roseparkfairfieldcover Given our recent trajectory, it’s not unreasonable to assume that in the year 2020 Long Beach summers will be one uninterrupted, citywide music festival. The other three seasons will likely continue as a noise-code police state, but we’ll definitely have the summers.

In that spirit, the Rose Park Bluegrass Festival is a welcome addition and a fantastic sign of musical progress of an entirely different sort. Because as much as we’ve seen a surge in the frequency of LB music events, their locations have not changed much. The park is an unlikely but canny choice for an event like this.

Rose Park sits on Orizaba and 8th, identifiable by a lone gazebo in the middle of a large patch of grass, frequented mostly by Rose Park’s residents. It’s the warm heart of an oft-overlooked neighborhood that lies at rosepark the northeastern edge of the 2nd district. Staging a festival in Rose Park is a big first step in taking Long Beach music out of its arts-district cage and bringing it to the residents.

In other eras, this event would’ve likely been termed “a happening,” or better yet, “a social.” Today we just call it “a festival” because that’s what we call anything with outdoor music, but that suggests a much different atmosphere than you’re actually going to find at Rose Park.

There will be local businesses with booths, food provided by some scorchingly good food trucks, as well as arts and crafts for the kids. Did I mention it’s free? Because it’s free. But don’t let that fool you into leaving your wallet at home; you’ll regret it once you see what the food trucks have on the menu.

roseparksignalhillbillies Oh, and one more thing—the music.  In a nice touch of synchronicity, festival organizers have decided to go with bluegrass, apparently noticing how nicely the name of that music combines with the name of the Rose Park Bluegrass Festival. Plus, it sounds good.

Frank Fairfield is the headliner, and although the name may not ring a bell for most people, he’s a huge get for this festival—both musically and personally. Frank is a young man—24 years old—who was discovered while busking at a farmer’s market. His music transcends his youth, however, and the sound he has honed through some years of wandering struggle carries an ageless sense of authenticity.

But Frank’s not the only act you’d be fool to miss. The Signal Hillbillys represent a more raucous country sound, cranking up their amps and their outlaw influences. Also no stranger to a good time is Wreck N’ Sow, a quartet whose American roots sound runs deep. roseparkwrecknsow Keeping them all honest is the Lonesome Otis Bluegrass Band, an immensely talented five-piece that sounds the way honey tastes on a cool evening. Make sure you’re sitting down for their set.

The only question mark about the whole festival is how utterly out-of-the-blue it seems. Of course, it’s a tremendous and time-consuming feat to organize an event like this, but while Summer and Music has been attracting most of the attention, the Rose Park Bluegrass Festival feels like it suddenly just showed up. Will the people?

If they do—and the Rose Park community is not to be roseparklonesomeotis underestimated—the end of Sunday’s Rose Park BluegrassFestival may be the beginning of events like this popping up in neighborhoods all over Long Beach.

ROSE PARK BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL • ROSE PARK • 800 ORIZABA AVE • LONG BEACH 90804 • ROSEPARKBLUEGRASS.COM • SUNDAY (AUG 21), NOON-5 PM • ALL AGES • FREE

GETTING TO ROSE PARK

BIG/LOTS PARKING LOT: 2300 East 7th STREET, LONG BEACH,CA – FREE
Shuttles with the Big Red Bus will be arriving every 20 minutes to take attendees to and from the festival grounds free of charge.

BURBANK ELEMENTARY PARKING LOT: 501 JUNIPERO AVE., LONG BEACH, CA – JUNIPERO & 4TH – FREE
Shuttles with the Big Red Bus will be arriving every 20 minutes to take attendees to and from the festival grounds free of charge.

WILSON HIGH PARKING LOT: WEST LOT ON XIMENO & 7th – FREE
Buses cost: $1.25; Take either the 91, 92, 93, 94 Westbound and exit at Orizaba. Buses run every 20 minutes.

CAL STATE LONG BEACH PARKING LOT #6: $5.00
Walk to 7th Street and take Bus to Festival
Buses cost: $1.25; Take either the 91, 92, 93, 94 Westbound and exit at Orizaba. Buses run every 20 minutes.

ADA PARKING available on the Northeast corner of Gladys and 8th Street

FREE BIKE VALETAVAILABLE

LONG BEACH YELLOW CAB
(562) 435-6111
(888) 529-3556
(310) 851-5005