The most wonderful time of the year is just around the corner. California's biggest Halloween party, Beach Goth, is back for its fifth year in a row. The festival has been growing year after year, continuously reeling in the perfect artists to create what many believe to be the most strange, unusual and diverse lineup. Whether they are up and coming, mainstream, hip, influential or legendary, Beach Goth offers you the chance to explore new music and possibly recover some old bangers.
Presented by Southern California beach rats, The Growlers, "Beach Goth" was first coined as the band's self-proclaimed genre. Their psyche-garage-punk rock, LSD dropping surfer fans began to grow. As it turns out, the genre of Beach Goth is one of the best ways to describe the sound of many groups in the rock world alike. A festival was soon born out of the term along with the an overall trend that began to spread like wildfire. Halloween: a point in time that suits the Beach Goth style better than any other. The annual festival is based in The Growler's very own hometown, Orange County. Normally taken place at their beloved venue, The Observatory, this year's musical Halloween festivities will be featured at Oak Canyon Park in Santiago, CA.
This will, without a doubt, be Beach Goth's biggest run yet. In an interview with DoTheBay, frontman of The Growlers, Brooks Nielsen, explains seeing Beach Goth, "turning into a monster I can't control... but when it’s all over and done with and I see what impact it made, that makes me happy."
So, join in on the fun and see what it means to party with the SoCal crowd for once (and rid away of that fog induced pale skin)! Before you pack your bags and road trip down to the beachy-beauty of Orange County, there are a few things you should know about Beach Goth and how to make the absolute most of it. Be sure to enter to win a pair of passes exclusively on the DoTheBay app!
No Costumes, no entry
There's no better party than a costume party. How many times in the year is it socially acceptable to dress up as something over than yourself in broad light or at night? Only once, and that's Halloween. Expose the beast within and express your inner desire to get a lil' freaky. It's an ice breaker, a great way to create new friendships! Make sure the costumes are dance-friendly and expendable. Beach Goth is one of the most epic Halloween parties out there. You must be ready to throw out your beer infested, sweat soaked, and fake blood (maybe even real blood?) stained costumes out the window the following day-- or at 4 in the morning.
no cry babies
Picture this: You're in the front of a crowd watching FIDLAR while enjoying an ice cold beer in the toasty whether that is of Southern California. Suddenly, the band starts playing "Cheap Beer." You are soon plummeted into a sweaty mob of punks, hipsters, ghouls, and goblins. You're showered with what smells like beer-- but not just any beer. It's one of America's top-shelf yet ever so generically bland, Pabst Blue Ribbon. Within the three seconds of being thrown into this situation, you must chose one of two options:
1. Be a complete party pooping wuss and run out of the crowd crying over spilt beer.
2. Throw your arms up and plunge your body into the sea of moshers where you will seek redemption from that one time you wished you had punched your worst enemy in the face.
If you can't handle the fun, keep your distance or GTFO.
SPICE IT UP
The lineup is bizarre. You may be thinking, "Gucci Mane, Bon Iver, The Violent Femmes, and Justice all on the same bill? What the f!#k?" But keeping things weird is just how The Growlers like it. Get a taste of all types of music at Beach Goth. Catch the old bands you've been dying to see for years and discover new ones. Don't be the raver that ONLY listens to EDM or the Dead Head that only listens to psych.
LIVE A LITTLE
Take a good look at this photo. With utter bliss and excitement, half of the crowd have their hands in the air, chanting towards whatever incredible Beach Goth band is playing. There's not only a man crowd surfing, but a trash can as well. The point is to enjoy yourself and let go. It's not every day you'll be able to party at a huge Halloween themed music festival.
Written by Dominique Gomez
Don't miss the biggest Halloween party of the year! Enter to win a pair of tickets to Beach Goth V exclusively on the DoTheBay app!
