Mare Island Dock of Bay Festival returns to Vallejo Sept. 17

VALLEJO – The Mare Island Dock of the Bay Festival will return to Vallejo this month for its second year, featuring a lineup of eight bands on two stages, with a variety of eclectic musical styles, from indie rock to funk.

Local promotion company Frazier Trager Presents, which is organizing the event, considered last year’s festival a huge success, despite muted attendance, which Frazier Trager attributed to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This year the economy, gas prices, and new strains of Covid are still impacting the results we hoped to have, but we are starting to see ticket sales pick up as we get closer to the event date,” said Kevin Frazier, a partner at Frazier Trager who previously managed Vallejo’s Empress Theatre. “The location is amazing and everyone who attended last year had nothing but praise regarding the view, the layout, and the entertainment.”

The show will be headlined by Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe. The band features a unique blend of rock, funk and R&B and is led by saxophonist Denson, who Trager said recently returned from touring Europe with the Rolling Stones. Before him, there will be a performance from blues-rock guitarist Eric Gales, who Frazier said plays “left handed upside down like Jimi Hendrix.”

“The upcoming Dock of Bay festival is going to surprise a lot of people as we keep hearing that they have never heard of those bands,” Frazier said. “The best part of a musical experience is to hear something for the first time, especially when it is being performed by incredible musicians.”

But there’s more than just music for attendees to enjoy. Guests will be able to sample California and international cuisine, including vegetarian and vegan options from a variety of food trucks, sip Northern California wine, and savor Mare Island Brewing Co. beer. Two shopping areas will offer festival merchandise and jewelry, crafts and goods from local artisans.

The Mare Island Coal Sheds venue is on the Carquinez Strait across from the Vallejo Yacht Club. It features a wide open promenade along the waterfront, backed by a row of tall, gambrel roofed structures that were built by the Navy in 1903 to service coal fueled ships. The refurbished coal shed on the north end houses the Mare Island Brewing Co., which will serve as a VIP lounge during the event. The other coal sheds are open to the promenade and will shelter the food court and shopping areas.

The promenade stage for this year’s event has been expanded so that, according to Frasier, “even when the headliner is on a break, the second stage will be rocking.”

Longtime Bay Area band Vinyl will start things jumping on the main stage with their lively, funky groove followed by local indie rockers The Mother Hips.

Violin and harp virtuoso Carlos Reyes will open on the promenade stage, followed by renowned blues/rock guitarist Miles Schon, and then blues star Alvon Johnson. The eclectic Lorin Rowan & Deep Blue Jam will wrap up the promenade performances.

The Dock of the Bay Festival takes place on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 850 Nimitz Ave, Mare Island, Vallejo. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and the show runs until 10 p.m..

General admission tickets are $85. VIP tickets are $175. Parking is free. VIP tickets include free valet parking, discounted drinks, and access to the Mare Island Brewing Co. VIP lounge and indoor bathrooms.

Special ferry service will be available to and from Pier 41 in San Francisco, and the Sausalito Ferry Terminal in Marin.

For more information about the Mare Island Dock of the Bay Festival check out https://dockofbayfest.com. Tickets are available here. No in and out passes will be allowed.