TVD Live Shots: Ohana Festival 2025, 9/28

DANA POINT, CA | The final day of Ohana Fest 2025 had arrived, promising relentless energy, a lineup stacked with punk’s most electrifying acts, and a surprise performance yet to come. With 15,000 attendees seemingly making a silent vow to leave nothing in the tank, day 3 was kicked into high gear.

1:30PM: Bright, bold, and unapologetically loud, Lambrini Girls brought a jolt of energy to the shores of Doheny Beach. Hailing from Brighton, the trio wasted no time commanding the stage—a whirlwind of snarling guitar riffs, raw vocals, and riot girl attitude that instantly woke up the mid-afternoon crowd. Lambrini Girls didn’t just play Ohana Fest—they shook it up.

2:00PM: The Chats stormed the Tiki Stage with the kind of reckless Aussie energy that can turn any crowd into a mosh pit by the second song. Introduced by Eddie Vedder who shared his long-time admiration for the group—“I’ll tell you, for three, four years I’ve been trying to get this next group up on this stage…”—the anticipation was already high before they even plugged in.

Known for their fast-paced punk anthems and deadpan humor (“I will say, it’s reckless endangerment to put a ginger in the sun like this” lead singer Eamon Sandwith quipped), the group tore through their set with grins as wide as their riffs were loud, delivering pure, sweat-soaked chaos from start to finish.

An Aussie myself, I was curious to dig deeper into their sound and history—only to discover the trio and I had attended the same high school. A small coastal campus half a world away, it turns out the soundtrack to my old stomping grounds was here, shaking the sand at Ohana.

2:40PM: Unleashing a set full of power, English punk rock band High Vis held the crowd in the palm of their hand. As lead singer Graham Sayle punched the air and brought passion to every word, the band fused gritty, hard-hitting riffs with melodic hooks, creating a sound that was as urgent as it was infectious.

3:25PM: Next up: Amanda Reckonwith… Or, so we thought.

“Hi… I’m Amanda…” Eddie Vedder jokingly greeted the crowd as he took the stage.

“About 15 minutes ago, I’m watching The Chats thinking ‘if I showed up at a festival and I was expected to play an acoustic set in the middle of fucking awesome punk rock day I would’ve fired the manager that agreed.’ Then, I thought it through and I thought “that was me.””

A surprise set by Vedder, he went on to explain that “Amanda Reckonwith” was an alias used by The Who’s bass guitarist John Entwistle when booking hotels. Ohana Fest’s founder, Vedder performed five songs including a moving rendition of “Song of Good Hope” and “Society” with Glen Hansard.

4:00PM: Beyond the 35+ performances, festival attendees were treated to a variety of between-set activations. From “Storytelling in the Cove,” featuring panels with leading conservationists, researchers, and professional surfers to art exhibits, beachside bites, and shaded areas to relax, there was truly something for everyone.

“I’m torn between watching the swell and the sets,” one attendee commented as he looked wistfully toward the ocean, just steps away from world-class music—an ode to the iconic location of this coastal festival.

4:25PM: Up next, another iconic band from across the pond: James. Opening with 1993 hit “Five-O,” the folk/pop song offered a change of pace during a day filled with punk. Wasting no time in connecting with the sea of fans, lead singer Timothy Booth made his way to the barricade, holding a woman’s hand in support as he serenaded the crowd with heartfelt intensity.

5:20PM: Flexing her muscles as she strode onto stage, Rhian Teasdale of Wet Leg was poised with power both in attitude and musical skill. The set moved seamlessly between their quirky, infectious hits like “Chaise Longue” and “Wet Dream” to deeper cuts that showcased their evolving sound. Balancing wit, melody, and punk-tinged energy, their set cemented their reputation as a band on the rise.

6:25PM: One of my favorite sets of the weekend, Cage the Elephant’s outstanding performance is still echoing in my mind. Springing across the stage, it was as if lead singer Matt Shultz had wired himself to the crowd’s energy, every jump, shout, and spin amplifying the chaos and pulling the audience deeper into the music. With guitars screaming, drums pounding, and vocals cutting through the California sunset, the performance felt frenzied and exhilarating in all the best ways.

Coinciding with a SpaceX launch, Schultz turned to the crowd, squinting at the streak of light overhead: “I think we just saw a UFO?” he questioned, sparking cheers as everyone shared the surreal moment.

8:05PM: The sunburns might have been in full effect, but all moments of tiredness were forgotten as soon as Green Day launched into their first notes, sparking an instant sing-along of “American Idiot.”

Hit after hit, the California born band delivered a masterclass in punk rock energy—from “Basket Case” to “Holiday,” each song was met with deafening cheers and nonstop admiration from the crowd. Billie Joe Armstrong’s charisma was magnetic, weaving playful banter between songs while keeping the energy sky-high.

As the final chords of 1997 anthem “Good Riddance” rang out, the weekend’s revelers cheered one last time and Vedder appeared to take a bow. It was clear that Ohana Fest had once again lived up to its name—a weekend not just of legendary music, but of connection. From early afternoon sets to epic headliners under the stars, the festival proved that whether you came for the punk, the soul, or the surf, everyone left as part of the Ohana.

AMANDA RECKONWITH