The Bomboras. August 7, 2022. Photo by Monique A. LeBleu
The 14th Annual Surf Guitar 101 Festival will be at the beachfront Golden Sails Hotel in Long Beach for the first time, Friday, July 28 through Sunday, July 30, 2023.
The Surf Guitar 101 Convention is to feature “the very best in traditional, modern and cutting-edge international, national and local bands” who will perform and celebrate through a wide variety of their styles in surf music, and in a California setting that may yet rival other Pacific tropic locales.
The bands currently scheduled are Satan’s Pilgrims, The Tikiyaki Orchestra, Paul Johnson, The Bomboras, The Messer Chups, Pollo Del Mar, The Volcanos, The Hellbenders, The Charades, The Surf Kings, The Eliminators, The Irradiates, The Concussions, Deke Dickerson ( Link Wray stylings) Sir Bald Diddley a.k.a. Hip Bone Slim, The Reventlos, Draculina, Rocket Fish, Waves of Steele, and Tiki Creeps.
Messer Chups. Photo courtesy of Surf Guitar 101.
The convention has inspired foreign bands to participate in “unprecedented” international tours, such as this year’s featured Messer Chups and Draculina from Russia, The Charades of Finland, Sir Bald Diddley aka Hipbone Slim of the U.K., or The Irradiates of France. And it has facilitated historic reunions, live recordings, and “monumental final performances and once-in-a-lifetime all-star collaborations” as well in its near 15-year history since its inception, originally established by Jeff “BigTikiDude” Hanson in 2008 in the chats on surfguitar101.com.
This year’s new waterfront venue and hotel sit right on the marina, and within its sprawling 7-acres the convention event will occupy up to 20,000 square feet of space, lawns, and pool this year. The hotel is pet friendly and those staying at the hotel receive complimentary parking. Although rooms at the Golden Sails are currently sold out, reception suggests checking in regularly for any updates or changes, and local hotels the Pacific Inn, The Hampton Inn & Suites, and Don’s Turf Motel may have rooms available as well.
Aside from a killer line-up of bands, the Surf Guitar 101 Festival will also have a marketplace with one of the largest collections of select “surf music-related products under one roof”, including CDs, LPs, 7 inches, 10 inches, DVDs, t-shirts, books, Tiki mugs, guitar pedals, accessories, posters and other promotionals, and more.
The Hellbenders. Photo courtesy of Surf Guitar 101.
SCHEDULE
Friday, July 28
7 p.m. Doors
8 p.m. The Tikiyaki Orchestra
9:30 p.m. Satan’s Pilgrims
Saturday, July 29
10 a.m. Doors
11 a.m. Movie Screening: The Sound Of The Surf with John Blair
12:10 p.m. Q&A with John Blair
12:30 p.m. Reventlos
1:30 p.m. Paul Johnson
2:30 p.m. Sir Bald Diddley AKA Hipbone Slim
3:30 p.m. The Concussions
4:30 p.m. Deke Dickerson Plays Link Wray
5:30 p.m. Draculina
6:30 p.m. The Charades
7:30 p.m. The Irradiates
8:30 p.m. The Volcanos
9:30 p.m. Pollo Del Mar
10:30 p.m. The Bomboras
Sunday, July 30
10 a.m. Doors
11 a.m. Seminar: Surf in the 80’s with Jonpaul Balak & John Blair
12:00 Noon Surfguitar101.com Members’ Jam.
1:00 p.m. Rocketfish
2:00 p.m. Waves Of Steele
3:00 p.m. Tiki Creeps
4:00 p.m. A Tribute To Bob Dalley and The Surf Raiders
5:00 p.m. The Hellbenders
6:00 p.m. The Eliminators
7:00 p.m. Surf Kings
8:00 p.m. Messer Chups
The 14th Annual Surf Guitar 101 Festival, Friday – Sunday, July 28-30, 2023, Crystal Ballroom at the Golden Sails Hotel, 6285 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, CA 90803.
Tickets are $40 – $80 single day, $120 – $160 weekender, and $15 for the Taboo Tiki Room only. For tickets and information visit surfguitar101festival.com.
