The ocean and live music have more in common than you might think — for starters, both foster connection and possess scientifically proven healing powers. This year’s Ohana Music Festival served as a testament to that, as a full moon, neon palm trees, and the lights from two stages illuminated the picturesque Doheny State Beach. The brainchild of Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, Ohana began in 2016 and celebrated its 10th anniversary with this year’s event on Sept 25-27, 2026.
Ohana may be more compact and less well-known than major players like Outside Lands and Lollapalooza — in fact, a few artists’ Ohana set directly followed monumental performances at these juggernaut competitor festivals — but it shouldn’t be overlooked.
Ohana centers six pillars in every aspect of the festival: Oceans, Activism, Environmental Justice, Art, Community, and Indigenous Voices. The music may have grabbed fans’ attention first, but you had to do more than just watch the sets on the Ohana and Tiki stages in order to get the full experience of the festival. On the Storytellers stage, attendees could listen to live talks on topics related to the festival’s mission.
The art showcased at the festival didn’t stop at musical performances. The Cove gallery was filled with paintings, drawings, photographs, and more visual pieces celebrating the land. Across from this, representatives from local nonprofits shared their work and handed out free souvenirs. Near the entrance, visitors could educate themselves on the basketweaving traditions of the Acjachemen Native Americans, who inhabited the land of Dana Point before colonization. Between the stages and sponsors’ booths, local sand artists were building the Ohana logo, which looked especially magnificent at night once completed.
This year’s lineup contained something for everyone, spanning the genres of indie, folk, country, rock, Latin, and everything in between. The headliners included Vedder’s solo set with some special guests on Friday, country superstar Tyler Childers on Saturday, and Pearl Jam on Sunday, with a diverse array of artists filling the rest of the slots throughout the day. Here are some sets from the weekend that The Concert Chronicles particularly enjoyed!
Bad Religion
A timeless ’80s punk group, Bad Religion’s set energized fans on Ohana Fest’s first day. Their charged stage presence and thought-provoking lyrics fell in line with the festival’s central values. Bad Religion demonstrates that art is inherently political, and music can serve a greater purpose of uniting people and calling for change. One highlight of their performance included a powerful rendition of the classic “American Jesus” with festival founder Eddie Vedder.
Billy Idol
Four decades past his breakthrough, which set the scene for punk as we know it today, the English superstar still knows how to put on a show. One of the rock ‘n’ roll legend’s greatest hits might be “Dancing With Myself,” yet by the time he played this generation-defining track, not a single attendee was dancing by themselves. The commanding energy of “Rebel Yell” captivated not just the Ohana ticket holders, but also those enjoying a nice beach day outside of the festival grounds, as they walked up toward the fences trying to catch a glimpse.
MANA
The only Latin act on the 2026 Ohana lineup, MANA brought a lively, diverse crowd of his dedicated fans to the festival. They came prepared with jerseys, hats, and even unique collectible vinyl pressings of the legendary band. As the festival celebrated its 10th anniversary, MANA celebrated their own 40th, and their Ohana set served as a stop on their landmark Vivir Sin Aire Tour which covers the USA and Latin America.
Onstage, MANA delivered show-stopping renditions of hits such as “Oye Mi Amor,” “Clavado en un Bar” and “Rayando El Sol.” Eddie Vedder’s heartfelt introduction of them reminded audiences of the greater mission of Ohana festival, as two generations of rock artists across different languages and cultures shared an audience and made history.
Jake Wesley Rogers
As reflected in In The Key Of Love, a theatrical, gospel-influenced record he released last year, Jake Wesley Rogers has come a long way since “Pluto” caught the indie folk scene’s attention in 2021. Rogers endearingly sympathized with Pluto when it lost its status as a planet, which inspired his breakthrough single about this notion of feeling like an outsider. During his Saturday morning slot, Rogers sang this track with the help of Eddie Vedder’s daughter, Olivia. Other standout moments included another “Pluto” EP track “Middle Of Love” and a heartfelt cover of Dolly Parton’s “Light Of A Clear Blue Morning.”
