Long Beach’s ‘anti-festival festival’ Happy Sundays returns in late August

The band Joyce Manor performs in the Bamboo Club parking lot for Happy Sundays in Long Beach on Aug. 29, 2021. (Photo Courtesy John Michael Ferrer)

Happy Sundays, a free music and comedy festival, will return to Long Beach’s Zaferia District on Aug. 24 and 25. The festival aims to celebrate the vibrant community and creativity of Long Beach in an affordable way for all to enjoy.

Billed as the “anti-festival festival,” Happy Sundays was founded by musicians Julia Kugel and Scott Montoya. The couple aims to provide an alternative to expensive concert tickets and corporate music festivals by offering an accessible, grassroots experience. 

This year’s line up will feature performances at multiple venues across the city, showcasing emerging artists in music and comedy. All performances will be free to the public 

This year’s performances include Mike Watt & The Missingmen, Shamon Cassette, Soft Palms, Sego, Jagged Baptist Club, Dream Phases, Fartbarf, Pop Hysteria, Decent Times, Buzzed Lightbeer and more.

A portrait of Julia Kugel and Scott Montoya, founders of Happy Sundays, Long Beach’s ‘anti-festival’ music festival. (Courtesy of Lauryn Alvarez)

This year will mark the first time the festival will include Space Talks, where Long Beach-based aerospace companies will discuss ongoing projects in the local area, highlighting the city’s significance in the aerospace industry.

“We’re trying to show that a different way is possible,” the founders of the festival said in a press release. “Concert tickets and music festivals have become pricey and somewhat detached and we’re trying to provide a more grassroots approach which benefits everyone involved. There’s more music out there than what’s on the radio and there’s alternatives to paying high ticket prices and hidden fees. This is the first year as a two-day fest and we’d like to eventually expand it to a week-long city-wide event.”

The festival will also feature an “instrument petting zoo” from the Long Beach Symphony, where kids and youth can try out different instruments. The Tattoo Heritage Project will host live tattoo demonstrations and discussion panels on the art of tattooing during the event.

Happy Sundays is an all-ages event, though some venues like Alex’s Bar and Port City Tavern only admit the 21+ crowd. 

Confirmed venues include Alex’s Bar, Bamboo Club, Compound Long Beach, Long Beach Art Theatre, Long Beach Playhouse and Port City Tavern. 

Go to happysundaysfest.com to see set times and more information. 

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