BottleRock Napa, the prestigious music festival in the idyllic wine region, was a resounding success, featuring established stars, emerging talent, and the usual array of indulgences. The three-day event celebrated its 12th year from May 23 to 25, coinciding with Memorial Day weekend. The festival sold out, drawing approximately 40,000 fans each day. Popular artists, including Green Day, Goose, Sublime, and Justin Timberlake, among others, performed on multiple stages in the luxurious setting over the holiday weekend. Fans got their fill of excellent performances, Michelin-star-level food, and some of the best wines available in the Napa Valley.
The weather was comfortable, although it got somewhat chilly at night. There were indoor spaces that offered shelter, but most of the event took place outside. Every performance had loud, clear sound quality with good lighting, even from the areas furthest away from the stage. GA attendees stood or relaxed on blankets across the vast lawns while food and beverage areas along the perimeter of the stages had some picnic table seating. VIP upgrades included suites with comfortable seating and great views of the stages. World-class regional food, along with wine, craft beer, and cocktail booths, satisfied every craving. All this luxury came at a steep price as tickets, food, and beverages were quite costly.
Music performances ranged across musical genres and generations. Additionally, recognizable chefs paired up with celebrities, athletes, and musicians who gave demonstrations on a culinary stage. We caught a variety of shows and some of the food demos over the three days. Here are some highlights:
Sublime’s Bradley Nowell died when his son Jakob was only 11 months old. The band re-formed with Rome Ramirez as lead vocalist in 2009, but in 2023, Jakob Nowell began performing with them. Ramirez departed by the end of 2024, and Sublime with Rome became Sublime again with Jakob on lead vocals. He led them at their Friday evening Jam Cellars stage set, and his vocals were eerily similar to his father’s. He also played the guitar expertly and was highly energetic, bouncing around the large stage.
They played all of their hits, starting with “Wrong Way” fairly early in the set. Deeper cuts like “S.T.P.” pleased the faithful fans. Of course, the biggest reactions came from classics like “40 oz.. to Freedom” and “Smoke Two Joints,” which turned into a cloud-filled sing-along. “What I Got” and “Doin’ Time” were paired together, and eventually Jakob said “thank you,” before launching into “Santeria.” Many in the crowd moved on at that point, missing the closing song “Date Rape” which was one of their earliest hits.
Green Day’s Billy Joe Armstrong looked amazingly fit and bounced around the stage for their headlining Friday night set on the Jam Cellars stage. His frosted hair flowed in the cool Napa breeze while his vocals and guitar playing were on point. The other Green Day pop-punk legends, Mike Dirnt on bass and Tré Cool on drums, performed splendidly. The crowd went wild with each hit the band played. Armstrong kept the political rhetoric to a minimum, only changing the lyrics on “American Idiot” to “I’m not part of the MAGA agenda.” Their exuberant support continued through “Welcome to Paradise,” “21 Guns,” and “Minority.” “Dilemma” had a playful tease of Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’.” The huge crowd swayed and sang along to the show’s closing song, “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).”
Anders Osborne may be a New Orleans-based singer and guitarist, but his music is mostly distorted, guitar-focused rock with occasional, passionate ballads. He brought in guitarist Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz from Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO) to fill out his band for his BottleRock set on the Prudential stage on Saturday. Osborne played songs that offered a juxtaposition between his distorted Gibson and Fender solos and Lebo’s clean-sounding, amplified acoustic guitar riffs. For the last few songs of the set, Lebo played lap steel. Songs like “Flowerbox,” “Different Drum,” “Got Your Heart” and “Dark Decatur Love” featured Osborne’s solid vocals and impressive, alternating solos with Lebo.
BottleRock has always booked a potent mix of established stars and emerging talent. Benson Boone may only be 22, but he has already achieved international success. It was fitting that he performed on the Jam Cellars stage just before Justin Timberlake, as his growing fame and following can be compared to JT’s early rise. Boone is a pop/rock singing star with abundant energy and showmanship. He did acrobatic flips and tumbles throughout his set. He opened the show with a front flip off the top of a grand piano on a platform at center stage before he launched into the first riffs of “Sorry I’m Here For Someone Else.” The cheerful melody and Boone’s lively dancing had the crowd hanging onto every word.
Boone said “We’re gonna have a good time tonight. You sound so good it makes me wanna…cry.” “Cry” was a rollercoaster of pure high notes and breathy whispers. The crowd offered perfect background vocals, singing along to every word. During “Coffee Cake,” Boone is considered a heartthrob to a big segment of his audience, so when he removed his jacket, revealing a white tank top, many in the audience audibly gasped. He ended the set with his 3x platinum viral hit “Beautiful Things.”
Justin Timberlake has had some legal and health problems in the past year, but that did not stop him from putting on a highly choreographed, dynamic performance as the Saturday headliner at Jam Cellars stage. The Memphis-born pop star performed new and classic hits, displaying his smooth falsetto and creative dance moves. His talented band, with a fantastic brass section and acrobatic dancers, added visual appeal to the show.