Rogers’ Ohana set marked the beginning of a new chapter, signaling a drastic shift in sonic direction as compared to his work before. Today’s culture tends to value maximalism and the shock factor; the music industry is no exception. In response to that, Rogers opted for a stripped-back acoustic performance rather than his regular full band show. This creative decision allowed his heartfelt vocals and the narratives within his lyrics to truly shine.
“I’ve just been feeling for a while that I want to begin performing in a new way. It was time to strip things down and go back to the basics, and remember what it was like when I first started writing songs when I was little. But also just the feeling of reminding myself that I’m enough,” Rogers told The Concert Chronicles backstage.
This principle will also guide the next batch of music Rogers plans to put out. “It’s really easy, when recording, to add a lot of things, but sometimes I feel like that comes from an insecure place of needing to dress it up, because I don’t feel like it would be enough,” reflected Rogers. “But someone just singing with a guitar or piano always hits, especially as things become more artificial.”
In the true spirit of Ohana, Rogers’ set created a safe space for fans to build community and explore many different facets of the human experience. He looks forward to doing the same at the small venue shows he has scheduled for the rest of the year. “I just think that people are really hurting right now, and I want to foster a feeling of togetherness. Sometimes, I feel like the really intimate shows do that in the best way,” he shared.
Ellery Harper
From the first slot of the day to the headliner, Saturday’s lineup contained many folk-leaning, narrative-driven artists. With gems like “Poughskeepie” and “Stranger,” Ellery Harper served as a standout in this category. His masterful storytelling and beautifully crafted Americana sound made his set a highlight of the weekend.
Marlon Funaki
While waiting for Alabama Shakes’ set, Saturday’s crowd had the privilege of seeing an up-and-comer that heavily draws inspiration from this band earlier in the day. With his Ohana Festival set, Marlon Funaki checked off yet another bucket list item in his current artistic era. After performances at larger-scale, more commercial events like Lollapalooza and Outside Lands, in addition to his own headline tour, Ohana served as a calmer, slower-paced follow-up for Funaki.
A standout moment from Funaki’s set included a rendition of “Red Hearts.” It’s his favorite to sing live, because it reminds him of his father. “The first time I played the demo for my dad, he sat there and started crying as he listened to the rough mix,” shared Funaki in a backstage interview. “Now I feel like I invoke that emotion while performing it.”
At the moment, he’s heading down a Kings of Leon-influenced, western folk route. For new fans, he recommends starting with his very first song. “My music has kind of shaped itself, and it’s kind of going towards the direction I want to further,” Funaki reflected.
In light of his current sonic metamorphosis, Funaki thought he’d give fans a small taste of what’s coming before dropping his next record in full. That strategy resulted in his latest EP, “Half Moon,” which he described as one half of an album. It remains rooted in the western psychedelic sound he established at the beginning of his career, but simultaneously reflects both personal and artistic evolution.
“[The fans are] going to see a new Marlon, with Marlon DNA,” said Funaki of his upcoming full-length project. “I think they’re going to like it, I hope so… I haven’t felt this passionate about a project in the past.”
Alice Phoebe Lou
The South African singer’s Ohana set follows her opening stints for some of today’s biggest stars, including Laufey and Olivia Dean, as well as her latest album Oblivion. This record invites the listener into the unknown, including the mysterious depths within the essence of oneself. It showcases Lou’s autobiographical, stream-of-consciousness songwriting where she dives fearlessly into a multitude of thought-provoking topics, letting go of the idea of public perception. Through her live performance, it was easy to see how naturally Oblivion came to her, and how she emotionally identifies with the narratives it contains.
Jon Batiste
The versatile musician pulled out all the stops that fans know him for — including his powerhouse vocals, the melodica, the grand piano, a call-and-response segment, and an overall call to action of achieving unity through music. His set boosted the festival’s overall energy as his joyful dance moves took him all over the stage, and the audience followed suit. Blending musical theatre, gospel, and jazz, Batiste brought the crowd to its feet.
