Message in a BottleRock

BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival

1) The Music

The Killers went over curfew with a glitzy golden encore, Billy Idol took his shirt off, Snoop Dogg brought dancers, and The Chainsmokers put on a rave. And that was the PG stuff! Over 80 musical acts performed on five music stages during the three days of BottleRock. Headliners Bruno Mars, The Killers, and Muse brought their unique styles and superb energy, but there was plenty more.

 

The JaM Cellars Stage rocked with performances by The Struts, Alice Merton, Billy Idol, Halsey, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Lake Street Drive, and Bleachers, among others. The Midway Stage shook with Shakey Graves, pulsated with Phantogram, couldn't get enough E-40, and chill-danced with Thievery Corporation. The Lagunitas Stage also featured  great performances, including NPR Tiny Desk alum Tank & The Bangas (who were superb).

2) The Food!

Culinary stars Giada De Lauentiis, Masaharu Morimoto, Hubert Keller, Johnny Sánchez, and Trisha Yearwood brought their foodie A-game for demonstrations and conversations at The Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage. Shaun White, Laila Ali, Barry Bonds, Halsey and a bunch of other celebrities took part in cooking demos and thoroughly entertaining mashups blending food, music, and mixology.

Napa Valley has more Michelin stars per capita than any other wine region in the world, and BottleRock serves up the tastiest from the region’s best chefs and restaurants—from vegan Thai to juicy beef sliders, and everything (literally everything) in between. Participating restaurants included Morimoto, Mustards Grill, FARM at Carneros, Goose & Gander, and Brix.

3) The Wine (the beer, and the cocktails)

Rosé all day or rocking red and deep, you’re in Napa Valley: Of course the wine is gonna be phenomenal! From Stag’s Leap and Etude to JaM Cellars, Miner Cellars and St. Supery, BottleRock poured on the wine charm. There was plenty of craft beer too, including Lagunitas, who brought the hop with their IPA and Little Sumpin' Sumpin'. Meanwhile, Milagro Tequila’s namesake pink Paloma kept things colorful, and Hendrick’s tasty Gin Sun God cocktail was most certainly responsible for bringing out the sunshine after an overcast start.

4) The People (All 120,000 of them!)

BottleRock totally sold out for Memorial Day Weekend 2018, with people coming from across the state and country to take part in the experience. With increased space for attendees, grass lawns galore, big stages, awesome video walls, and more seating (including shaded areas) BottleRock is set up so you can get from show to show within minutes, and enjoy the food, drinks, and other cool events happening on-site.

5) The Special Extras

From the little things like the VIP's Acoustic Stage featuring more intimate performances by the artists, to the silent disco featuring The White Panda and Warren G, BottleRock is a an experience where there's something for everyone. Okay, okay, there's a Spa there, too ... because while you're having a great time relaxing to the music, food, and drinks, a massage is most definitely in order!

BottleRock returns May 24–26, 2019.

Photos: Courtesy BottleRock Napa Valley

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. A man takes a break at a temple spot on a hike at Dragon Mountain in Milptas

    Dragon Quest

    The newly reopened, 4-mile out-and-back hike at Dragon Mountain in Milpitas mixes the physical with the spiritual for a serene hiking experience.

    View
  2. Keough's Hot Springs

    Soaking Up History

    When you slide into the soothing water of Keough’s Hot Springs, you’re bathing in a piece of Owens Valley history.

    View
  3. woman hiking Buck Gulch Falls Novato

    Buck Wild!

    Tucked back beyond the residential ranch-style homes and golf courses of Novato in the North Bay is a wild and wondrous 30-foot waterfall that springs to life in the rainy season. Buck Gulch Falls in Novato’s Ignacio Valley Preserve is in peak flow right now, and it’s a short and Middle-earthy hike to reach it.

    View
  4. Grover Hot Springs

    State Park Soaker

    Set in an alpine meadow at 6,000 feet and surrounded by the 10,000-foot granite peaks of the Sierra, Grover Hot Springs State Park—just outside the town of Markleeville—has its very own hot springs.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. A woman stands at Dante's View in Death Valley, looking out to Telescope Peak and Manly Lake, Badwater Basin below.

    Sunset Hike at Dante's View

    It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. Right now there's a banner and bonus view of a rare lake formation that appears only after big rains.

    View
  2. Hot, Wet, and Wild!

    At Wild Willy’s Hot Springs, you can soak up a primeval landscape that’s amazingly close to Mammoth Lakes and Highway 395—it just feels a few geological epochs away.

    View
  3. It's a Waterfall Life

    Tahquitz Canyon’s crystalline stream and lush stands of desert lavender, honey mesquite, and leafy sycamores is home to an easy day hike with a big bonus: a 60-foot waterfall that runs with remarkable gusto after winter rains.

    View
  4. Oh Snow Nice

    Live in California long enough, and you’ll come to know the rite of passage called “going to the snow”–when we ditch our fair-weather cities and towns in search of winter weather. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks deliver a winter wonderland worth a visit if there’s been a good dose of snow.

    View