Kaaboo Brings a Weekend of Music and Culture to San Diego Bay, Leaving Fans Full of Memories, Good and Bad

Matt Corkill

Kaaboo came back to Del Mar racetrack for three days of incredible music and hilarious standup, while also showcasing various mediums of visual and culinary arts. Day one was packed with talent. Attendees had to opportunity to jam out with Sugar Ray, Gavin Degraw and the Gin Blossoms at the Trestles Stage while Hall and Oates fans and the Parrot-heads enjoyed a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” with Jimmy Buffett at the Sunset Cliffs main stage. At the Grandview stage to fans could “Dance, Dance” with Fall Out Boy while fire dancers and pyrotechnics lit up the sky.   

Over at the Humor Me stage, people had the chance to enjoy some shade while sharing a laugh with the likes of Doug Benson or to be speed roasted by “Roast Master General” himself, Jeff Ross.  Day one came to a close with Dana Carvey bringing his zany observations about everything from the election to what he has learned from millennials before making sure to “hurry up his set so we can all get over to DJ Snoopy.” DJ Snoopadelic (Snoop Dogg) came out for a full DJ set, occasionally rapping over the tracks and even threw in Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” for his friend Jeff Ross.  

Day two was an incredible day of headlining artists, fans had the chance to rock with Collective Soul and The Struts, groove with Steel Pulse and Flo Rida before the Goo Goo Dolls and Third Eye Blind brought everyone back to their past. Over at the Sunset Cliffs stage fans got to rock out “Fly Away” with Lenny Kravitz before getting “Back into the Saddle Again” with Aerosmith, who clearly shook off any rust or arguments amongst themselves to put on an full-bore rock show, with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry effortlessly showing why they are living legends.    

The second night closed on a sour note with Ludacris and Steve Aoki headlining the Encore stage for an overcapacity crowd that left many crammed and crowded outside of the venue. Unfortunately for Ludacris and Aoki (who both came out and crushed their sets respectively) the evening was marred by chaos and violence when police used pepper spray to disperse the crowd, with some also being shoved and slammed against fences and barricades.

Day three brought new life and energy to Kaaboo with a more laid back lineup featuring Jason Isbell and The Avett Brothers, with Jack Johnson headlining the main Sunset Cliffs stage. Over on the Grandview stage it became reggae Sunday with the Aggrolites, The Green with their island vibes, G. Love & Special Sauce, Cypress Hill celebrating their 25th anniversary in style, and Rebelution headlining to remind fans that they are “Too Blessed to be Stressed,”

Throughout the weekend, festival goers had the opportunity to take advantage of the craft beverages and culinary treats all around them, with artists who could be seen creating murals and performance artists dressed as animals walking around on stilts. In the Indulgences section attendees had a variety of options from beauty products to full massages. Inside of the Palette and Art area was a huge selection of various artists and a choice selection of gourmet eateries to renew their energy.   

If EDM was more their speed they also had the option of going over to the “Silent Disco” area near Grandview, where various DJ’s played tracks into the headphones each were handed as they entered. It was very interesting to see people rocking out and dancing to silence.

Kaaboo Del Mar was an incredible weekend of art, comedy, music and food that took place over Sept. 16-18 at the Del Mar Racetracks.