presents

A Benefit for Templeton Music Education

Follow Whale Rock on Instagram @whalerockmusicfestival

September 19th & 20th 2026, Paso Robles, CA

Tickets

9/19 Local Natives 8pm

Torchbearers of the Southern California band sound, Local Natives first drew attention in 2009 when their debut album, Gorilla Manor, grabbed fans with its vibrant mix of kinetic, complex rhythms and soaring harmonies. The album drew praise for its enthusiastic balance of post-punk urgency and evocative lyricism. In 2013, the group expanded upon that sound, exploring a darker, more introspective aesthetic on their follow-up, Hummingbird (produced by Aaron Dessner of The National). Their third album, Sunlit Youth, arrived in the summer of 2016 via Infectious and Loma Vista Recordings. Its globe trotting writing process found the group experimenting with production techniques and expanding their palette of instruments. The classic studio setting is juxtaposed on Local Natives’ fourth full-length, Violet Street [Loma Vista Recordings] with modern production and visuals to form a timeless album. The band’s signature soaring 3-part harmonies are augmented by loops of tape, physically spliced and transformed by hand, the result of experimenting in the studio with producer Shawn Everett (Alabama Shakes, Kacey Musgraves, The War On Drugs).

9/19 cimafunk 6pm

With a name and image that pays tribute to the Cimarrons – Cubans of African descent that resisted slavery – and music and showmanship that re-embodies funk legends from the last century, the medical-school student turned funk artist has developed into a musical force crafting the sonic future of the island and a global, cultural phenomenon that unites and celebrates blackness across borders, oceans and languages. Performing with La Tribu (The Tribe), his 9-piece band from Havana, Cimafunk has electrified global audiences on massive stages and worldwide temples of music, making a name for himself as one of the great showmen of today. After three consecutive Grammy nominations, a Latin Grammy nomination for “Record of the Year” and becoming the first Cuban born artist to play Coachella, you can find Cimafunk at New Orleans Jazz Fest, performing at the Kennedy Center Honors, lighting up NPR’s Tiny Desk, rocking stages in Japan or Australia, or hanging with the Godfather of Funk George Clinton.

9/19 dylan chambers 4:15pm

Ever since he was singing along to “Hound Dog” as a kid, Dylan Chambers has known the value of diving deeply through the technicolor whirlpool of musical history. The LA-based singer-songwriter dances and dives his way from ‘50s rock to ‘70s soul, modern pop to vintage funk, treating each with reverence and pulling the styles together in his own kaleidoscopic vision. “I want to carry that torch like an Olympic runner—finding the unison and the contrast between these incredible sounds and modern music,” Chambers says of his new EP, the ecstatic Dreaming in Technicolor (released October 2025). “Artists like Chuck Berry and Al Green were producing this deep, vibrant music that brought excitement and danger to a straightlaced world, and I want people to know we can still do that.”

9/19 sway wild 2:30pm

Sway Wild was born on a small island in the Salish Sea.

Following a two-month sailing voyage through the remote anchorages of British Columbia, acclaimed indie-folk duo Dave McGraw & Mandy Fer, returned to their San Juan Island, Washington home still hungry to explore. The result was nothing short of an artistic epiphany; an evolution of sound that called out loudly for a new name. Sway Wild released its self-titled debut album worldwide in 2019.

Sway Wild’s infectious sound explores the corners of rock, pop, funk, and folk, but at its nucleus it is undeniably a music full of joy. It can squeeze the heart in your chest, it can draw tears from your eyes, and it can force you to get up and move your body; over and over, it somehow manages to do all three at once. Fer and McGraw’s gorgeous harmonies paired with moving lyrics serve to both process and share their jubilation, grief, and frustration with a complex and deeply imperfect society.

9/19 wolf jett 1:00pm

Wolf Jett are an upbeat celebration - infusing folk, soul and Americana into what they call "Cosmic Mountain Music.” Co-founded by two life-long friends and musical partners, Wolf Jett combines the southern-fried vocals of Tennessee-born frontman Chris Jones with Jon Payne’s endlessly groovy drums. Alongside of them is a cast of seasoned performers - Duncan Shipton on bass, female vocalist Allyson Makuch, electric guitarists Rory Cloud and/or Will Fourt, and Alex Benjamin on keys.

As a staple in the California roots scene and strong believers in building community through music — Wolf Jett have been throwing shows with fellow Bay Area bands and selling out venues such as The Great American Music Hall, The Sweetwater Music Hall, Moe’s Alley and The Kuumbwaa Jazz Center.

