Pacific Records Festival: The Sound of San Diego Beach Culture

This July, Pacific Records Festival will bring together three distinctly different artists whose music reflects the diverse sounds and cultures shaping Southern California today — from beach-rock and island music to harmony-driven Americana.

Taking the stage July 19 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Kate Sessions Park, Sandollar, Slack Key 'Ohana, and Twilight Highway each have major summer releases arriving this month and offer compelling feature opportunities beyond the festival itself.

Blending reggae, surf rock, funk, hip-hop, and Southern California soul, Sandollar has spent nearly two decades creating the soundtrack to San Diego's sand, surf, skate, and live music culture. Their music has been featured on Netflix's OUTER BANKS and CBS's MAGNUM P.I., while their 2023 album "Under The Water" earned Best World Music Album at the San Diego Music Awards. Their new album, "Sunny Day" (July 17), recorded at the prestigious studio 606 owned by Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, features Dizzy Wright and KBong of Stick Figure and showcases the band at a pivotal moment as they bring their signature beach-rock sound to a wider audience.

Pacific Records Festival

Slack Key 'Ohana: Family, Harmony and Island Spirit: Centered around Brian Witkin, his mother Carol Witkin, and his father Joe Witkin — a founding member of Sha Na Na who performed at Woodstock — Slack Key 'Ohana blends island music, slack key guitar, singalong harmonies, and warm acoustic roots into a sound rooted in family, connection, and the spirit of ʻohana. The award-winning trio has earned two World Entertainment Awards, two San Diego Music Awards, two Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award (Hawaiian GRAMMY) nominations, and multiple No. 1 iTunes World Music chart debuts. While Slack Key ‘Ohana is known for collaborating with a rotating cast of guest musicians on stage and in the studio, most recently including ZZ Top’s Billy F. Gibbons and multiple GRAMMY winner George Kahumoku Jr., their upcoming album, "The ‘Ohana Sessions," marks a return to the band’s core: just the family trio. The album features stripped-down, live-feeling performances that capture the warmth, joy, and musical connection at the heart of their sound.

Twilight Highway: Four Voices, One Powerful Americana Sound: With a core quartet of standout vocalists — Maggi Nowlan, Joy Newbegin, Natasha Mason, and Blaise Guld — Twilight Highway delivers a harmony-rich blend of Americana, folk, roots rock, and country influences. Guided by founder and musical director Patricio A. Pickslay, the band draws inspiration from timeless songwriting traditions while creating a sound that feels both familiar and refreshingly modern. Known for emotionally resonant performances, soaring harmonies, and genre-spanning musicianship, Twilight Highway offers audiences a dynamic live experience rooted in storytelling, connection, and musical craftsmanship.

To learn more about each artist's upcoming release, pre-save the albums below:
Sandollar | Sunny Day
Slack Key ‘Ohana | The 'Ohana Sessions
Twilight Highway | Volume 1

Together, these artists represent the heart of Pacific Records' artist-first approach and the evolving sound of California coastal and island culture.