Shabang is coming back for its twelfth year. The event has grown every year. Photo courtesy of slocal.com.

   Anticipation is growing for local live music fans at San Luis Obispo High School as Shabang, the twelfth-annual SLO music festival, quickly approaches. 

  The festival will be held at Dairy Creek golf course on the weekend of May 2.

  Headlining acts include the Backseat Lovers, famous for songs such as “Kilby Girl” and “Maple Syrup,” as well as Chris Lake, Polo & Pan, and Magdalena Bay.

  It will also feature some local bands, including Sol Arc and Avalynn.

  “Concerts just kind of pop up, but this a tradition,” said senior and Backseat Lovers fan Henry Knight, who will be volunteering at the festival. 

  Knight’s duties will include taking down structures and cleaning up after the event. In exchange, he will receive a free ticket and exclusive Shabang merch.

  Given SLO’s distance from many festivals taking place in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, Shabang’s proximity makes it an attractive option for SLOHS students.

  “It’s in a golf course not that far from my house, so I can just drive there rather than going to LA,” said junior Alex Bastidas, who has already bought his ticket.

  Local band Brass Mash will be performing for the first time at Shabang this year. The band plays covers of popular songs from the 1960s to today in the form of instrumental mashups.

  “I just got a phone call from one of the Shabang guys … They were like, ‘hey do you want to play Shabang?’” said band leader Colin Dean. “As a band and as a band leader, I’ve made friends with a lot of the promoters within the area.”

  Playing at Shabang is an exciting opportunity for the band, who has gained significant local prominence over the last few years.

  “It’s going to be a little bit larger of a crowd than we’re usually playing at, and it’s also going to be a lot of people who have never heard us before,” said Dean. “We’re going to be able to come in and surprise folks with some new stuff.”

  Tickets are already going fast. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of one of the most epic musical experiences SLO has to offer!

Get tickets here: shabangslo.com 

Sources: slocal.com, mustangnews.net, shabangslo.com