Alabama Shakes
Led by soulful powerhouse vocalist Brittany Howard, the famed Alabama-bred band served as a natural transition from Batiste’s impressive set. Their captivating take on Southern rock was aided by Heath Fogg’s guitar, Zac Cockrell’s bass, and a choir that perfectly complemented Howard’s voice. Onstage, the band used their platform to condemn ICE and urge Americans to protect each other.
Florence Road
It wasn’t just concertgoers who looked out for each other’s safety and left with new friends after bonding over the music. The artists led by example, always having each other’s backs. Irish band Florence Road’s set was originally scheduled for Friday, but they had their equipment stolen right before the festival. When Vedder heard about this situation, he insisted they play his guitars, which made them Saturday’s final performers on the Tiki stage!
Florence Road consists of lead singer and guitarist Lily Aron, guitarist Emma Brandon, bassist Alibhe Barry, and drummer Hannah Kelly. One of the most promising up-and-coming voices in the indie rock scene, they took full advantage of this spectacular opportunity that almost didn’t happen. The rescheduling of their Ohana set was perhaps a blessing in disguise, as much of their heartfelt, autobiographical discography just hits harder at night. The band played their new single “7563,” the traditionally rooted “Break The Girl,” and the cathartic fan-favorite “Hanging Out To Dry,” among other stellar tracks that were a treat to hear live.
Tyler Childers
Whether you know nothing about Childers apart from his TikTok-viral songs or you’ve been a longtime fan — or you’d categorize yourself as something in between — his Saturday night headlining set was an experience every live music lover could resonate with. Including well-known tracks such as “Peace Of Mind,” “Rustin’ In The Rain,” “All Your’n,” and “Lady May,” his set told a story from start to finish. Through his well-rounded discography, the Applachian-bred star takes country back to its folksy, bluegrass-inspired roots, recalling a time when the genre at large echoed the perspective of the working class and provided progressive social commentary.
Rilo Kiley
Consisting of Jenny Lewis, Blake Sennett, Pierre De Reeder, and Jason Boesel, the indie rock band has been on a roll since officially returning in 2025. With tracks such as “Spectacular Views” and “Silver Lining,” Rilo Kiley brought fresh, breezy vibes to Sunday afternoon at Ohana Festival.
Eddie Vedder & Pearl Jam
Vedder headlined Ohana festival twice this year — once by himself on Friday night, then with Pearl Jam on Sunday Night to conclude a monumental weekend.
His show-stopping solo set brought the crowd to their feet. But before delivering what most of his audience knows him for, he played a few acoustic songs. With just Vedder, his guitar, and some friends, this stripped-back segment doubled as a trip down Ohana memory lane. He brought out fellow performers such as Billy Idol and Stephen Wilson Jr., and paid tribute to the late Glen Hansard, a close friend of his and an integral member of the Ohana family over the years. This undoubtedly served as one of the most bittersweet, yet heartwarming moments of the entire weekend.
Pearl Jam’s Sunday set was the moment that majority of festivalgoers looked forward to all weekend. Longtime fans flew from every corner of the earth, including as far as Australia, and camped at the barricade to watch this landmark performance of the band. It took a similar format as Eddie Vedder’s Friday set — a brief acoustic segment with heartfelt moments of reflection, along with videos playing that showcased the festival’s decade-long history, before the rest of Pearl Jam joined Vedder onstage to close out the festival with a bang.
Every aspect of Ohana’s physical setting, philosophy, and atmosphere made it the perfect environment to enjoy some top-tier live music. Its smaller scale comes with a heightened sense of family and community, a spirit quite literally in the festival’s name that was exemplified many times throughout the weekend. Vedder created something incredibly special when he launched Ohana ten years ago. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to participate in the festival’s 10th anniversary celebration, and we look forward to seeing how its legacy only continues to blossom in the years to come!
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