Santa Monica’s Shoreline Gets a New Soundtrack with Ocean Way Festival

Coachella producer's newest music fest with The Killers and Jack White will transform Santa Monica Beach into a two-day music destination this September.

For generations, Santa Monica has been a place where Southern California’s creative worlds collide — from surf culture and street performers to groundbreaking musicians and artists who have helped define the region's identity. Now, the city's iconic coastline is preparing for a new chapter.

This September, Ocean Way Festival will bring a first-of-its-kind beachfront music experience to Santa Monica Beach, transforming the sand and shoreline into a new gathering place for music fans from across Southern California and beyond.

The inaugural two-day festival, taking place September 26–27, will feature a diverse lineup led by global rock favorites The Killers, Motor City hit-maker Jack White, and rising soul singer and recent Grammy winner ("Best New Artist") Olivia Dean.

BEACH BOUND: Jack White set to plug into Santa Monica's vibe this fall.

The lineup also celebrates the wide-ranging sounds that have always defined California's music scene, with performances from Sublime, Alvvays, Khruangbin, Hiatus Kaiyote, and Durand Jones & The Indications.

Electronic and dance influences will also be woven into the weekend with sets from SG Lewis, Blond:ish, and a DJ performance from Hot Chip.

Santa Monica's Vibe Inspires New Festival 

Unlike traditional festival grounds built in parks or fields, Ocean Way’s backdrop is one of Southern California’s most recognizable landscapes: the Pacific Ocean.

The event marks what organizers describe as the first major music festival staged directly on Santa Monica Beach, creating a setting where live performances meet the city’s unmistakable coastal lifestyle.


'Ocean Way Festival is our opportunity to celebrate the city's music history while building something that feels authentically Santa Monica for years to come.'

-- Nic Adler, Goldenvoice's v.p. of regional festivals 


The festival is being produced by Goldenvoice, the Southern California entertainment company behind Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach Festival.

Goldenvoice was selected by the City of Santa Monica as part of the city’s broader Realignment Plan, an initiative focused on public safety, economic growth and cultural investment.

OCEANS SOUNDS: Olivia Dean co-headlines inaugural Ocean Way Festival.  

"Santa Monica has an incredible music history, and Goldenvoice has been fortunate to be part of that story," said Nic Adler, Goldenvoice’s vice president of regional festivals. "Ocean Way Festival is our opportunity to celebrate that history while building something that feels authentically Santa Monica for years to come."

Adler's comments reflect a connection between the festival and the city’s long relationship with music. Santa Monica has long been home to influential venues, musicians and creative institutions — including the legendary Ocean Way Recording, located just steps from the beach.

More Than a Weekend of Music

Organizers say Ocean Way Festival is designed to become more than a concert series.

Leading up to the September event, the festival will include free community programming, including concerts, youth water-sports activities, student leadership initiatives, beach cleanups and other events aimed at connecting the festival with local residents.

The festival will also introduce the Proper Beach Club, a premium beachfront hospitality experience created in partnership with Santa Monica Proper Hotel, offering guests a dedicated oceanfront lounge experience.

Santa Monica Mayor Caroline Torosis said the festival arrives during a period of renewed energy for the city.

"Santa Monica is in the middle of a renaissance," Torosis said. "The city is welcoming the world to its shores, and Ocean Way Festival is how we're making sure our own community is at the center of it."

A New Chapter for California’s Coastline

Southern California has never been short on legendary music destinations — from the Sunset Strip to Hollywood's historic theaters and the Inland Empire's festival grounds.

Ocean Way Festival aims to add another landmark location to that legacy: the beach itself.

With a lineup spanning rock, soul, indie, funk and electronic music, the festival represents the same cultural mix that has long made Santa Monica unique. For music fans, September's debut could mark the beginning of a cool new SoCal tradition.

Ocean Way Festival takes place September 26–27 at Santa Monica Beach.


By Art Lewis | Southern California Syndicate 

Location: Santa Monica State Beach, California, USA

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