Whale Rock Music and Arts Festival brings good vibes for a great cause
Everyone will get to fly their tie-dye when Whale Rock Music and Arts Festival gathers for the Whale Rock Music and Arts Festival on September 16-17, 2017, at Castoro Cellars in Templeton. Along with music will be great wines, craft beer, hard cider, and plenty of art to delight the eyes during the two-day fest.
Previously known as Beaverstock Music Festival, the celebration features a mélange of music, yoga and arts and crafts in the Whale Rock Vineyard adjacent Castoro Cellars’ winery and tasting room at 1315 North Bethel Road, located just off Hwy. 46 West in Templeton. The fun will begin midday and continue into the evening as the sun sets and the stars shine.
Eighteen performers are scheduled in the lineup throughout Saturday and Sunday. Featured headliners will take the mic both evenings, beginning at 8 p.m. The performers are: Michael Franti & Spearhead, Jamestown Revival, The Motet, Turkuaz, Las Cafeteras, Hot Buttered Rum, The Suffers, Bear Market Riot, Coffis Brothers and the Mountain Men, Proxima Parada, Shawn Clark Family Band, Dan Curcia, Samba Loca, The Cimo Brothers, The Turkey Buzzards, Hilary + Kate and Nicole Stromsoe.
Luke Udsen, Director of California Sales and Marketing at Castoro Cellars, is eagerly looking forward to this year’s performances. “I’m very excited for Michael Franti & Spearhead, plus Jamestown Revival. Both headliners bring a lot to the table and will leave our audience with great memories. My goal is to book music that people can feel, from the first note to the last.” And this year, Udsen’s selection is diverse. “We have soul, funk, rock, bluegrass, folk, Latin and more.”
Tickets are already selling like hotcakes. To make pre-sale purchases, view a schedule of performances, read complete information on each artist and listen to music samples, visit www.whalerockmusicfestival.com.
A choice of food vendors will provide plenty of choices who work up an appetite along with a generous assortment of grownup beverages to wash it down. There will even be dessert choices, too, including frozen yogurt, Kona Ice and gourmet desserts.
At Kit’s Corner, children’s activities will offer plenty to do for little ones at this family-friendly festival where they can enjoy face painting, games, a musical petting zoo, tie dye and more. At press time, full details are still in the works for the Artist Grove, where visitors can inspire their senses through displays, converse with local artists and receive discounts while supporting child education. Yoga classes to liberate and body will take place from 12 noon to 7:30 p.m. in one-hour sessions on both concert days.
Freewheeling fun for a creative cause
For all its freewheeling spirit, this annual event is a critical fundraiser for Templeton Music Education. In 2016, the music festival made good on its motto of “Celebrating Music and Community” when it donated $18,000 in revenues to Templeton Instrumental Music Boosters Association (TIMBA). Since 2013, Castoro Cellars founders Niels and Bimmer Udsen along with former Templeton High students Max and Luke, have leveraged time, effort and the success of their winery into the Templeton community to benefit youth arts and education.
Revenue from the 2016 Festival are benefitting Templeton High School students during the 2017 school year. These funds enable students to purchase uniforms, equipment and instruments financed by high school music program budgets, typically run on a shoestring. Not only do Templeton High students earn awards in regional music competitions and highly sought-after positions within the San Luis Obispo County Honor Band program, graduating students often seek to attain education and scholarship opportunities at a higher level.
TIMBA volunteers are active year-round. The nonprofit organization scrapes together funds through many fundraisers, but proceeds collected through the Whale Rock Music and Arts Festival are integral in helping to match Templeton music students’ efforts toward higher education.
The countryside venue is hard to beat. Oak trees draped with lichen among the vines, music, art, yoga, food, and friends and families enjoying it all provides for a most satisfying way to support music education in North County.
Visit www.whalerockmusicfestival.com. To volunteer, make donations or learn more about TIMBA, contact them at templetonbandboosters@gmail.com. Learn more about Beaverstock Music Festival by visiting www.castorocellars.com.