The fifth annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival is happening in Monterey, California for the entire Memorial Day weekend, and it is sure to draw attention with its phenomenal lineup, artsy environment, and getaways at nearby hotels, camping sites, and neighborhood cities. With all days sold-out last year, this Cali’ Roots Fest, as it is also known, will surely sell out again as Top Shelf Reggae believes it is the most sought-after festival in California! The festival features live art and 48 reggae and rock bands on three stages- with one of those stages used by such legendary bands and musicians as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and most recently, Mumford and Sons. With some of reggae’s most-influential and current artists, such as Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Ziggy Marley, Steel Pulse, Alborosie, 311, and SOJA, this festival is sure to please any and all heavy-hitter fans!

The festival features live art and 48 reggae and rock bands on three stages

The Cali’ Roots Fest features music on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and gives you time to recover from all the good vibes on Monday- Memorial Day- a great day to remember good souls who fought for this great country! This well-organized festival has your entire weekend covered, and it starts early- on Friday- with some nice California music from such bands as The Stircrazies, The Simpkin Project, and The Expanders, and ending the night with Steel Pulse and SOJA. Camp out, or visit surrounding areas and head back Saturday to catch Ziggy Marley, Alborosie, and Rebelution, as well as some other well-known bands! Finish the weekend with The Green, 311, Pepper, and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, and let the musical weekend take you away, get you home safely, and have you crave even more irie music!

There are some changes this year to the event! Camping is available at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Campgrounds for tent and RV camping, and a shuttle will be operating from 9AM-1AM each day. The current cost for camping per day starts at $35, and a shuttle pass has three day options starting at $40 for all three days! (Not bad for NOT getting a D.U.I. in the great State of California!) Parking will also cost festival-goers as it is being offered at Monterey Peninsula College with shuttle service as well. The three day parking passes are currently on sale for $80, with parking starting at 4pm on Friday, and two-day and single day passes also available. Such information can be found on the California Roots Festival website, under the FAQs section, including camping information and even a link to hotel information.

For those 21 and up and planning to party even harder, the people of California Roots have teamed up to bring you more live music at Planet Gemini, a venue located across the fairgrounds. It all starts on Thursday night with a pre-party featuring Thrive and Arise Roots, and also featuring such bands as Natural Vibrations and Dub Architect the next couple of nights.

music fans are gonna pack up and head out to the Monterey County Fair and Events Center for the great-vibes that is the California Roots Music and Arts Festival

California Roots 2014 Lineup

FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2014 SOJA

Steel Pulse

JBoog

Katchafire

Stick Figure

Passafire

B Side Players

Cisco Adler

Kimie

Maoli

The Expanders

Simpkin Project

Bumpin Uglies

The Steppas

The Stircrazies

Reeform SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2014 Rebelution

Ziggy Marley

Iration

Zion I

Alborosie

Nahko And The Medicine For The People

Aer

Los Rakas

Cas Haley

Katastro

Saritah

True Press

Ojo De Buey

Tatanka

Papafish

Dewey & The Peoples SUNDAY, MAY 25, 2014 Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley

311

Pepper

The Green

Skunk Records 25th Anniversary Live On Stage

Groundation

The Movement

New Kingston

Hirie

Micah Brown

Beyond I Sight – Featuring Gonzo

Krooked Treez

Clear Conscience

Black Salt Tone

Iriefuse

White Glove Service

Local Points of Interest

Pre-festival Breakfast and Brunch Spots

We've compiled a list of nearby eateries serving up the best breakfasts and brunches in town within a reasonable distance. Top Shelf Reggae recommends having lunch and dinner within the festival grounds, because who wants to miss a performance? Downtime between sets can be very minimal.

