presents
A Benefit for Templeton Music Education
Follow Whale Rock on Instagram @whalerockmusicfestival
September 14th & 15th 2024, Paso Robles, CA
9/14 the head & the heart 8pm
2023 has been a whirlwind year for The Head And The Heart. The acclaimed Seattle band sold out the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre for the seventh time, co-headlined a tour with The Revivalists and Father John Misty, and announced their own boutique two-day music festival in Napa, CA, Down in The Valley. Initially self-released in 2011, The Head And The Heart’s self-titled breakout debut produced instant classics including “Rivers and Roads,” “Down In The Valley” and “Lost In My Mind” (#1 at AAA) and is now Certified Gold. With high energy performances and beautiful harmonies, they are not to be missed.
9/14 theo katzman 6pm
You've seen him strut the stage with Vulfpeck at the World's Greatest Arena. You've seen his name in the credits of your favorite artist's favorite album.
You've seen footage from his sold-out 2020 tour and thought: is that grown man really singing an A above high C? Well...forget ALL that s**t...and dig this: Life is short. Love is eternal. Theo Katzman has captured his fiercest flame on his new album: Be The Wheel. He brings his staunchly synergistic, sober psychedelic, seeker-sensitive soul service to a HERE near you, at a NOW near then. He aims to pierce your heart. His aim is true.
Will you join us?
9/14 Cool cool cool 4:15pm
Cool Cool Cool blends the best of Funk, House and R&B to create a sound that is truly unique. With dynamic female-led vocals, a tight horn section, swirling synths and a rhythm section that lays down a wicked groove, this band knows how to deliver an electrifying performance. When you see Cool Cool Cool in person, you'll be swept up by the energy of their music and unforgettable live show.After spending more than a decade traveling the world together with the touring act Turkuaz, the members of Cool Cool Cool decided to team up and form their own band in 2022.
9/14 jackie venson 2:30pm
Jackie Venson is a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter known far and wide for her beautifully complex music and blazing guitar skills. Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Jackie has traveled the world playing to crowds both as a headliner and as support for major acts such as Keb' Mo', Gary Clark Jr, Aloe Blacc, Melissa Etheridge, and Citizen Cope, to name a few. With the uncertainty of the times we're living in, one thing holds true for Jackie Venson-she's going to play her music, speak her truth, and spread as much joy as she can doing it.
9/14 Broken compass bluegrass 1:00pm
Broken Compass Bluegrass is leading the way in the contemporary bluegrass revival, combining tradition with innovation in a way that appeals to both longtime fans and new listerners alike. Their live performances are characterized by tight harmonies, truly impressive solos, and an indeniable joy that permeates with every note they play. The band's repertoire includes numerous original compositions as well as fresh takes on timeless classics, all delivered with their own distinctive style. From the moment they take the stage, it's clear that Broken Compass Bluegrass is something different.
~ Stomping grounds stage ~
9/14 jackie venson 7:30pm
Jackie Venson is a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter known far and wide for her beautifully complex music and blazing guitar skills. Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Jackie has traveled the world playing to crowds both as a headliner and as support for major acts such as Keb' Mo', Gary Clark Jr, Aloe Blacc, Melissa Etheridge, and Citizen Cope, to name a few. With the uncertainty of the times we're living in, one thing holds true for Jackie Venson-she's going to play her music, speak her truth, and spread as much joy as she can doing it.
9/14 sam chase & the untraditional 3:45 & 5:30pm
The Sam Chase & The Untraditional hails from San Francisco, California. This juggernaut of a band blends rock n roll with folk music while maintaining the sensibilities and attitudes that come from growing up on a healthy diet of punk rock. The leader of the band is The Sam Chase himself, a natural storyteller with a voice that sounds as if it has weathered many an epic tale. With boot stomping orchestration and lyrics that have been immortalized on the tattooed skin of their fans, The Sam Chase & The Untraditional doesn’t mess around.
9/14 brash mash 2:00pm
Brash Mash is SLO County’s premier brass band, formed in 2015 by Colin Dean. The band seamlessly blends together your favorite hits in unexpected ways, making for a show that keeps you on your toes or the edge of your seat, however it’s highly doubtful you’ll be sitting at a Brass Mash show!
9/14 late for the train 12pm
Late for the Train is a modern string band rooted in American folk and bluegrass music. Infused with the honest depth of the coastal redwood forests and the heartfelt community of Northern California, the group provides a playful and poignant musical experience that uplifts the spirit and rouses the soul.
