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, sumptuous sweets, and a selection of microbrews and regional wines. Lots of fun for the whole family including a designated kids alley to keep the little ones entertained.
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 5 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.
Please note: No dogs are allowed inside the festival site. No outside food or drink allowed inside the festival.
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.