The official artwork for the 30th Annual Live Oak Music Festival is here, along with the announcement of four additional artists to the festival’s lineup. This year’s artwork, from Central Coast artist, Kris Doe, represents a renaissance of music and America fitting the festival’s landmark 30th anniversary. The event is held every year over Father’s Day weekend (June 15-17, 2018) and showcases musicians performing a variety of genres, including folk, blues, roots rock, Americana and more.
As both a Southern California native and a career artist—with more than 25 years of experience as an illustrator, painter, and art instructor—Doe drew on his robust experience to capture the spirit of the festival.
“When KCBX presented me with the concept (brainchild of Live Oak Merchandise Coordinator, Kelli Reynolds) of creating a ‘travel poster’ featuring a vintage Volkswagen bus winding its way through the golden, oak studded California hills to the Live Oak Music Festival, it spoke to many of my passions and made this a very enjoyable project,” Doe said.
This year’s festival has a strong line-up of artists with various musical styles and backgrounds, including Grammy Award- winning, 2017 Blues Hall of Fame inductee Mavis Staples. JD McPherson’s band brings an excellent collection of roots rock inspired by true stories. The Dustbowl Revival is an Americana Soul band with modern takes on old classics.
Amanda Anne Platt & the Honeycutters add a unique blend of old school country music with rock and folk music. Joe Purdy’s songwriting is steeped in the tradition of folk artists such as Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan with lyrics that reveal a passionate observer and participant of our times. Eilen Jewell will return to Live Oak to play her combination of blues, country, gospel, and folk. Aki Kumar (performing ‘Aki Goes to Bollywood’) is a San Jose based blues harmonica player from Mumbai, India whose latest album features a mashup of American blues and Indian Bollywood music. The Santa Margarita based Jade Jackson comes to Live Oak one year after releasing her album “Gilded,” and on the heels of a national tour with Social Distortion. Bear Market Riot is a power-folk duo that blends several different genres into an infectious sound. The Bryan Titus Trio will make its return to Live Oak and bring along its bluegrass and American Roots music influenced by a hike of the Appalachian Trail. The Mother Corn Shuckers consist of a 9-piece acoustic Bluegrass/Americana band, and play a fun-loving sound they call “beer-grass.”
The Live Oak Music Festival, held at Live Oak Camp in Santa Barbara County, offers a family-friendly way to kick off the summer, with local food, wines and beer for the adults and plenty of games, activities and talent shows for children and teens.
All Live Oak Music Festival proceeds benefit KCBX Public Radio, serving San Luis Obispo, Southern Monterey, and Santa Barbara Counties. Festival gates open at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, June 15, 2018. Ticket prices range from $20 (child day ticket) to $150 (adult full festival/3-day pass). Camping is included with the 3-day pass. Parking fees are additional. Ticket information for the 2018 Live Oak Music Festival, entertainment line-up, and complete festival details are available at www.liveoakfest.org.