SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — After San Diego Street Scene was canceled in 2010, a void was left behind downtown.
Acts like the Black Eyed Peas, Beck, Vampire Weekend, M.I.A. converged onto East Village for two days of concerts by more than 40 bands — until they didn't any longer.
Now, a new music and arts festival with the backing of local icons Tony Hawk, Trevor Hoffman, and Rob Machado is preparing to bring the same excitement and then some back to San Diego's waterfront scene later this year.
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Wonderfront Festival intends to bring more than 70 bands across seven stages on the city's waterfront from Nov. 22-24. Various parks and piers along the San Diego Bay will serve as venues for dozens of shows and hosts "festivals within a festival," organizers say.
Bands covering a variety of genres including rock, indie rock, hip-hop, rap, EDM, alternative, reggae, Americana, and Latin music are planned.
And unlike other festivals, the City of San Diego intends to take top billing.
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“It’s massive. When you’re booking 70 plus bands across 7 or more stages, in addition to all the after parties we’ll be doing downtown, and the element of being on the water, with a water taxi system moving people around with performers and bars on the water, and also yacht parties," Paul Thornton, managing partner, said in a release. "It’s so much more than just music and that’s what’s going to make the experience so unique.
"There’s a lot of work to this but the experience is going to be unparalleled."
Wonderfront's website touts the event will take full advantage of its proximity to the water. Yacht parties, sunset cruises, and a 400-person water taxi — complete with bars and performers — will shuttle spectators between stages, the site reads.
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Organizers say Wonderfront will also feature art installations, beach activities, street performers, a local beer village, and after parties downtown.
For more information, visit the festival's website here.
