Review: The whole Shabang

By Morgan Guest

A weekend of music and camping on Dairy Creek Golf Course.

Shabang Music Festival was recently hosted at Dairy Creek Golf Course on May 2-3. What began in 2014 as a backyard concert thrown by Cal Poly students has now evolved into one of California's most beloved boutique festivals.

Unlike Coachella or Outside Lands, Shabang is community-first, grassroots and proudly funky. Beyond the vibrant colors and giant mushrooms, Shabang is a portal into Wonderland. But unlike major festivals, it still belongs to the locals. Most attendees are UCSB and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo students and alumni. The intimate atmosphere fosters free-spiritedness, inclusivity and an overwhelming sense of togetherness and belonging.

Shabang features three main stages: Laguna Lake for indie lovers, Cuesta Ridge for dance circles and mosh pits and Funk Safari for EDM and house music. There’s also a silent disco that never sleeps throughout the festival weekend.

Meanwhile, local vendors like Hungry Mother, Zen Dogs and Woodstock's Pizza feed the crowds and quench dry mouths. It’s almost as if you can feel the bass pulsing in the air amidst bobbing heads holding glow sticks and beer cans.

Winner of the Santa Barbara Battle of the Bands, Toad, joined the lineup—marking another milestone for the local group and highlighting Shabang’s local roots. A heavy hitter, Wallows, made a particular come back this year, returning to headline the event. Singer-songwriter Briston Maroney could also be heard in the background as he played “Freaking Out the Neighborhood,” a nostalgic indie anthem many attendees knew well from their high school years.

Also, Shabang speaks to a more spiritual side by hosting a yoga practice in the morning and giving out synchronized headphones for the evening.

Each feature of the festival acts like an Easter egg waiting to be discovered. Inside, a memory awaits—a capsule in time solidified in your mind by music, art, and good food. With a growing reputation, this festival is praiseworthy for its immersive qualities, breathtaking atmosphere and natural intimacy. It truly feels like an adult playground for locals looking to frolic among friends and good music.