Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
The Skull & Roses Festival in it’s second year, returned to the Ventura County Fairgrounds in Ventura, CA on April 6-8 with three days of Grateful Dead music from 20+ musical acts including Melvin Seals w/ JGB, Moonalice, Golden Gate Wingmen, Cubensis and many more. We all knew going in what kind of music to expect. What no one expected to see was a recreation of the Grateful Dead’s legendary “Wall of Sound” sound system (albeit a cardboard facsimile) constructed behind the main stage. Truly a feat of construction from the production team, the fake Wall of Sound was certainly a hot topic of conversation all weekend long.
Two stages at opposite ends of the dirt covered Ventura County Fairgrounds “arena” or “bowl” depending on who you asked replaced the previous year’s 3 stages located at various locations around the fairgrounds. Personally, this year’s configuration was far more appealing than last year. No overlapping bands, no getting up and walking to catch the tail end of another band you wanted to see only to arrive as they are ending. Every band got everyone’s full attention…just like it should be.
Skull & Roses Festival 2 – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA Photos by Rich Saputo
Friday kicked off with “Cut the Dead Some Slack” by Stephen Inglis on the “Pig Pen Stage”. A few songs into his set, Inglis was joined by David Gans (co-host of “Tales from the Golden Road”). A nice acoustic opening to the weekend of Dead music.
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA Photo by Rich Saputo
The rest of the day brought us Wake of the Dead (Chico, CA), Electric Waste Band (San Diego, CA), 9 Mile Skid (Ventura, CA), David Gans and finally, 2 sets from Cubensis. A great first day for all who came out early.
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
Skull & Roses Festival – 4/6/2018 – Ventura County Fairgrounds CA
