Get Ready to Rock the Waterfront in Benicia this Summer!
Join Benicia Main Street and Frazier Trager Presents for an epic weekend of music on the Benicia waterfront featuring touring artists from around the globe. The two-day event set on the bay shore of Carquinez Strait will also include a vast array of delicious food, selection of microbrews and regional wines, sailboat regatta, spa pavilion, and lil rockers kids’ alley. Lots of fun for the whole family!
For 30 years, Benicia Main Street has sponsored and staged this popular event, showcasing Benicia’s historic waterfront at the bottom of First Street. The sweeping bay views serve as the backdrop for thousands of visitors and residents who gather to celebrate, enjoy food/wine/beer and entertainment.
ABOUT THE EVENT:
Benicia Waterfront Rocks Weekend
Saturday July 26 and Sunday July 27, 2025
12:00PM – 6:00PM. Doors Open at 11AM
Benicia Waterfront at First Street Green
501 1st St, Benicia, CA 94510
The musical lineup features blues guitarist Carolyn Wonderland, Super Diamond: Neil Diamond tribute, soulful roots rocker Eric Lindell, Australian Hammond organ player Lachy Doley, legendary chart-topper Pablo Cruise and Texas blues singer songwriter Ally Venable. Read more about these artists below.
General Admission tickets for Saturday and Sunday are $45 per day with a 2 Day Pass for $80.
Kids 12 and under are Free.
All minors under 21 must be accompanied by an adult.
20% off Group Discount – If you put 5 or more tickets in your cart, we will automatically give you a 20% order discount. The discount is applied on the cart page before you checkout. This group discount is for online advance sales only.
$5 off any ticket purchased in person at Benicia Main Street, 90 First Street.
Please note: No dogs are allowed inside the festival site. No outside food or drink allowed inside the festival.
* No coolers allowed
* Come prepared for sunshine! Don’t forget your sunscreen and sun hats
ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP
Saturday, July 26, 2025
Carolyn Wonderland has been touring the world with John Mayall since 2018 and recently signed to Alligator Records. Wonderland is the only female guitarist to be signed to Alligator in the label’s 50 years. For the past two decades, she has toured with luminaries like Dave Alvin, Buddy Guy and Johnny Winter, spreading her music in the US, Europe, South America and Japan.
Carolyn Wonderland has been on the top of the Blues, and Alt Country charts, gathering critical acclaim for her Dave Alvin produced “Tempting Fate” album, released October 2021! Carolyn has 2 nominations in The Blues Foundation’s 43rd Blues Music Awards, Contemporary Blues Female Artist, and Song of the Year – “Fragile Peace and Certain War”. Although she has a strong affinity for blues, her music is far more diverse. Strains of country, Tex-Mex and even zydeco reflect a roots artist who soaks up a variety of dusky inspirations. But as strong a musician and songwriter as she is, it’s her dynamic once-in-a-lifetime voice that will draw you in and keep you coming back.
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Super Diamond, featuring Surreal Neil – An uncanny tribute to beloved, master singer/songwriter/performer, American pop icon Neil Diamond.
San Francisco’s Super Diamond has become one of the most popular live shows at major nightclubs, theaters, ballrooms and public events throughout the United States. For three decades the band has performed sell-out shows at venues such as Irving Plaza in New York, 930 Club in Washington D.C., Bimbo’s in San Francisco, and House of Blues venues in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, Cleveland, Las Vegas, New Orleans and Dallas to name a few.
Super Diamond delivers a glittering, high energy show performing Neil Diamond‘s hits with a rock edge and unrestrained enthusiasm. Pure entertainment – classic music combined with fun, energy and passion! Neil Diamond himself has sung his songs on stage with Super Diamond at their shows.
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A Sonoma County native and known as a soulful roots rocker. Eric Lindell is famous for his original songs and excellent musicianship. Lindell’s musical style borrows from 1970s blues-rock, soul, and R&B. His style has also been called “blue-eyed soul”, a common shorthand used for Anglo blues singers that has been applied to artists like Bobby Caldwell, and Van Morrison, among others.
Eric Lindell performs well over 100 live concerts a year, and he has toured nationally and internationally. He made recent trips to perform in Europe and Australia. He had his network television debut on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and was featured in an episode of the Boston Legal TV show.
Eric’s live shows are captivating, heartfelt, and inclusive. He makes a connection with his audience with playful banter, stories from the road, and his poetic lyrics and soulful melodies.