Songs including “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” “Mirrors” and “My Love” added to the already ecstatic atmosphere created by packed in throngs of multi-generational, squealing fans. Many Millennials and Boomers also came to hear older hits such as “Cry Me A River” and “SexyBack,” which stimulated a rush of nostalgia, earning cheers with each song’s opening notes. Timberlake quipped near the end of the show, “I wish you all a healthy weekend with as little tannins as possible,” a reference to the bitter compounds in many of the wines produced in the Napa Valley.
G Love and Donovan Frankenreiter added drummer Cody Dickinson from North Mississippi Allstars to their band for a Saturday afternoon set at the Prudential stage. The American roots, soul, and funk show featured G Love’s vocals, guitar, and harmonica. Frankenreiter also sang and played guitar as the two troubadours traded lyrics, guitar riffs, and solos. They played entertaining versions of “Free,” “Cold Beverage” and “Rainbow” plus a twangy cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Miss You.”
Grace Bowers led her band, The Hodge Podge, through a blues, funk, and soul-infused Sunday afternoon set on the Jam Cellars stage. The 18-year-old guitar phenom has expanded her already formidable skill set by adding twangy, sweet vocals. Bowers has a talented band that offered great support for her nuanced and often explosive guitar riffs. The band played a mix of new originals and some classic covers, showcasing the kind of music that inspired Bowers.
Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky Music” got the sun-drenched crowd dancing. She brought out Allen Stone for a very funky version of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.” The Hodge Podge song “Tell Me Why U Do That” is reminiscent of classic soul and funk, so it made sense that they transitioned into George Clinton’s “We Want the Funk.” They also covered Punkadelic’s “Red Hot Mama.” Bowers nearly lit her guitar on fire, her riffs were so hot. They finished the impressive set with their raucous soul romp called “Holding On To Something.”
Moonalice keeps delivering feel-good, nostalgic music for generations of Grateful Dead-loving fans. Their set on Sunday afternoon at the Prudential stage featured a broad mix of originals, Dead covers, and Chambers Brothers classics. The twirlers were out in force on the shaded grassy area, and everyone in the audience felt the love coming from the stage. The T Sisters provided sweet harmonies while the legendary Lester Chambers, with support from his son Dylan, belted out husky vocals.
Guitarist Barry Sless, bassist Pete Sears and drummer John Molo played brilliantly on tracks like “Can You Feel It,” “You’re All I Need To Get By” and Nick Lowe’s “What’s So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding?” Lester Chambers led the band for his iconic “Time Has Come Today” while Dylan played the distinctive cowbell riff. The set included a trippy version of the Dead’s “Bird Song” and finished up with an inspired version of Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Turn On Your Love Light.”
BottleRock had a definite jam vibe going on Sunday and Eggy kept it going on the Prudential stage. The New England-based band won over the Napa crowd by showing off remarkable instrumentals plus stellar vocals from keyboard player Dani Battat, guitarist Jake Brownstein, and drummer Alex Bailey. When not trading vocals, they played long melodic, improvisational journeys. Bailey sang lead on a well-received cover of Elton John’s “Bennie And The Jets” that segued into Battat and Bailey sharing vocals on “Woah There.” That smoothly transitioned into the trippy “Shadow.” The band ended the impressive set with a riotous and thunderous “Smile” that eventually transitioned back to “Shadow” for the final notes.
Goose played a late-afternoon Sunday set on the Jam Cellars stage, but based on the crowd size and the passionate response to the music, they should have been a headliner. Guitarist and lead vocalist Rick Mitarotonda was in the zone all show, belting out creative solos. Pete Anspach’s organ forays were trippy especially during the slow, psychedelic “Silver Rising.” There was minimal banter between songs, but Mitarotonda acknowledged his appreciation for the size of the crowd when he said, “There’s a lot of you guys here.”
It was an understatement, and that was the only time he spoke. However, his smoky vocals were enjoyable and he did an impressive job on a cover of Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U.” The band followed that with a smoldering “Hungersite” that allowed for extensive improvisation. Anspach shined with a smooth synthesizer journey on “Slow Ready.” The band wrapped up the impressive set with the infectiously melodic “Give It Time as Anspach played both keys and guitar, complementing Mitarotonda’s riffs.
The War and Treaty played an early evening set at the Prudential stage and Trotter’s brand of soul mixed with bluegrass, country and blues was extremely enjoyable. Michael Trotter Jr. and his wife Tanya Trotter are immensely talented singers and songwriters who have successfully crossed musical genres. They alternated on vocals and harmonized together, while Michael also played organ. Their passion and powerful vocals on songs like “Are You Ready To Love,” “Feels Like Home,” and “Love Like Whiskey” had the crowd mesmerized. Their band featured expert banjo and guitar players who also showcased their skills. The gospel-inspired closer, “Amen,” had the crowd dancing and chanting, making it feel like an outdoor church revival.
