Burger Boogaloo, the annual fest celebrating all things vintage rock ‘n’ roll, returns to Oakland’s Mosswood Park for its 10th edition on July 6 and 7 with John Waters as host.
This year’s event boasts several acts that shaped the course of underground music in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, including British shoegaze pioneers The Jesus and Mary Chain and OG punks bands The Scientists, Dead Boys and Jayne County & the Electric Chairs. The lineup also features power pop vet Nikki Corvette, surf-rock band Phantom Surfers, prolific interdisciplinary artist Billy Childish and Derv Gordons of ’60s anti-racist pop rock band The Equals.
In addition to shining a spotlight on these influential but oft-overlooked artists, the 2019 festival includes several newer acts: Oakland garage rockers Shannon and the Clams, Philly’s explosive Sheer Mag, Australian punks Amyl and the Sniffers and garage pop duo Terry & Louie, the new-ish project of Terry Six and King Louie Bankston from the Exploding Hearts.
In 2018, Burger Boogaloo encountered backslash online after the City of Oakland forced the 20 or so unsheltered people living in Mosswood Park to relocate just days ahead of the fest. (Assistant City Administrator Joe DeVries said at the time that the sweep was to make room for a camp for youth with disabilities.)
This year, Burger Boogaloo has partnered with the Homeless Action Center, a nonprofit that provides free legal assistance to people experiencing homelessness. Showgoers have the option of donating to Homeless Action Center with their ticket purchase or at booths at the fest.
KQED asked Burger Boogaloo’s publicist if the festival will affect the people currently living in tents inside Mosswood Park and did not receive a response.
Copyright 2019 KQED