Sunday July 27, 2025
Lachy Doley hails from Sydney, Australia and his music is based on an unusual set of equipment. He plays the Hammond Organ and utilizes a Whammy Clavinet. His performances are dripping with talent and energy and when you first hear him, it’s an experience you won’t forget. He’s been dubbed the Jimi Hendrix of the Hammond Organ and you won’t believe your ears when you hear his version of Voodoo Child.
The Lachy Doley Group are a unique sound in a classic and sometimes very traditional genre of the Blues. Most often a power trio consisting of Bass, Drums and of course Doley firing on the Hammond with his incomparable style, his vocal screaming from the heart and the incredibly rare Hohner D6 Whammy Clavinet.
“Makes u feel good the way he plays that clavinet” – BOOTSY COLLINS
“Lachy Doley, might be the best live musician I have ever seen in my life. His set was mesmerizing, fun, impressive and unlike any other festival show I’ve seen” – Luke Girgus Tone Deaf Magazine
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Pablo Cruise has toured the United States, Canada and Japan extensively, welcoming fans to “Climb Aboard The Good Ship Pablo Cruise.” Reaching the top 10 with mega hits like “Whatcha Gonna Do When She Says Goodbye?” and “Love Will Find A Way,” and several other top 20’s, the band went on to sell several million albums and singles collectively and established themselves as well respected writers and performers within the industry.
Since getting back together, they have released two live CD’s and a DVD all through Sony Music documenting their exceptional live shows. “One of the great things about playing shows after all these years is that the core band, David, Steve and myself are still here and lovin’ it, says Cory! Going out and playing shows these days gives us the opportunity to not only pay tribute to our timeless repertoire, it gives us a chance to see old friends and fans from back in the day as well as gaining a whole new audience!” Today Pablo Cruise is bringing more energy and excitement to the stage than ever before and with the addition of Larry Antonino and Robbie Wyckoff, the band has never sounded better. Now is your opportunity to see Pablo Cruise live in Benicia, don’t pass it up!
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Texas blues-rock singer/songwriter and guitarist extraordinaire, Ally Venable, entertains wherever she goes. With her signature glitter dresses and black knee-high boots, Venable comes off of the ropes swinging dazzling crowds on tour or throughout the festival circuit.
Ally Venable delivers gritty and sultry blues rock tunes embellished with lots of tasty guitar solos. A Kilgore, Texas native, Ally began singing at church at age 4 and picked up the guitar at age 12. By 13, she started her own band and through her early influence of Stevie Ray Vaughan captured the passion and yearning for more in the blues genre.
Venable’s recent spring 2023 release produced by Grammy award winning producer, Tom Hambridge, includes a duet with the iconic Buddy Guy and a song featuring powerhouse guitarist Joe Bonamassa. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Charts & has remained in the top 100 since the release date.
For more information on the Benicia Waterfront Rocks Weekend in Benicia, contact Benicia Main Street at 707-745-9791 or info@beniciamainstreeet.org.
Curated Wines by SIPS The Bottle Emporium
Wines from Joel Gott, Domaine Chandon, and The Benician.
Sailboat Regatta
The First Annual Waterfront Regatta sailboat race. Sunday, July 27, 2025 at 1PM. Sailboat racers from Benicia’s Yacht Club will unfurl their sails chasing the wind and each other on the Carquinez Straits.
Lyfe is Green Spa Pavilion
Lyfe is Green – Wellness Products
Active Comfort – Free Massages
A Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork – Free Massages
Benicia Psychic – Psychic Readings
Copas Crew Fitness – Free Yoga
Breathe on Purpose – Free Breath Work Sessions
Food
Cousin’s Lobster
Philly Cheesesteak
Outta This World Concessions
Kettlepop
M & J Culinary Creations
Brazilian Appetizers
Tacos Jalisco
Anu Anu Snowballz
Heena’s Kitchen
California Dream Express
California Dream Express offers rides for all ages. The train will follow the historic rail line from 1902. This custom built, family-owned fully electric train will be here on Sunday only. The train fare is $7.
Transportation
SolTrans will be providing a free shuttle to Benicia Waterfront Rocks (Rt. 15 & 17) which will run every 40 minutes on both Saturday and Sunday, dropping event patrons off at Safeway – Military and First.
Solano Transit Authority will be providing a free shuttle from Safeway – Military and First bringing event patrons to the venue with stops at First and H and First and B Street.
Handicap parking available.
Thank you to our event sponsors:
Amports – Lil Rockers Alley
SIPS The Bottle Emporium
SolTrans – Shuttle Transportation
Solano Transit Authority – Shuttle Transportation
Republic Services
Pedrotti Ace Hardware
PG&E
Lyfe is Green
Benicia Magazine – Media
Benicia Herald – Media