Photos by Stuart Levine
On Sunday, Napa Valley, Calif.’s renowned BottleRock festival concluded its tenth edition on a high note, leaving festival-goers exhilarated with a diverse lineup of musical acts. The festival–a fixture in Northern California–showcased an array of performers from different genres. and on the final day, witnessed an atmosphere filled with jubilation as Sheryl Crow, Wu-Tang Clan, and Red Hot Chili Peppers took the stage to close out the festival in spectacular fashion.
Despite overcast skies and blustery wind during the first half of the day, Sheryl Crow and her band delivered a high-energy rock-and-soul revival at the JaM Cellars Stage. Opening with her hit song “If It Makes You Happy,” Crow captivated the cannabis-friendly California crowd by emphasizing the iconic line “I still get stoned.” Throughout her set, Crow showcased her versatility, effortlessly switching between electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and four-string bass. Memorable moments included crowd favorites such as “All I Wanna Do,” “My Favorite Mistake,” and “Strong Enough.” The performance reached its crescendo with an electrifying one-two finale of “Soak Up The Sun” and “Everyday is a Winding Road,” accompanied by a teaser of Traffic/Joe Cocker’s beloved track, “Feelin’ Alright?”
Expressing her gratitude to the BottleRock audience, Crow concluded her set by saying, “Thank you so much BottleRock! Be kind, spread peace.”
Shortly thereafter, fans flocked to the Verizon Stage to witness the legendary hip-hop collective, the Wu-Tang Clan, in their first-ever performance in Napa. As the sun began to set, the RZA addressed the crowd, proclaiming, “This is our first time in Napa ever,” before the group launched into the explosive track, “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing Ta F’ Wit.” The crowd erupted with excitement as additional members of the collective joined the stage one by one, delivering an unforgettable performance. The appearance of Method Man, in particular, brought the energy to another level, as he delivered electrifying renditions of “Shame on a Nuh” and his eponymous track, “Method Man.” Wu-Tang Clan continued to captivate the audience with crowd favorites like “C.R.E.A.M.” and “Protect Ya Neck” from their seminal album, 36 Chambers.
Finally, the time arrived for Red Hot Chili Peppers to grace the JaM Cellars stage. Bursting onto the scene with an improvised jam led by bassist Flea and guitarist John Frusciante, the band ignited the crowd’s excitement. Frontman Anthony Kiedis then stormed the stage, propelling the band into their hit song, “Around the World,” from their iconic album, Californication. Flea expressed his gratitude to the crowd after the second song, “Universally Speaking,” stating, “Thank you so much for staying around to see us, everybody!” The band continued to deliver an electrifying performance, including fan-favorite tracks like “Snow (Hey Oh)” from their Stadium Arcadium era.
The crowd was enthralled by Red Hot Chili Peppers’ dynamic set, featuring Frusciante, who rejoined the band in 2019. Frusciante’s world-class improvisational skills took center stage, leaving fans in awe. The performance of “Eddie,” a newer song from the band’s 2022 album, Return of the Dream Canteen, showcased Frusciante’s impressive solo section, complete with Eddie Van Halen-inspired finger-tapping. Frontman Kiedis fell to his knees as the solo climbed higher and higher, exclaiming, “Oh hell muther-fucking-yes” in response to the electrifying moment. Frusciante even took on lead vocals for a stripped-down cover of the ’70s soft rock favorite, “Danny’s Song” by Loggins & Messina.
The band’s set continued with hits like “Tell Me Baby,” “Reach Out,” “Californication,” Funkadelic’s “What Is Soul?,” “Black Summer,” and “By the Way,” cementing Red Hot Chili Peppers’ reputation as a powerhouse in the rock genre. Kiedis expressed the band’s appreciation before the encore break, saying, “We love you, thank you for coming to the show.” Red Hot Chili Peppers returned to the stage for a final encore featuring the iconic songs “Under the Bridge” and “Give It Away.”
As the crowd continued to cheer, Kiedis declared one final time, “Until we meet again! Please be good to each other! People are people!”
BottleRock festival organizers announced that the highly anticipated event will return to the Napa Valley Expo on May 24-26, 2024, promising another unforgettable experience for music enthusiasts and festival-goers alike.
Photographer Stuart Levine captured the action below.