Robby Krieger is 79, but he still plays guitar like a world-class expert. The final BottleRock show Sunday at the Prudential stage was billed as Robby Krieger of The Doors, so fans wondered, who would be taking on the impossible task of replacing Jim Morrison? It turns out that Krieger’s son Waylon is an accomplished guitarist, but also sings and has been performing The Doors music with his Dad.
Both Kriegers were joined by a veteran group who did a wonderful re-creation of The Doors’ catalog. Robby played the familiar riffs with aplomb and mixed in skillful slide work. The younger Krieger got vocal help from bassist Dan Rothchild. Ty Dennis has been Krieger’s drummer for years, as has keyboard wizard Ed Roth. The band ran through standards including “Break On Through,” “Wild Child,” “Peace Frog,” and “Moonlight Drive.” While Waylon handled most of the lead vocals, Rothchild took over on “Riders on the Storm.” Robbie did a monster slide solo on Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love.”
Roth spoke highly of The Doors original keyboard player Ray Manzarek before launching into the beautifully complicated intro to “When the Music’s Over.” Near the end of the set, the band jumped into the familiar riff for “Light My Fire.” Rothchild sang it and Roth’s organ hummed before Robby played the familiar, scorching solo. They ended the show with a fantastic version of “LA Woman.”
There were also some wild, unusual moments at BottleRock Napa Valley 2025, not all of them occurring on the Culinary stage. Here are a few:
Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav joined Bay area rap legend E-40 and celebrity chef Aaron Sanchez on the Williams Sonoma Culinary stage to create some delectable concoctions. Flav used his top-secret dry rub to make fried chicken while his trademark giant clock and a specially made culinary stage bedazzled kitchen timer hung from his neck. E-40 came out in a chef’s apron with a bottle of Napa red wine that he shared with Flav and Sanchez. Chef Sanchez made tacos al pastor from dripping marinated pork that was cooking vertically on a spit at the side of the stage. Flavor Flav handed tacos to the lucky fans at the front of the stage.
The JamPad is a winery hospitality area with a small stage at the back of the main Jam Cellars BottleRock Napa stage. Newer, trending artists do short sets on that stage, and we caught a band from Saskatchewan, Canada called Bombargo. The members were dressed like ’70s glam rockers, and they put on a fun, entertaining rock and soul show. Lead singer Nathan Thoen’s energetic vocals and dance moves got the crowd fired up. He and Connor Newton, on saxophone, jumped into the audience while Theon sang and Newton played a solo. A bit later, Theon got several strong people in the crowd to hold a Bombargo-branded stand-up paddleboard over their heads in front of the stage while he simulated surf moves on top of it. The crowd went nuts as the band played to his surf and dance moves.
Masaharu Morimoto, the famous Japanese Iron Chef, was celebrating his 70th birthday at the Williams Sonoma Culinary stage. He was joined by Public Enemy rapper Chuck D, baseball greats Evan Longoria, Curtis Granderson, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Food Network star Andrew Zimmern. Chuck D is also an accomplished artist, so he sketched Morimoto and the ballplayers while they were bantering. Morimoto had a 200-pound bluefin tuna on the stage workstation that he proceeded to break down. While the chef turned the tuna into sashimi, the baseball players joked with Zimmern and each threw mini baseballs into the crowd. Zimmern also took teaspoons of fresh ahi scooped from the bones of the giant fish and handed them to lucky fans in front of the stage. It was a raucous, delicious mash up of culinary, musical and sports stars that the crowd ate up.
Chefs Bryan and Michael Voltaggio hosted a wild demo with Tré Cool from Green Day, “Righteous Gemstones” star Adam DeVine, and singer Benson Boone. Chef Bryan asked the producer in the wings, “Can I curse up here?” He did not wait for an answer and said, “We’re going to make a big ass, fucking lobster roll.” They made several while Tre Cool, DeVine, and the Voltaggio brothers took turns doing tequila shots. They also threw stuffed lobster toys into the crowd and joked around.
MC Liam Mayclem said, “We need dessert,” and Michael Voltaggio said, “We’ve got someone here to make moonbeam ice cream.” Benson Boone came out of the wings and the crowd went nuts. The dessert is a reference to his latest single “Mystical Magical.” From the front of the stage, he did a back flip and then helped the Voltaggio brothers pour liquid nitrogen into a stainless-steel vat of ice cream ingredients. Boone handed a bowl of the ice cream to a swooning female audience member for a taste test. She said it was wonderful as the demo wrapped up.
The BottleRock Napa Valley festival once again provided a well-appointed, foodie and wine-loving paradise in a tranquil setting. Every Memorial Day weekend, Napa, California, turns into a live music, food, wine, and craft beer wonderland, and the 2026 edition is already scheduled for May 22-24. We know it will be jam-packed with great music, food, and wine that should not be missed.
Live photos by Andy J. Gordon ©2025
