Staff Report

The 30^th annual Live Oak Music Festival, a benefit for KCBX Public Radio, has announced a full slate of performers for the three-day, family-friendly event Friday through Sunday, June 15-17, at Live Oak Camp near Lake Cachuma.

In addition, “soul rocker” Michael Franti will play a special benefit concert on Thursday, June 14, at Live Oak Camp, with local band Próxima Parada opening the evening.

The Live Oak Music Festival is a family-friendly getaway for music aficionados looking to experience live concerts in a pristine outdoor setting.

In addition to music, the festival offers local food, wine and beer for adults and plenty of games, activities and talent shows for children and teens.

A full-festival pass allows admission on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Single-day passes are also available for adults, teens (13-17), and children (ages 4 – 12). Visit www.liveoakfest.org/tickets/ for more information on ticket sales.

The first event Friday afternoon on Stage Too will be a jamming workshop led by master fiddler and teacher Phil Salazar, who will offer workshops all three days. Then the Main Stage will feature the “postmodern barn dance” sound of the Bryan Titus Trio; jazzy-folky-funky blues from Inga Swearingen and Guy Budd; soul, funk and R&B from Niki J. Crawford; and headliner JD McPherson with his roots rock inspired by true stories. Friday evening, Stage Too will feature Brass Mash and their powerhouse brass band mash-ups. The night concludes on the Hot Licks Stage with a dance featuring the “Beergrass” of The Mother Corn Shuckers.

Saturday’s Main Stage lineup will start with country roots band Amanda Anne Platt & the Honeycutters, followed by singer-songwriter Joe Purdy, and Aki Kumar with his blend of Indian Bollywood and American blues.

That evening the Main Stage will feature the soulful harmonies of the Rainbow Girls, the funk and psychedelic soul of San Francisco band Con Brio, and headliner Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, a band that’s been together for 24 years on a mission to celebrate and revitalize jazz and swing music.

The festival’s side stages showcase local and regional acts.

Sunday, the last day of the festival, the Main Stage will host Bay Area gospel group The Sons of the Soul Revivers, Brazilian singer Flavia Coelho, contemporary folk artist Eilen Jewell, The Dustbowl Revival, and legendary R&B and gospel singer Mavis Staples, who returns to Live oak on the heels of her acclaimed album, “If All I Was Was Black.”

Local band Cuesta Ridge will play a set of bluegrass-injected Americana at the Beer Garden. Stage Too will feature the roots rock and Americana of The Coffis Brothers & The Mountain Men, and Live Oak veterans Cache Valley Drifters, who will reunite for a performance at this year’s festival to play their modern and traditional bluegrass interpretations. The Sunday Hot Licks Stage performers include father-daughter duo Chris Beland and Harmony, and troubadour crooner Jody Mulgrew.

All Live Oak Music Festival proceeds benefit KCBX Public Radio, serving Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and southern Monterey counties.

Festival gates open at 8 a.m. on Friday. Ticket prices range from $20 (child day ticket) to $150 (adult full festival/3-day pass). Camping is included with the 3-day pass. Parking fees are additional.

Ticket information, entertainment line-up, and complete festival details are available at www.liveoakfest.org.