Annual music festival benefits THS band

Whale Rock Music Festival keeps getting better. The two-day party at Whale Rock Vineyard, right next door to Castoro Cellars in Templeton has become an annual must-attend live music event for September.
“The most important factor is quality,” said Luke Udsen, Director of California Sales and Marketing at Castoro Cellars. “We only book artists that are high-quality performers that we know will put on a great show.”
Tickets for Whale Rock Music Festival are already surging ahead of last year, which sold out. Seventeen bands and artists will perform on Sept. 15 and 16. They include Aloe Blacc, Lake Street Dive, Orgone, Fruition, Con Brio, Rayland Baxter, Joey Dosik, Mipso, Jade Jackson, Coffis Brothers and the Mountain Men, Nicole Stromsoe, Band the Hive, Samba Loca, Mannequins by Day, Mama Tumba, Arthur Watership and Miss Leo and Her Bluegrass Boys.
“All of the bands have become friends of ours over the years, which is awesome,” Luke said. “Nicole Stromsoe, who is opening the main stage on Saturday, went to Templeton High and graduated the same year I did.”
Artists on the Main Stage will start at 1 p.m. on both days, and Stomping Grounds Stage bands will begin playing promptly at noon. The final performances for both days will begin at 8 p.m.
“We are featuring a full-blown kids area called ‘Kit’s corner’ that has a musical petting zoo, face painting and a tree fort,” Luke said. “There will also be kids’ yoga and lots of other activities. Kids love Whale Rock!”
There will be food and drink vendors aplenty for this year’s concerts including beverages from Toro Creek Brewing, Firestone Walker, Barrelhouse Brewing, Tin City Cider, Bristol’s Cider, Whalebird Kombucha, Dark Nectar Coffee and more.
Whale Rock Music Festival strongly supports music education programs at Templeton High School, which helps fortify the gap between budgetary constraints and talented students. Last year, the event raised $24,268 for the Templeton Instrumental Music Boosters Association (TIMBA).
“We also raised $2,000 for ‘Do It for the Love,’ a nonprofit started by Michael Franti,” Luke said. “The donations for TIMBA go directly to the Templeton High School music program.”
Visitors are encouraged to dress in layers and comfortable walking shoes for variable temperatures, bring low-back chairs or blankets, a day pack for hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, and water bottles (water is provided), ID’s for those 21 and over, and phone chargers for Whale Rock’s charging station. (Please, no pets or outside food and beverages.)
For tickets, visit www.whalerockmusicfestival.com.