Jack Johnson @ Farm Aid 2015 (Photo by Laurie Fanelli)
The Monterey International Pop Festival is soon to be celebrating 50 years next week with its 2017 festival rendition. To help commemorate the special occasion, which takes place at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, CA on June 16-18, the event will feature a handful of special tribute performances by select artists including Jack Johnson, Jim James and more.
Paying tribute to artists from the original Monterey Pop lineup of 1967, Johnson, James and more will incorporate a cover song from an artist who performed on the festival’s original bill into their set. Johnson will honor Steve Miller Band while James will pay tribute to The Who.
In addition to the two above-mentioned artists, Gary Clark Jr., The Head and The Heart, Leon Bridges, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and Nicki Bluhm & Dirty Dozen Brass Band will also pay tribute at the fest. More artist tributes will be announced in the coming days.
Also joining the above artists on this year’s Monterey International Pop Festival lineup are three performers who played the first incarnation of the fest back in 1967. The Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh will perform with The Terrapin Family Band, while Booker T. Jones (Booker T. & The MG’s) will be there with his Stax Revue. Eric Burdon is slated to return with The Animals.
Also performing Monterey Pop 50 are Father John Misty, Regina Spektor, Norah Jones, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Hiss Golden Messenger and more. For more information, a complete lineup and tickets, visit the Monterey International Pop Festival’s official website.
Confirmed artist tributes (plus more TBA):
Jack Johnson – Steve Miller Band
Leon Bridges – Otis Redding
The Head and The Heart – The Mamas & The Papas
Gary Clark Jr. – Jimi Hendrix
Jim James – The Who
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – Big Brother & The Holding Company
Nicki Bluhm & Dirty Dozen Brass Band – Jefferson Airplane