(You’re reading Day Three – be sure to catch up on Days One and Two, too!)
Day Three of BottleRock Napa Valley for 2026 started just as most days like it do: I was tired, sore, and a little bit sad that the fun of shooting a phenomenal music festival was winding down. It’s the kind of day where you know you’re going to have to dig deep to make it to the end, but it’s always worth it.
I began my day at the Prudential stage for Larkin Poe. This is a band I didn’t know much of, except that I kept hearing that I didn’t want to miss them. That’s the beauty of these festivals – it’s so fun to discover a new band or artist, especially gems like Larkin Poe. Sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell treated the crowd to a nice little Southern Rock-tinged set with bluesy, folksy elements added in for good measure. The Lovell sisters are as lovely as they are talented, and I will be keeping an ear out for my next chance to see them.
Next up was Buffalo Traffic Jam at NorthBay Health stage. This is another band whose name I was hearing over and over before their set began, but this was one I was already looking forward to. While I can’t say if it’s the low-key, laid-back Montana vibes of the band, the melodies of their hit single “Fool’s Gold,” or just the gorgeous, raspy, breathy quality of singer Frankie Cassidy, it doesn’t really matter in the end. The result is the perfect mid-day festival set, and I couldn’t get enough.
Later, I was back at the Pru stage to catch R&B legends Kool & the Gang. I grew up on this kind of music, so I’d been eagerly awaiting this set for some time, and I was not disappointed. I was expecting songs like “Ladies Night” and “Celebration,” which of course they played. (And they were awesome!) But even better was the inclusion of songs I hadn’t even expected them to play, like “Fresh,” “Too Hot,” and “Jungle Boogie.” The entire time the played, I couldn’t keep the smile off my face, and really – what more can I say? It doesn’t get much better than that.
Later, I went back to the Pru stage for Mt. Joy. This is a band I’ve been enjoying for several years, thanks in part to coverage on SiriusXM channels AltNation and The Spectrum. Based in LA, Mt. Joy is a five-piece indie rock band, and their sound was on point. “Orange Blood,” “Lemon Tree,” and “Lucy” were the highlights of their set, for me.
After Mt. Joy, I wandered over to the Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage for a few minutes, mostly out of curiosity to see what they would (literally) cook up for Vanessa Hudgens, Michael & Bryan Voltaggio, and (three of five of) the Backstreet Boys. In the end, the deafening level of screams from the crowd drove me away before I found out what the plan was for that group, but it was fun to catch a few quick snaps of the group before I took off.
Sombr graced the Pru stage somewhere around the second half of the day, and I’d been looking forward to seeing him since they announced the lineup. This kid has the goods to back up the hype! In addition to killing hits like “Homewrecker,” “undressed,” “12 to 12,” and smash hit single “back to friends,” I particularly enjoyed his cover of Radiohead’s “Fake Plastic Trees.” Excellent covers are one of my favorite things at a festival, and this was a nice one.
As the day was winding down, I headed over to NorthBay Health stage for Matt Maeson. This gem of a singer-songwriter was one I was really excited to check out live, as I’ve been enjoying his music for several years now. When he took the stage, I didn’t even know right away that he was Maeson, as he was so unpretentious that I thought he was a guitar tech at first. (In my defense, he was dressed in a jeans and t-shirt combo with a baseball cap completing his ensemble. I’m fine with the dressed-down fashion, I just didn’t recognize him until he started singing.) Anyway, he was really wonderful, and I’m so happy I got to see him. “Downstairs” is something of an anthem for me, and he played it early on in the set. I can only imagine what Maeson or his bandmates thought if they happened to see two photographers shooting them while also wholeheartedly singing along, but either way, we were enjoying every second. “Hallucinogenics” and “Cringe” were other highlights from his set.
Back over at the Prudential stage, the Backstreet Boys were getting ready to take the stage. While anyone who knows me much at all knows I’ll always be a New Kids on the Block girl, I can still appreciate that there’s a lot of love for BSB. I know that there are a lot of people who are going to constantly try to trash that love rather than celebrate it, and I refuse to yuck the yum of the people who were so eagerly await the Boys of Backstreet. So I will say this: they look pretty damn good, and they have a lot to be proud of. Many, many pop acts are just flash-in-the-pan, one or two hits and then they’re done, but Backstreet Boys have proven their talent, and it’s the magic that gives them their staying power. Highlights from their set included “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart),” “Shape of My Heart,” and “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).”
The final set of the night took me to T-Mobile for Ludacris, and I couldn’t wait. Just before he took the stage, the screens featured a clip of various news presenters saying “ludicrous!” over and over, which served as the artist’s introduction. I couldn’t help but laugh, because of course they made it look like they were talking about the hip-hop artist when likely that was not the case, but it was a fun effect all the same. Luda’s energy was on fire, and with the backing of a full band, was utterly unstoppable. Highlights from his set included “Act a Fool,” “My Chick Bad,” “Move Bitch,” and new single “Pull Over,” during which the crowd got in on the action.
I love how BottleRock lets me see icons and emerging artists in the same day. I can catch a legend before I go check out someone I’ve never heard of (who will become my new favorite band), and then go check out an old favorite from the 90s. It never gets old! That’s a wrap on this year, but I’ll see you again next May to do it all over again!