Black Bear Diner (American, breakfast, diners)

2450 N. Fremont St

Monterey, CA 93942

Phone number (831) 645-9700

0.6 miles away

Fri 6:00 am – 10:00 pm

Sat 6:00 am – 10:00 pm

Sun 6:00 am – 10:00 pm

2450 N. Fremont St Monterey, CA 93942 Phone number (831) 645-9700 0.6 miles away Fri 6:00 am – 10:00 pm Sat 6:00 am – 10:00 pm Sun 6:00 am – 10:00 pm Denny’s (American)

2130 Fremont St

Monterey, CA 93940

Phone number (831) 372-1655

0.2 miles away

Open 24 hours

2130 Fremont St Monterey, CA 93940 Phone number (831) 372-1655 0.2 miles away Open 24 hours Mundos Cafe (Sandwiches)

2233 N Fremont St

Monterey, CA 93940

Phone number (831) 656-9244

0.3 miles away

Fri 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Sat 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Sun 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Monterey Cookhouse (American, BBQ, pizza)

2149 Fremont St

Monterey, CA 93940

Phone number (831) 642-9900

0.2 miles away

Fri 11:30 am – 10:00 pm

Sat 9:30 am – 10:00 pm

Sun 9:30 am – 9:30 pm

2149 Fremont St Monterey, CA 93940 Phone number (831) 642-9900 0.2 miles away Fri 11:30 am – 10:00 pm Sat 9:30 am – 10:00 pm Sun 9:30 am – 9:30 pm Pico de Gallo (Mexican)

2240 Del Monte Ave

Monterey, CA 93940

Phone number (831) 643-2000

0.5 miles away

Fri 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

Sat 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

Sun 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

2240 Del Monte Ave Monterey, CA 93940 Phone number (831) 643-2000 0.5 miles away Fri 11:00 am – 9:00 pm Sat 11:00 am – 9:00 pm Sun 11:00 am – 9:00 pm Grandma’s Kitchen (Breakfast & Brunch)

2310 Fremont St

Monterey, CA 93940

Phone number (831) 375-3033

0.4 miles away

Nearby Hotels

If roughing it under the stars isn't your thing (and sometimes we can't blame you), here is a list of recommended California Roots hotels that are situated less than a mile away from the fairgrounds. Availability is not guaranteed and rooms are filling up fast, so please make sure to call in advance to check.

El Castel

2102 N Fremont St

Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 372-8176

2102 N Fremont St Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 372-8176 Super 8 Monterey

2120 North Fremont St

Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 649-4740

2120 North Fremont St Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 649-4740 Candle Bay Inn

2118 N. Fremont St

Monterey, CA 93940

(800) 628-1094

2118 N. Fremont St Monterey, CA 93940 (800) 628-1094 Quality Inn Monterey

2075 Fremont St

Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 373-5551

2075 Fremont St Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 373-5551 Bayside Inn

2055 North Fremont Blvd.

Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 372-8071

2055 North Fremont Blvd. Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 372-8071 Comfort Inn Monterey

2050 North Fremont St,

Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 373-3081 Ramada Limited Monterey

2058 North Fremont St

Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 375-9511

2058 North Fremont St Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 375-9511 Red Roof Inn

2227 North Fremont St

Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 372-7586

2227 North Fremont St Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 372-7586 Rodeway Inn Monterey

2041 Fremont St

Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 373-2911

2041 Fremont St Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 373-2911 Lone Oak Lodge

2221 N. Fremont St

Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 372-4924

2221 N. Fremont St Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 372-4924 Best Western Ramona Inn

2332 Fremont St

Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 373-2445

2332 Fremont St Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 373-2445 Casa Verde Inn

2113 Fremont St

Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 375-5407 Best Western

2141 Fremont St

Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 646-8300

2141 Fremont St Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 646-8300 Hyatt Regency Monterey

1 Old Golf Course Rd

Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 372-2334

1 Old Golf Course Rd Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 372-2334 Monterey Oceanside Inn

2030 Del Monte Ave

Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 375-4451

2030 Del Monte Ave Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 375-4451 Discovery Inn

1106 Fremont Blvd

Seaside, CA 93955

(831) 394-3113

1106 Fremont Blvd Seaside, CA 93955 (831) 394-3113 Fireside Lodge

1131 Tenth St

Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 373-4172

The California Roots Music and Arts Festival is one-in-its-kind because it brings reggae/rock musicians from all over, and gives each one an opportunity to shine among the coast of the beautiful California atmosphere! With the event happening on the holiday weekend of May 23-25th, many music fans are gonna pack up and head out to the Monterey County Fair and Events Center for the great-vibes that is the California Roots Music and Arts Festival- offering music from some of the greatest bands and artists in the scene. For more information, check out the California Roots Festival website or contact them by following this link.

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