ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Uncover the stories behind our incredible BeachLife Nights performers, as we spotlight the artists who bring our event to life.
Michael Franti
& Spearhead
Michael Franti is a globally recognized musician, activist and award-winning filmmaker revered for his high-energy live shows, inspiring music, worldwide philanthropic efforts and the power of optimism. Throughout his multi-decade career, Franti has earned three Billboard No. 1’s with triumphantly hopeful hits “Sound of Sunshine,” “Say Hey (I Love You)” and “I Got You,” as well as six Top 30 Hot AC singles, 10 Top 25 AAA Singles and three Billboard Top 5 Rock Albums. Spearhead’s Follow Your Heart was released in June 2022 and debuted at No. 2 on the iTunes Pop Chart behind Harry Styles. Praised by American Songwriter as “an energizing batch of songs that spotlight the common threads that connect us,” Franti & Spearhead’s 13th studio album Big Big Love is available everywhere now, featuring 17 tracks cowritten by Franti, reflecting his tenacity, inclusiveness, and optimism. Franti & Spearhead will embark on the Togetherness Tour in 2024, bringing their dynamic and invigorating shows to Soulrockers across North America, including a return to the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre. With 60+ dates through the summer, the Togetherness Tour will kick off on April 6th in Fort Lauderdale at Tortuga Festival.
Iration
Iration is an alternative/reggae group originally formed in Isla Vista, CA. Their deep-rooted island influence and Hawaii upbringing is fused with elements of rock, pop and soul to create smooth, uplifting original sounds. The group is made up of members Micah Pueschel (Guitar/Lead Vocals), Adam Taylor (Bass), Joseph Dickens (Drums), Cayson Peterson (Keyboard/Synth), Micah Brown (Guitar/Vocals), and Drake Peterson (Trumpet, Keys). Now, after almost two decades creating music together, Iration has racked up more than 1 billion streams, topped Billboard charts and established themselves as one of the most beloved reggae-rock bands to emerge from the SoCal scene.
SOJA
For more than two decades, SOJA have elated audiences across the globe with their fresh yet timeless take on roots reggae, a sound born from their shared passion for making music that transports and inspires. On their Grammy Award Winning album, Beauty in the Silence — the band deepens that communal spirit by collaborating with artists from all corners of the reggae world, including the likes of UB40, Slightly Stoopid, Stick Figure, and Rebelution. Fueled by the sheer force of their connection and chemistry, Beauty in the Silence ultimately makes for a much-needed antidote to fractured times, infusing so much warmth and wisdom and unstoppable joy into each and every track.
Fortunate Youth
From backyard BBQs in Southern California beach towns to its rise as one of the most popular reggae rock bands in the country, Fortunate Youth remains devoted to its roots and a simple mission: Spread peace, love, and unity with music. It’s a mantra of sorts for the multi-faceted sextet from Hermosa Beach, driving a relentless thirst for live performances and an ever-evolving cache of original material dotted with influences of blues, ska, rock, world, soul, and punk. Dedicated to performing live, the ensemble has logged countless miles across the globe, with F.Y. supporting brethren such as Slightly Stoopid, Stick Figure, and SOJA.
Curtis Stone
Curtis Stone is a Los Angeles-based Michelin-starred chef, restaurateur, author and culinary entrepreneur. Curtis began cooking at the Savoy Hotel’s five-star restaurant in his hometown of Melbourne, Australia at the age of 18. He moved to Europe when he was 21 to further his education and classical training under renowned chef Marco Pierre White for eight years, a foundation that would inform his subsequent career in Los Angeles. In 2014, Curtis opened his first solo restaurant, Maude (Beverly Hills, CA), to immediate acclaim. Following the success of Maude, Curtis opened Gwen Butcher Shop & Restaurant (Hollywood, CA) in July 2016 with his brother Luke Stone. Maude received its first Michelin star in 2019 upon the guide’s return to California, and has retained their standing, with Gwen sharing the honor with its own star in 2022. Curtis opened Woodend by Curtis Stone at Maroma, A Belmond Hotel in the Riviera Maya in the summer of 2023 and was named as a Distinguished Restaurant in the Mexico edition of the Michelin Guide during its inaugural year. In addition to the restaurants, Curtis operates Curtis Stone Events in Los Angeles and Australia, a full-service events and catering company that crafts personalized occasions for guests.