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Judging by the joyful faces of South Pasadenans and visitors from all across the LA metro area, the 13th Eclectic Music Festival was a resounding success. Kicking off with a birthday celebration at City Hall to commemorate the 135th year of the City of South Pasadena, city officials gathered to celebrate the City and its citizens while giving away commemorative cupcakes.
All up, down and around Mission Street, which was blocked off and made into one long pedestrian road for the day, revelers could be spotted lining up at various food trucks, grabbing a cold beverage from South Pasadena D.U.D.E.S, shopping in our shops and checking out the wares at Artisan’s Alley all while taking in over 75 music acts across 15 stages.
Some highlights included the brightly colored stilt performers who walked up and down Mission Street delighting children and adults alike by playfully engaging with them and posing for photos with them. South Pasadena Arts Council had their gallery open all day with their Laurie Hendricks exhibit as well as various pop-up photo opps along the street.
The music was endless and as local musician David Plenn remarked, “it’s the biggest day of FOMO (fear of missing out) of the year” due to the amount of simultaneous music going on all day and evening. From sweet, acoustic sets by Sophie Reynolds and Joe Davis and Lynn Clark at SOPA studios to classical music at Calvary by the Arroyo Seco String Trio. There was a lineup of singer/songwriters and rock and roll over at South Pasadena Theatre Workshop like David Plenn whose band was smokin’ to the ever irascible Chauncey Bowers. Mary Scholz lit up the Mamma’s Brick Oven stage while Arend Lee Jessurun and Jessica Gerhardt and more set the Canoe House stage sailing. Dave Hull Trio and The Drive had revelers rocking under Mamma’s tent – Kait Duntin Band and the Top Shelf Brass Band had the crowd outside of Carrow’s pumped up and dancing.
The Gold Line stage had everyone at the South Pasadena Historical Museum grounds dancing and cheering to the Afro beats of Glifos, the rhythms of Conga & Co., the smooth sounds of South Pas Transit Authority, the reggae sounds of Upstream and the eclectic jazzy vocals of Davina and The Vagabonds. With everything from Latin Jazz, Flamenco, electronic, rock, country and everything in between. This year’s Eclectic Music Festival truly had something for everyone.
About The Eclectic Music & Arts Festival
Now in its 13th year, the Eclectic is organized and produced by the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce in partnership with DeepMix Entertainment and the City of South Pasadena. Started in a parking lot with a couple of local bands and a few dozen attendees, the Eclectic has grown into a signature event for the city, featuring dozens of diverse, local and regional musical acts, one-of-a-kind artisans and makers, interactive activities, open galleries, beer and wine gardens, and family-friendly fun.
