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Photo Set: Phono del Sol Music Festival, 2015
The festival’s darlings came in the form of Heartwatch. They really got the crowd dancing as opposed to lazing on their picnic blankets and set the tone for the rest of the day. Catch them at Outside Lands, coming up next month.
They say it takes a village when it comes to the care and well-being of a child. A playground is also a bonus. Props to the very talented and kind Yoshi Kato for helping with my precocious little daughter while I took moments, here and there, to capture photos of the fifth annual Phono del Sol Music and Food Festival.
Held at Potrero del Sol, known for its skate park and generally idyllic weather (compared to the rest of San Francisco), this afternoon to early evening jaunt featured an eclectic mix of bands and local food trucks. It’s a volunteer-driven affair, so the sound wasn’t the best. Still, that didn’t dampen the mood as many fans gathered, mingled, and danced under the sun this past Saturday afternoon.
Below is a photo diary of the day featuring some of indie music’s best established and up-and-coming talent. I only used a 35mm lens as the rest of my camera gear is getting a much needed tune up.
Oakland’s Everyone is Dirty has been gaining some much-deserved attention and accolades, including a nod from SF Weekly for one of the Top Local Rock Albums of the Year.One of the defining characteristics of Potrero del Sol park has to be the mural that reads “Familia.” It can easily be spotted from Potrero Drive.Mas Ysa – almost as spirited as Girl Talk on stage.Potrero del Sol is known for its skate park. The weather was perfect and brought out enthusiasts of all ages.Thankfully, for parents, including myself, there was a playground located between the stages for the little ones (and some inebriated adults) to enjoy. It offered up a great view of the Potrero Stage while music from the Mission Stage was audible.Phono del Sol drew a decent-sized crowd but there was still ample room for festival-goers to spread out and relax.Due to city regulations, beer cannot be consumed in a public park. Festival organizers were able to devise a temporary solution that involved two separate, sanctioned gardens at opposite ends of the park. They were mildly cramped and didn’t offer clear views of the stages, however.New York-based songstress VÉRITÉ made her Bay Area debut.The crowd at this year’s festival represented SF’s true hipsters.Generationals are no strangers to the SF music scene and they never disappoint.From soundcheck to actual performance, King Tuff was the l-o-u-d-e-s-t act of the day. Their 2014 effort, “Black Moon Spell,” was declared one of Spinning Platters’ top albums of the year.Verifiable crowd pleasers Tanlines closed out Phono del Sol. Lead singer Eric Emm announced that he loves playing the Bay Area and that they’ll be back soon, though he didn’t provide details on a date or location. The duo, which also consists of percussionist Jesse Cohen, was flanked by a backing band for the first time ever.Did I mention this festival is fairly kid-friendly?Ever since the concept of “festival fashion” crept into the collective consciousness, including my Mom shopping hub, Zulily, I’ve had a strong aversion to it. This woman, however, nailed it with her effortless style and groove.
