Shabang started as an idea within a Central Coast friend group to put on a concert on top of a mountain. Little did they know that almost ten years later, Shabang would be a must-see event in SLO with thousands of guests. Shabang has five pillars: Best of the Central Coast, Overflowing Music and Experiential Art, Good Vibes, Community Participation, and Inclusion and Social Responsibility. From featuring local Central Coast bands to showing art installations done by Cal Poly students, they really make their mark here on the Central Coast and hit all five pillars. This music festival started something so awesome and unique to SLO and continues to bring people from the community together.
This year, their headliners were Bob Moses, Hippo Campus, Men I Trust, and Hayden James. Spanning across three stages located at Dairy Creek Golf Course, there was a mix of music for everyone. The Cuesta Ridge stage had rock/punk music, Funk Safari had house EDM, and Laguna Lake had indie-pop. All had absolutely phenomenal vibes and amazing energy. It was truly a space where people did not feel judged and immersed themselves in the performances. The energy all the musicians had was amazing and got the crowd involved and into their performances. Shabang always knows how to provide a music selection for everyone and draws people from all different crowds. The stages themselves were incredible. Compared to Shabang 2022, this year they definitely stepped up the main stage design. The Laguna Lake stage (their main stage) looked like it belonged at Outside Lands. Not only was it probably twice the size of last year’s main stage, but it had such cool and new architecture as well. After the sunset, the lights came on and looked so pretty playing to the beat of the music. Nighttime at Shabang is a pretty special sight- you can hear the different music playing and see the colored lights in the sky.
The food vendors at Shabang combined a mix of local food like Woodstock’s and Sequel Tea and mobile caterers like Plant Ivy and Bear City Social. Surprisingly, the food was super reasonably priced, which is rare for festival vendors. The food trucks did not skimp on the portions, and the quality was amazing. After seeing the horror stories of Coachella’s pricy food posted on Tik Tok, I was thankful that Shabang did not upcharge the festival-goers. Another really unique thing to Shabang is the Silent Disco. Before Shabang, I had never heard of a silent disco, nevertheless been to one. Although it may have looked funny to outsiders who could not actually hear the music, it was a really cool experience. People were all wearing headphones, and the DJ on stage controlled which music played through the three-channel options. Shabang absolutely knows how to plan really immersive activities. You totally feel like you are part of the whole “experience”. I think a lot of festivals try to do this and totally miss, but Shabang knows how to put on a show.
The art installations were also a fan favorite. Cal Poly architecture students and local artists designed huge art pieces to be featured at the festival. There were massive blow-up mushrooms, colorful tarps that covered portions of the lawn area, and abstract architectural structures scattered around. It is so cool to look around and see little reminders of the impact the community has on Shabang. Students volunteer, play their sets, get up on stage with the DJs, and of course, attend the festival. Everyone looks forward to that one weekend in May that Shabang is put on, and everyone leaves feeling the amazing vibes that Shabang emulates. SLO is sandwiched between LA and the Bay Area and often gets overlooked in terms of the entertainment industry. It is so important to support and continue events like Shabang because it’s a reminder of just how awesome and special the Central Coast, and especially SLO, is. Shabang has had an insanely positive impact on the community, especially Cal Poly students, and I hope they continue this amazing tradition each year. Cheers to another successful Shabang weekend!