~ Stomping grounds stage ~

9/19 dante marsh & the vibe setters 7:30pm

The Vibe Setters are a soulful funk band with heavy grooves and colorful melodies. The band consists of 5 members. Dante Marsh - lead singer, Drake Freeman - bassist, Jon Millsap - lead guitarist, Tim Costa - percussionist, and Gerald Purify - drummer.

9/19 andy arthur smith 3:45 & 5:30pm

Do you have a pulse and use social media? You’ve probably come across Andy Arthur Smith at some point.He’s a vocalist, internet absurdist, and professional goofball whose viral videos have beenviewed hundreds of millions of times. With 4.4 million followers and over 108 million likes onTikTok, plus 885K+ on Instagram, Andy’s reach is as big as his vocal range.A genre-defying talent with jaw-dropping control, he’s been described as Jim Carrey meetsJacob Collier — blending musical precision with theatrical chaos. His comedic skits, mash ups, and original songs have earned him fans across the internet and beyond.In July 2025, Andy released his debut album Shortcut — a technicolor spiral through digital burnout, modern romance, and existential epiphanies. The project fuses hyperpop, bossanova, progressive rock, soul, and more, marking a bold new chapter in Andy’s creative evolution — where wild imagination meets polished, theatrical production.He’s drawn praise from Jack Black, Vulfpeck, Finneas, and other musical heavyweights for his singular voice and fearless originality. Welcome to the world of Andy Arthur Smith... truly weirder in person!

9/19 late for the train 2:00pm

Late for the Train was born from an eclectic group of musicians who all share a love of American roots music. Part songwriter’s storybook and part jamgrass playground, the band’s powerful live show uplifts the spirit and rouses the soul.

Infused with the honest depth of the coastal redwood forests of Northern California, their songs grapple with the wonder, contradictions, and stark truths of living in the modern age. The band released their second studio album, The Flowers of Yesteryear, in April of 2024, with a third album forthcoming in 2026.

9/19 sweet sally 12pm

Emerging from California’s vibrant bluegrass scene, Sweet Sally is a dynamic young band celebrated for its virtuosic musicianship, tight vocal harmonies, and imaginative arrangements that blend bluegrass with folk, jazz, and beyond. Fiddler and vocalist Lucy Khadder, mandolinist and vocalist Sophia Sparks, and bassist Clare O’Grady came together through a shared love of bluegrass and jazz.

Lucy Khadder (fiddle, guitar, vocals) is a YoungArts Award winner who has twice been featured as a Next Generation Jazz artist at the Monterey Jazz Festival and was the 2025 recipient of the Jimmy Lyons Scholarship to Berklee College of Music. Sophia Sparks (mandolin, guitar, vocals), also a YoungArts Award winner, captured the 2024 RockyGrass Mandolin Contest title and plans to attend Berklee College of Music, where she was offered a full-tuition scholarship, in 2026. Bassist and vocalist Clare O’Grady joined the band in 2024, bringing a deep foundation in percussion and jazz that adds both drive and nuance to the group’s sound. Clare studies jazz and legal studies at UC Santa Cruz.

9/20 larkin poe 7pm

Larkin Poe’s latest album “Bloom" (GRAMMY nominated for Best Americana Album) sees the dynamic sister duo venturing further along on their evolving musical journey with a collection of songs that resonate with introspection, authenticity, and a profound connection to their roots in American music. Produced and largely co-written by Megan, Rebecca, and Tyler Bryant, the album marks a significant evolution for Larkin Poe, reflecting a synergy that extends beyond mere musical partnership. Already hailed for the sincerity of their songcraft, the Lovell sisters now place an even greater spotlight on their gift for storytelling, delving deep into personal narratives with universal themes of self-acceptance and individuality against a backdrop of contemporary blues and rock influences. With their distinctive blend of masterful instrumentation and soulful harmonies, each track unfolds like a chapter, with lyrics that wind deeper and deeper towards the heart of Larkin Poe.

9/20 rayland baxter 5:00pm

For the making of his fourth album If I Were a Butterfly, Rayland Baxter holed up for over a year at a former rubber-band factory turned studio in the Kentucky countryside—a seemingly humble environment that proved to be something of a wonderland. “I spent that year living in a barn with the squirrels and the birds, on my own most of the time, and I discovered so much about music and how to create it,” says the Tennessee-bred singer/songwriter. “Instead of going into a studio with a producer for two weeks, I just waited for the record to build itself. I’d get up and go outside, see a butterfly and connect that with some impulsive thought I’d had three months ago, and suddenly a song I’d been working on would make sense. That’s how the whole album came to be.”

