Have you heard?  There’s an exciting and ambitious music, wine, and food festival coming to Napa Valley.  The inaugural BottleRock Napa Valley will be held May 9-12, 2013, featuring over 50 artists, bands, and performers from a variety of genres including rock, soul/R&B, country, and hip-hop.  Grammy winners, local favorites, they’re all going to be there.

So, if you were looking for yet another reason to come to Napa Valley, this may be it.

The Black Keys, 2013 Grammy Winner, Best Rock Album

Here are just some of the artists scheduled to appear at BottleRock Napa Valley: Alabama Shakes, Bad Religion, Brandi Carlile, The Black Crowes, The Black Keys, Blues Traveler, Cake, Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Flaming Lips, Furthur, Jackson Browne, Jane’s Addiction, Kings of Leon, Matt Nathanson, Primus, Rodrigo & Gabriela, Rogue Wave, The Shins, Train, Vintage Trouble, The Wallflowers, Dwight Yoakam, and the Zac Brown Band.  Festival Passes are now available to the general public and can be purchased here.  A Three-Day Pass (Fri – Sun) is $299, a Four-Day Pass (Thur – Sun) is $399, and the full-on Four-Day-VIP-Pass is $599.  If it helps you to decide, the music lineup for Thursday May 9 includes Furthur (Featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir), The Black Crowes, Primus, ALO, and Café Tacuba.  For each day’s Festival lineup, and complete details on BottleRock Napa Valley, please go here.

VIP Passes include admission to a May 8 Preview show (headlined by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis), convenient parking, exclusive viewing sections, entrance to additional hospitality areas, concierge services, and access to over 30 official VIP after-parties held in downtown Napa during the festival.  VIPs will also receive a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and a festival T-shirt.

Oenotri, One of the Restaurants at BottleRock Napa Valley

BottleRock Napa Valley attendees will have access to local and delicious food, wine, and beer at the festival. Winery participants (so far) include Boyd Family Vineyard, Del Dotto Vineyards, Flora Springs, Grgich Hills Estate, Gundlach Bundschu, Miner Family Winery, Silver Oak Cellars, Rombauer Vineyards, and V. Sattui Winery.  Food purveyors will include Backyard, BarBersQ/The Q, C Casa, Gott’s Roadside, Grace’s Table, Morimoto Napa, Oenotri, SMOKE: Open Fire Cooking, Bank Cafe and Bar at La Toque, The Thomas, and Zuzu.

Details on the comedy lineup that will be part of  the festival, as well as the dozen or so craft brewers that will be serving their beers will be released later.

Zac Brown Band, 2013 Grammy Winner, Best Country Album

BottleRock Napa Valley delivers world class music with civility, accessibility, and creature comforts to enhance your entire experience.  There will be simultaneous performances throughout the day on three stages spread out over 26 acres at the Napa Valley Expo.  All ages are welcome and children 24 months and under are admitted free in the General Admission area.

At BottleRock, General Admission seating is on the lawn area and no chairs will be provided.  A wide variety of food, beer, and wine will be available at the Expo but all purchases must be made by credit card, debit card, or by prepaid BottleRock card (this is a cash-free event).   No outside food or drink will be allowed, but you may bring in an empty water bottle and then fill it at one of the water fountains once you are inside.

Please realize that parking in downtown Napa will be extremely limited.  In March, Pass Holders will be contacted with convenient and discounted parking opportunities.  When it arrives, you should move quickly to purchase a dedicated parking permit in advance, rather than searching for available parking in Napa during the event.

And, here’s “the fine print” for the BottleRock Napa Valley festival:  Lineup subject to change.  Everyone will be subject to search upon entry.  Event proceeds rain or shine.  No outside food or drink.  Ages 2 and up must have a pass.  No refunds.

BottleRock Napa Valley is the brainchild of Bob Vogt and Gabriel Meyers, two gentlemen involved in the early stages of the Uptown Theatre revival.  BottleRock Napa Valley and Will Power Entertainment are dedicated to empowering partners and people through philanthropy and cooperative efforts.  To this end, BottleRock is donating a significant portion of their profits to Autism ARC (Autism Adult living care, family Resources, and a Cure).

BottleRock Napa Valley is also partnering with and supporting several local non-profit organizations: the Foundation for Napa Recreation raises funds to support local recreational programs and services; the Land Trust of Napa County is dedicated to preserving the character of Napa County by permanently protecting land; and the Napa Downtown Association supports and promotes Downtown Napa as well as its merchants, businesses, restaurants and tasting rooms.

For the most up-to-date information on BottleRock Napa Valley, please go here.  If you’re coming to the Napa area (whether in May or not), please check out our recommendations for food destinations or wineries around here while you’re visiting.  Simply go to the navigation menu near the top of the page, click on “Favorites By Wine Region,” and then drop down to “Favorites in Napa Valley” and select the part of the Valley you are interested in.