By Charlie Swanson
Heading into its fourth year, the North Bay’s big and bold BottleRock Napa Valley music, wine and food festival has announced the lineup for 2016, taking place May 27-29, with headliners the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Wonder and Florence + the Machine.
“Last year went very well,” says Dave Graham, CEO of Latitude 38 Entertainment, the festival’s organizing group. “And the day after, we started anew and reviewed everyone from customers to vendors and partners to figure out where we can improve, and we have been working diligently on that all year.”
That work includes booking bands for the current festival even before last year’s started. “That’s how competitive the festival market can be,” Graham says.
Also confirmed are The Lumineers, Death Cab for Cutie, Lenny Kravitz, Walk the Moon, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Ziggy Marley, Grouplove, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Gogol Bordello, Cold War Kids, Buddy Guy, Jamestown Revival, Ozomatli, Pimps of Joytime, The Pharcyde, Langhorne Slim & the Law and many others.
North Bay and Bay Area talent will also be on display once again this year, with festival favorites Moonalice appearing, as well as Diego’s Umbrella, Royal Jelly Jive, The Deadlies, The Iron Heart, Anadel and more.
“This year, with the credibility we were able to build with the industry and our customers, we’ve been able to bring on an amazing lineup of artists,” Graham says.
Fans of the massively popular Red Hot Chili Peppers will be glad to hear that the flashy funk rockers, who’ve been relatively quiet since releasing their last album in 2011, spent last year back in the studio and are gearing up for a massive 2016, including a top spot at BottleRock.
Soul and Motown legend Stevie Wonder last year proved that he was still one of the most in-demand singers and performers today with an extended, sold-out North American tour, Songs in the Key of Life, a stage adaptation of his ambitious 1976 album of the same name.
London’s longtime indie rock sensation Florence + the Machine round out the headliners for BottleRock 2016 with their own, artful baroque pop fronted by the stunning voice of lead singer Florence Welch.
“We are incredibly excited about what we have in store this year,” Graham says.
BottleRock Napa Valley takes place May 27–29 at the Napa Valley Expo, 575 Third St., Napa. Tickets go on sale Jan 7; bottlerocknapavalley.com.
