Corinna Kelley
Contributing Writer
Gathering a whopping 35,000 attendees over the weekend of May 16–18, Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival continues to deliver what San Diego music lovers crave: a weekend of eclectic beats and local flavor.
Located on the San Diego Bay in the heart of Seaport Village, Wonderfront blends two main stages, two side stages, and an electric lounge (sponsored by Bloom) with a backdrop of boutiques, restaurants, and yacht parties. With a mix of local and mainstream acts, the music never stops.
While the art installations and clothing vendors connected attendees with local creatives and acted as a welcome pastime, the layout had its downsides. Bars were seemingly everywhere, but food options were limited to merely six stands. On the final day, the Beyond Burger — one of only two vegan options — was sold out. Luckily, my hangriness was soothed when I noticed a stand containing vegan cauliflower bites (“caulipoppers”) that ended up coming to my rescue.
Day one packed the biggest audience of the weekend, with people swarming to see Daniel Caesar and Peggy Gou’s drastically different but balanced sets. Closing with a touching performance of “Always,” Caesar highlighted his fans on screen. Ending his set with tears and swaying in the crowd, he set the stage for the musical whiplash that Peggy Gou’s electronic house music would give us. Her single “(It Goes Like) Nanana” left the bayfront in a permanent dance.
The shifting crowds, empty cans, and endless stomach growls always leaves day two chaotic, but Magdalena Bay’s hour-long set left me shook. With a whimsical art performance and four costume changes, her performance fashioned a unique, angelic sound. Her soft voice paired with the rock-heavy instrumentals made for a serene show that quickly earned a place on my Spotify.
A scheduling conflict early in the day forced SiR to cut his set in half, and watching him reluctantly leave the stage after drawing such a large crowd was disheartening. Still, the disappointment quickly gave way to anticipation for Portugal. The Man, one of the most impressive live bands I’ve seen. While I wasn’t a fan when “Feel It Still” dropped in 2017, their raw talent and musicianship blew me away at Lollapalooza in 2023. Seeing a full set up close at Wonderfront only reaffirmed their infectious rock-and-roll energy and effortless chemistry — a band clearly in love with what they do.
That passion was even more evident when the lead singer’s daughter joined them on stage to sing and dance to “Purple Yellow Red and Blue.” The whole band clearly adored her; her spirit was pure joy.
Janelle Monáe’s production was an ode to soul and a tribute to Michael Jackson, one of her biggest inspirations. Watching Monáe was incredible. Their choreography was effortless, making a moonwalk seamless, like it was just another step.
After a seven year hiatus, Foster The People showed out with an electrifying set. Mark Foster gave a touching speech about his deep personal connection to music, describing it as an emotional outlet for him. He tied this to a broader idea of music as a powerful force that connects artists and listeners. Following this speech with “Pumped Up Kicks” made the song’s meaning all the more powerful and prevalent.
Somehow, the weather always seems to know exactly what we need; the warming sun matched the uplifting energy that day three would bring. That same warmth radiated from Jason Mraz’s set, which exuded an effortless, feel-good aura. Every member of his band was smiling from the moment they stepped on stage to the second they left, as if they were playing in a room alone, free of ego and full of joy. Their connection with the crowd was tangible, each riff and keyboard solo reaching out like a personal invitation to join in the celebration.
Gary Clark Jr. followed as one of the best performances I’ve seen in my life. The scale of his songs required minimalistic visuals and didn’t necessitate too heavy of a background to move with it. He moved with soul, bringing a heavy kick of old school blues and Hendrix-esque rock and roll.
Wonderfront Music Festival never fails to remind me of the musical world that is San Diego. One of the more underrated festivals of the season, Wonderfront never fails to pack a diverse and powerful lineup that allows the festival to become its own little world for the weekend.