9/15 vulfpeck 8pm
Vulfpeck is an American funk band founded in 2011 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, by Jack Stratton, Theo Katzman, Woody Goss and Joe Dart. The band has released four extended plays, six studio albums and one live album through their own record label. The band gained recognition in 2014 for releasing Sleepify, a silent album that exposed a loophole in Spotify's royalty distribution and funded an admission-free tour. The band is one of the first to sell out Madison Square Garden without a manager or backing label, and released the recorded performance as a live album in 2019.
9/15 Allison russell 6:00pm
Since the release of her first solo album two years ago, the self-taught singer, songwriter, poet, activist, and multi-instrumentalist, Allison Russell has redefined what artistry means in the 21st century. Outside Child, her often devastating, deeply moving, cathartic celebration of survivor’s joy, has become one of the most acclaimed albums of the past 10 years (various honors include three GRAMMY Award nominations, the Juno Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year, the 2022 Americana Music Association’s Album of the Year Award, two International Folk Music Awards, three Canadian Folk Music Awards, and four UK Americana Music Awards).
9/15 ALO 4:15pm
ALO is a lot of things. Put simply, it’s a rock band, a family, an artistic outlet, a community, a business. But that only scratches the surface of this 3O-year musical vision-quest. ALO is an adventure, it’s a Spring break road trip to Colorado, it’s an all-night drive from Salt Lake City to San Jose. It’s the comfort of hanging out with life-long friends, of relaxing on a couch and finding treasures hidden in its cushions. It’s a coffee table full of amazing books on art, philosophy and music. It feels old and new, fresh and classic.
9/15 dustbowl revival 2:30pm
Dustbowl Revival has always been about pushing the boundaries of what American roots music can be. After celebrating over a decade of sonic adventuring and playing thousands of shows together in ten countries and counting, the group collected a devoted fanbase coast-to-coast. After throwing five of their own virtual Sway-At-Home festivals during the shut-down featuring nearly forty artists, the always evolving group of string and brass players led by founding members Z. Lupetin, Josh Heffernan, Ulf Bjorlin are excited to welcome a new wave of talent to the band, after emerging from a pandemic touring hiatus.
9/15 rainbow girls 1:00pm & 5:30pm
Rainbow Girls are an eclectic folk trio hailing from the golden countryside just north of California’s Bay Area. Vanessa May, Erin Chapin, and Caitlin Gowdey seamlessly combine soul-touching harmonies, varitextured instrumentals, and poignant lyrical content into a beautiful sonic tapestry. Throughout their performance, voices are paired with an ever-changing amalgamation of acoustic and slide guitar, keys, upright bass, harmonica, and an array of vocal techniques creating an engaging and often emotionally moving live show.
~ Stomping Grounds Stage ~
9/15 samba loca 7:30pm
Samba Loca is an afro-brazilian drum line that has lit up the crowd for four consecutive years at Whale Rock Music and Arts Festival. Their march comes just before the Sunday night headlining artist and is not to be missed!
9/15 dustbowl revival 5:30pm
Dustbowl Revival has always been about pushing the boundaries of what American roots music can be. After celebrating over a decade of sonic adventuring and playing thousands of shows together in ten countries and counting, the group collected a devoted fanbase coast-to-coast. After throwing five of their own virtual Sway-At-Home festivals during the shut-down featuring nearly forty artists, the always evolving group of string and brass players led by founding members Z. Lupetin, Josh Heffernan, Ulf Bjorlin are excited to welcome a new wave of talent to the band, after emerging from a pandemic touring hiatus.
9/15 Broken Compass bluegrass 3:30pm
Broken Compass Bluegrass is leading the way in the contemporary bluegrass revival, combining tradition with innovation in a way that appeals to both longtime fans and new listerners alike. Their live performances are characterized by tight harmonies, truly impressive solos, and an indeniable joy that permeates with every note they play. The band's repertoire includes numerous original compositions as well as fresh takes on timeless classics, all delivered with their own distinctive style.
9/15 max maclaury 2:00pm
Inspired by old jazz crooners, San Luis Obispo singer-songwriter Max MacLaury and his band are known for captivating vocals, honest songs and raw energy on the stage. They are creating their own sound ranging from Americana/ Country to Indie Rock evoking a sense of nostalgia. It truly is music that inspires main character moments. His band consists of local musicians on the central coast: Chris Stephens on guitar, Ryan House on drums and Mike Jay on bass. When together they are known as The Compromisers.