Our team had the opportunity to attend BottleRock Music Festival in Napa Valley, kicking off the festival season with what they tout as the “First Taste of Summer.” This festival has been on our bucket list for a while, and it did not disappoint. With the stunning Napa Valley backdrop, an abundance of wine, and some of the most eclectic and impressive line-ups I’ve seen, it was a true delight. This year, we closed night one with Stevie Nicks, while Megan Thee Stallion was on a nearby stage. The lineup featured everyone from Nelly to Norah Jones and My Morning Jacket to Stephen Marley. I truly believe this is a must-visit festival that you need to experience for yourself. Here are our Top 5 moments from the 2024 rendition:

1. Bradley Cooper joining Eddie Vedder for a duet on Saturday night. 

Earlier in the day, Bradley Cooper made an appearance with Steph Curry and Chef Jose Andres on the Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage. Little did we know, the treat we were in for later. During Pearl Jam’s headlining set on the JaM Cellars Stage, the Star is Born actor joined frontman Eddie Vedder for an acoustic version of “Maybe It’s Time”, which you can experience here. Photo Credit: Courtesy of BottleRock Napa Valley

2. The cocktails. 

Yes, we were in the heart of Napa Valley, and the wine selection was expansive with generous pours, but we were thoroughly impressed by the cocktails from BottleRock’s alcohol partners. Nothing says summer quite like an Aperol Spritz, so we kicked off each day with an Appy Spritz (as my partner, Justin, would say). I was introduced to the tequila brand 21 Seeds (sadly not available in Canada yet!). This brand, headed by two females, delivered a beautifully aesthetic activation and an unbelievable Spicy Seeds Margarita with their Cucumber Jalapeño infused tequila. For a late-night pick-me-up, Ketel One was serving up Espresso Martinis, always welcome come sundown. My personal favourite was the Hendrick’s Gin three-story bar, very Cirque-esque, resembling the Cabinet of Curiosities, where the Hendrick’s Cucumber Lemonade was just as refreshing as it looked.

Photo Credit: Hendrick’s Gin

3. The unexpected moments. 

There is nothing quite like an unexpected moment at a Festival. Little did we know when we walked into the ‘Record Store’ to pick up a copy of Pearl Jam’s Dark Matter for our record collection, we would actually be walking into a Speakeasy rave. Complete with DJs and dance parties with people of all ages, you can be sure we’ll be on the lookout for next year’s secret sesh location (apparently last year you had to know which porta-potty (!) to enter to be transported to a whole new party), Photo Credit: Courtesy of BottleRock Napa Valley

4. Toronto locals The Beaches played an acoustic set at the JaMPad Stage. 

Photo Credit: Courtesy of JaM Cellars

5. The food. 

Napa Valley has always been a culinary destination, and BottleRock made sure that promise was delivered on, even within the confines of a festival set-up. The Culinary Garden played host to several big-name local restaurants and chefs, all serving up their version of a tasty festival meal. From La Calenda (backed by Chef Thomas Keller) to the Michelin-starred Press restaurant, BottleRock had something for everyone, including poutine for us Canadians!Photo Credit: Courtesy of BottleRock Napa Valley

Special mention: Ed Sheeran surprised everyone on stage with The Offspring for their Sunday afternoon set on the Verizon Stage. The singer-song writer mentioned The Offspring’s Conspiracy of One was the first album he ever purchased, not to mention he has a tattoo of the bands fiery skull logo . Sheeran joined the group for A Million Miles, before he closed out the weekend on the JaM Cellars Stage.

BottleRock Music Festival truly lived up to its reputation, providing unforgettable experiences and setting the perfect tone for the summer music festival season. We will undoubtedly be back next year and highly recommend you check it out!