooding style of indie-rock.

Check out the full lineup below for more details.

ARTISTS YOU SHOULD KNOW

BEST NEW MUSIC

Why We Love Happy Sundays

Aside from being a free event that transcends strict classification, the passion and dedication to celebrating the creativity of the Long Beach community make Happy Sundays a wide-ranging festival for discovering talent. Proudly boasting the tagline “THERE’S MORE OUT THERE,” they have spotlighted up-and-coming artists in Southern California for over seven years, keeping locals as their focus on stage and in the crowd. You can read more about our love for Happy Sundays in our Free Outdoor Summer Concerts in Los Angeles list!

Visit Happy Sundays for more information about their 2024 festival.

Happy Sundays lineup

Mike Watt & The Missingmen
Shamon Cassette
Soft Palms
Sego
Zzzahara
Jagged Baptist Club
Nutt
Dream Phases
Fartbarf
M.O.T.O.
Sweat
Buzzed Lightyear
Mood
Laena Myers
Auxilio
Hex Code
Robber
Gazoota
Asi Fui
Blanco Niño
George Sarah Ensemble
Clown Sounds
Sleeperz
Furcast
Egg Drop Soup
Golden Ram
The Holycuts
Self Improvement
Sharpie Smile
Pop Hysteria
Adam Topol
Rose Haze
Soundfrom
Jennie Cotterill
Jason Achilles
Breatherrr
Cassowary
Unguarded
Mad Menace & The Murder Dogs
Decent Times
Icky & The Splooges