Concert Photos Magazine - Live Music News Tickets Festivals Tour Info Concert Photography: KAABOO | Del Mar Fairgrounds | Del Mar, CA

KAABOO | Del Mar Fairgrounds | Del Mar, CA | September 16 – 18, 2016

It was a beautiful Southern California weekend as the weather was perfect for an all outdoor festival. It was the 2^nd annual KAABOO and my second time in attendance for this three-day event. There were definitely more options this year than last as KAABOO advertised itself as a high end all sensory experience including good food and spirits, spa like indulgences, music, comedy and art. They even had a swimming pool…..

There were some great acts on the menu including Aerosmith, Jimmy Buffet and the Coral Reefer Band, Jack Johnson, Lenny Kravitz, The Avett Brothers, The Chainsmokers, Flo Rida, Hall and Oates and Collective Soul. KAABOO was very spread out with seven stages scattered about the Del Mar Fairgrounds complex.

On Friday, caught Steve Poltz a humorous and talented folk singer, a powerful set by New Orleans funk band Dumpstaphunk who was joined on stage at one point with Hall & Oates guitarist Shane Theriot, LA’s up comers The Record Company, Daryl Hall & John Oates who played all their hits with the crowd singing along, and of course the always happy upbeat Jimmy Buffet and the Coral Reefer band.

Saturday had a stacked lineup and the crowds came out in mass as it was a sold out day at KAABOO. Perhaps oversold… Unfortunately, there were definite breakdowns with staff, security and other services as there just wasn't enough to go around. Having attended and photographed a lot of festivals over the years, the level of chaos and overall mayhem was quite shocking. The main acts covered on Saturday were local funk band Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, hip hop star Flo Rida, crowd pleaser and always on point Lenny Kravitz, and of course an old favorite Aerosmith.

Aerosmith did rock the place and was psyched to hear them run thru a lot of their old classics from the Get Your Wings album and also from Toys In The Attic. It was fun and Steven Tyler is a definite entertainer working the crowd as well as the camera for the big screens. The sound was a little off and turned way down due to noise complaints by locals from last year’s festival but all and all it was the highlight having not personally seen them perform since the early eighties.

Was unable to go on Sunday.

KAABOO’s contract was extended for ten years and hopefully they can learn from some of their mistakes this year to make a better festival in the future and not the disorganized cash grab it became. And please try not to put all the most popular acts on the same day….