Slightly Stoopid at PETCO Park
(Photo courtesy of Kevin Lieberman)
A little over a month ago, Slightly Stoopid’s co-founder and lead vocalist, Miles Doughty, threw out the opening pitch at a Padres game while rocking the jersey of another beloved hometown cat, Joe Musgrove.
On June 13, Doughty and the rest of the Ocean Beach-based band will be returning to Petco Park as co-headliners with Sublime for the inaugural Field of Dreamz Festival.
It’s a shining moment — not only for the band, but also for the entire Southern California reggae-rock scene. Slightly Stoopid’s role in preserving the movement’s roots while guiding its future will be on full display.
“It takes you to a different high,” says Doughty, “as far as what you ever thought you could achieve musically. Being a lifelong Ocean Beach/San Diego native, it’s just rad. All your friends are there cheering you on, and everyone you’ve known since you were a kid is going to be at the show. So it’s pretty cool.”
“They bring in so many different things to that stadium,” he continues. “Doing this music event is going to be a first of its kind, bringing this total surf, rock-reggae culture into this big stadium.”
While other genres of music from the ‘90s have faded or stayed tied to the era, the reggae-rock movement has evolved, thanks to relentless touring and a multigenerational fanbase.
The Field of Dreamz Festival lineup provides evidence of this. Stephen Marley brings ‘70s-rooted reggae. Then ‘90s giants like Sublime and Slightly Stoopid, bands that both influenced and paved the way for local acts like Pepper and Band of Gringos.
And now, the streaming era has ushered in the likes of The Elovators, DENM, and Boostive. And with the late Bradley Nowell’s son Jakob continuing to front Sublime, they’re back riding the freshest crest, generations-wise.
“What’s rad is Jakob’s energy,” Doughty explains. “They’re coming to the studio and doing their thing, creating their own entity. Even with what Brad did for the music, Jakob deserves the right to come in with his uncles and bring that music to people today. We’re excited for him and the chapter he’s bringing. It’s great for the scene, regardless. I always say that when any friend’s band succeeds, it only helps all of us.”
If Bradley Nowell could see the scene today, “I think he would have been like, ‘Holy shit!’” Doughty says. “You’ve got people who have created annual festivals all over the country, just because of the kind of energy that he started. I don’t think he could ever have thought it was going to be like that. He’s changed so many people’s lives. He’s in that musical band in the sky looking down with nothing but a smile and appreciation for how many people have continued his message and worked their asses off on the road.”
The Field of Dreamz Festival itself can be seen either as a celebration of the scene’s history, or as an indicator of where it’s heading. There’s no wrong answer.
“I think it’s a sign of what’s next,” Doughty says. “We’re always celebrating. We’re living the dream, getting to play music with our friends. I think with this being one of the first stadium shows with this genre, who knows where it’s going to take us? If we can somehow harness something like this and do multiples of it, it would be pretty insane. Kyle [McDonald] said it best. He called it a ‘Hometown Throwdown.’”
The festival will likely be the year’s centerpiece for the band. From there, they’ll embark on their coast-to-coast 2026 Road Trippin’ Summer Tour, taking DENM, The Elovators, and Bumpin’ Uglies along for the ride.
A new studio album is expected to be out later this year; however, the release date and album title have yet to be announced.
- Where: PETCO Park,
- When: Saturday, June 13, starting at 3:40 pm
- Ages: All ages
- Cost: $160-$725
