Known as California’s “first city,” Monterey has a unique place in the history of arts and culture in the state. Monterey was the site of the state’s first theater, and California’s first newspaper originated from a Monterey printing press. Musically, the city is best known for the Monterey Pop Festival, which predated Woodstock and is credited as setting the template for the major music festival, as well as the annual Monterey Jazz Festival.
This year, you can add a new festival to Monterey’s list of musical accomplishments, as Goldenvoice is bringing over 30 bands to the Monterey County Fair and Event Center on August 24th and 25th for the First City Festival. It’s a ridiculously strong lineup, with top-billed bands Modest Mouse and Passion Pit supported by Beach House, Toro y Moi, Deerhunter, Animal Collective side project Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks (in its first West Coast show), and many, many more.
In addition to all of the performers on three stages, the First City Festival promises a Vaudeville-style variety stage, a full carnival, and local beer, wine, and food offerings.
Tickets go on sale on Friday, May 31 at the festival’s website. In the meantime, dig into the full lineup below:
Akron/Family
The Antlers
Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks
Beach House
The Black Angels
Bleached
Blitzen Trapper
Capital Cities
Civil Twilight
Deerhunter
Delta Rae
Delta Spirit
Devendra Banhart
The Dodos
Dr. Dog
Electric Guest
Eli “Paperboy” Reed Father John Misty
Generationals
Guards
Guy Blakeslee (Entrance)
The Hold Steady
Jeffertitti’s Nile
Light Fantastic
Lucero
MGMT
Modest Mouse
Neko Case
Okkervil River
Passion Pit
Purity Ring
Quadron
Seventeen Evergreen
Tennis
Toro y Moi
Washed Out