Photos by Isabella Appell
Hundreds of thousands of multi-generational fans traveled back in time to Club Kokomo from May 2-4 for a weekend of (somewhat) sunny skies, live music, and sunset views. With legends like The Beach Boys, Lenny Kravitz, and Sublime taking the stage, SoCal’s ultimate coastal festival offered a little something for everyone.
Back for its sixth year, BeachLife Festival paid homage to what Redondo Beach is best known for: its coast. With four distinct stages—Hightide, Lowtide, Speakeasy, and Riptide—fans could dip their toes in the water, soak up the sun, and enjoy a diverse lineup of rock, reggae, indie, and pop music.
Whether you were shopping for vintage artwork, grabbing a beer from the Surf and Sand Bar, or taking a ride on Grillo’s Pickles’ “pickle” bull, this festival offered more than just music—it delivered the full California experience. If you were looking for a laid-back spot to relax and enjoy some great tunes, this was the place. Forget pushy crowds and long lines; everyone was in a Hawaiian shirt, smoking a joint, and soaking up the nostalgia (and you better believe I was doing all three). So without further ado, let’s dive into my top sets from BeachLife 2025!
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Aloe Blacc (Day 1)
All I needed this weekend were three things: a good tan, a lobster roll from Sugar Ray’s brunch, and “a dollar”. Little did I know I’d find all three at the High Tide Stage.
After spending an hour just trying to find the media check-in, all I wanted was a drink, a place to sit, and the comfort of O.A.R.’s set. What I thought was the end of “Shattered” turned out to be a recording from the stage across the way, leaving me alone in an empty crowd just feet from the actual pit. It could’ve been a turning point for the worse but then I heard the unmistakable opening line “I need a dollar”, stumbling into the front row of Aloe Blacc’s set.
Although I wouldn’t consider Blacc’s sound necessarily “beachy”, it was a perfect introduction to the weekend and the ever crowded Low Tide Stage where my next stop would be.
Train (Day 1)
As one of my most anticipated sets of day 1, I had high expectations for Train. As a band who primarily relies on their sound, I wondered how they would perform live, especially in comparison to more extravagant artists like Lenny Kravitz and the Pretenders.
Somewhere between the orange and yellow beach balls flying overhead and the soulful cover of “Hey Jude”, I found myself facetiming my dad and singing along to the soundtrack of my childhood car rides. When lead singer Pat Monahan brought his long haired, ridiculously talented son onstage for a duet that somehow worked out perfectly, I felt a weird but overwhelming sense of pride for a family I’m not even in.
If there’s one thing I learned from this set it’s that Pat Monohan is still that guy– effortlessly charming and even cooler now that his son’s joining him on stage.
Lenny Kravitz (Day 1)
The Minister of Rock ‘N’ Roll. The master of all sounds. The man who acts, sings, dances, and somehow does it all better than most at 60 years old. I thought I knew what to expect from Lenny Kravitz, but nothing could have prepared BeachLife for this iconic performance.
Wearing a cropped blue leather jacket, skin-tight pants, and a gold shirt that showed just the right amount of abs, Kravitz didn’t just take the stage, he owned it. He shook his hips, flexed every possible part of his body, and moved with the kind of confidence that can’t be taught. The set was a full-blown sensory overload: strobe lights, smoke machines, guitar solos; everything that you’d expect to happen at a rock concert did. He performed like a man decades younger, somehow cooler now than ever before. Even the sunglasses at night thing worked, especially paired with his long dreadlocks, which he used as a prop in itself.
Lenny Kravitz is the legend people always say he is and apparently, the reason skinny jeans are back.
The Struts (Day 1)
I could hear their set from outside the gates and as one of my favorite bands, I knew I had to get in fast. The Struts were about to hit the stage, and they did not disappoint.
Dressed in a mix of black and white suits, flowy lace shirts, and just the right amount of mystery behind their dark sunglasses, their long hair whipped in sync as they brought a little funk and just the right amount of beachiness to fit the BeachLife vibe onto the stage. Utilizing every inch like it was his personal runway, lead singer Luke Spiller wasn’t still for a second-jumping, strutting, and spinning through the entire set. His energy was contagious, matched only by the chemistry between him and the rest of the band.
Whether trading harmonies with each other or engaging with the audience by telling them to chime in, one thing was very clear: The Struts have been doing this for a long time, and they know exactly how to put on a show.
Skip Marley (Day 2)
As a Marley, reggae music is in Skip’s blood so it was no surprise to see him draw the second largest crowd among non-headliners at BeachLife.
Philanthropy has always been a core value in the Marley family and Skip used his set as a platform for more than just music. Paying tribute to his heritage, his backup singers wore jackets in the vibrant colors of Jamaica, while his own camouflage outside, often associated with resistance and activism, carried a message of global unity and positive change.
His performance consisted of original songs and timeless classics by his grandfather Bob Marley, including “Could You Be Loved” and “Get Up, Stand Up”. Through his set, Skip reminded the audience that reggae is more than a genre but a force for both peace and revolution.
Skip Marley was already a name that cannot be missed, but is now modernizing reggae music, giving it a whole new purpose.
Pretenders (Day 2)
I’ve always had a soft spot for rock music, but The Pretenders’ set reassured me why. Rocking a pink “fat bunny” tee, knee-high leather boots, and a mini mullet, Chrissie Haynde looked every bit the rock icon. Gritty and powerful, her voice was easily one of the best I’ve ever heard live.
With an all-male backing band behind her, Hynde radiated pure girl boss energy, leading a set that felt like a love letter to the ‘80s. Using zebra-print guitar straps and incorporating a rotating wardrobe, the band paid tribute to the rock legends who shaped coastal music, shifting between surf music and glam rock.
The Pretenders’ music leaned into their classic rock anthems, yet stayed mellow enough to match the laid back atmosphere of the festival, creating a perfect balance needed at Beachlife.
Marcus King (Day 3)
I’ll admit it: I walked into Marcus King’s set expecting country and walked out rethinking everything I knew about the genre’s possibilities.
I first heard of King through a press conference link via my club a few months back but initially misjudged his now-distinct sound. Since I don’t typically lean toward country music, I didn’t believe my friend when he told me the set we were heading to was Marcus King’s. The moment I recognized his voice, however, a blend of southern rock and blues, I was immediately drawn in.
King wore a denim on denim look paired with a classic cowboy hat, while his band brought their own flair–from a shirt with lips on it to various plaid patterns–offering as much variety in style as in sound. Though their look wasn’t exactly cohesive, the chaotic energy made it all the more fun. Despite that, there was a laid-back, unbothered coolness radiating from the stage.
All in all, Marcus King is definitely giving country a whole new name, and by the end of the set, it was clear that he and the crowd were just there to enjoy the ride.
The Beach Boys (Day 3)
Only one band could inspire a 50 year old woman to bulldoze a group of teenagers just to get to the front and that band is The Beach Boys.
From giant pool toys flying overhead to grandkids dancing on stage, the set felt more like a multigenerational beach party than a concert. Dressed in classic Hawaiian shirts and backed by a screen playing archival footage of their performances over the decades, it was both a live show and a tribute to their legacy. They played every hit and then some, and just when I thought it couldn’t get more surreal, out walked John Stamos, apparently a long-time fan of The Beach Boys, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
The Beach Boys’ set was nostalgic, fun, and a little bit chaotic and made the end of my festival experience something I truly will never forget.