9/20 gaby moreno 3:00pm

Armed with a warm, soulful sound, the Grammy-winning and Emmy-nominated artist Gaby Moreno creates music that offers an intoxicating invitation into her musical world for English and Spanish speakers alike. Since moving to Los Angeles from her native Guatemala, singer-songwriter-producer Gaby Moreno has released 9 albums, received her first Grammy award in 2024 for her project X Mí (Vol. 1) (Best Latin Pop Album, 2024), earned additional Grammy nominations for her albums Alegoría (Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album, 2023) and Illusion (Best Latin Pop Album, 2017), and has won two Latin Grammy Awards (Best New Artist, 2013 and Best Traditional Tropical Album, 2023). Moreno has shared the international stage with pop music luminaries such as Bono, Andrea Boccelli, Tracy Chapman, Ani DiFranco, Punch Brothers, Hugh Laurie, Buena Vista Social Club, Calexico, David Gray, and many more. Through her various projects, Moreno has redefined Americana as the only prominent Latina in the genre today, opening the doors for other marginalized voices and transforming the landscape overall.

9/20 the polyrhythmics ft. adryon de leon 1:00pm

Polyrhythmics sound originated in Seattle’s underground deep funk scene combining impossibly tight grooves with bold brass and hypnotic percussion that showcased elements of R&B, progressive jazz, and Afrobeat which defined the instrumental group’s early era sound.

Now on their thirteenth year as a recording project and touring ensemble, the band’s sound continues to evolve following six full length albums, several EPs and live releases. The virtuosic musicianship and musical conversation built on a relentless touring schedule of the previous decade has led them to a brand of psych-funk that fills a room with an impending mood where anything could happen - sometimes evoking their brighter and cinematic Fela-influences, but also a more sinister and darker turn toward a more progressive sonic palette.

~ Stomping Grounds Stage ~

9/20 elysian moon 8:30pm

SLO’s live-electronic duo Elysian Moon bridges the natural and electronic worlds through a cinematic palette of progressive electronic music. By weaving synthesizers with live piano and violin they create a "living" organic house and melodic techno experience. The duo composes and remixes on the fly—treating sound like paint on a canvas to craft in real-time alongside the audience. This sound is built from their distinct backgrounds: Tyson is a lifetime violinist and audio engineer and producer for artists like Alan Parsons and Ayla Nereo, while Grace is first generation Chinese-German American and draws from a lifetime of classical training and composing. Part experimental, part underground electronic dance music —be sure not to miss this dynamic closing performance.

9/20 samba loca 6:15pm

Samba Loca is an afro-brazilian drum line that has lit up the crowd for many consecutive years at Whale Rock Music and Arts Festival. A true staple of the festival, their march comes just before the Sunday night headlining artist and is not to be missed! See you there!

9/20 wolf jett 4:15pm

9/20 josh rosenblum 2:15pm

Josh Rosenblum is an artist based on California's Central Coast. With musical roots in jazz, his sound today is a unique blend of pop, rock, soul and blues to create original, mass appeal music. He started a trio 2008 and now works with a collective of musicians, releasing 8 studio albums and tours the West on a regular basis.

Josh's modern, high energy vibe works perfectly along his old-soul-like musicianship, soaring vocals, and writing style. He fuses generational gaps in today's music world into a streamlined array of infectious grooves and relatable lyrics. Josh writes all of his lyrics and music, taking inspiration from past experiences, the hypothetical, day-to-day struggles and good old-fashioned story telling.

9/20 cate armstrong 12:00pm

Cate Armstrong is here to feel. She pours her heart and mind into songwriting and community building, welcoming folks into her dreamy-folk sonic world and sensitive lyrics. Inspired by Joni Mitchell, Maggie Rogers, Carole King, Lizzy McAlpine and Adrianne Lenker, Cate utilizes simple acoustic melodies to carry her folk and jazz inspired vocal lines. After winning the New Times Music Award for San Luis Obispo County’s “Best Songwriter,” in November 2024, Cate has been inspired to work on her debut album, collaborate with local bands and artists, and infuse her offerings with mental health advocacy and resource sharing. To reminisce on the “summer of love” era, she will be releasing a number of singles to promote her upcoming album, “Love Always,” set to release in September 2025.

Lineup (26)