On Friday, May 24, under the baking Napa Valley sun, the first day of BottleRock 2024 kicked off with a bang. The annual music festival, featuring major names in the music industry, attracts locals and tourists alike. The Friday celebration boasted big names including Nelly, Megan Thee Stallion, Bebe Rexha, and Stevie Nicks.
Four large stages separate the festival: sponsor-monikered Prudential, Truly, Verizon, and the main stage JaM Cellars. Most headlining artists performed at the JaM Cellars stage to attract the largest audience. According to CBS, an estimated 40,000 audience members attended Friday’s performances.
Royel Otis
At 4:45 p.m., Australian-born band Royel Otis took to the stage at the Truly stage, blasting their indie-pop and rock sounds. The duo, consisting of lead vocalist and guitarist Royel Maddell and guitarist Otis Pavlovic, played an hour and 15 minute-long set, consisting of their hits including “Sofa King,” “Going Kokomo,” and “Oysters In My Pocket.” Background musicians, a drummer, and a keyboardist who dabbled in the occasional tambourine, set the mood for a bright and groovy set, complete with vibrant flashing light screens behind the band.
Across the venue at the JaM Cellars stage, well-known pop performer Bebe Rexha began her hour-long set at 5:00 p.m. Complete with background dancers and a nearly full audience, Rexha quickly got the crowd moving and screaming along to her radio hits.
Decked out in a black and turquoise striped catsuit, Rexha energetically performed song after song, including “I’m Good (Blue),” “In the Name of Love,” and “Hey Mama.” Her powerful and effervescent vocals further stimulated the crowd to get up and dance, many on blankets further back from the main stage. Later in the set, Rexha brought up two audience members to compete in a dance-off, causing a stir in the audience as they rooted for their favorite contestants.
Nelly
The next headlining set moved the crowd to the Verizon Stage for the 6:30 p.m. performance by hip-hop artist Nelly. Opening with “Party People,” Nelly covered lots of ground onstage, rapping and singing alongside his brother Lavell Webb, with whom he often performs. Accompanied by a DJ with a stand in the center of the stage, Nelly and Webb worked in tandem, creating smooth beats and fired-up lyrics.
Nelly’s crowd grew throughout the hour-long set, with most audience members dancing with their hands in the air. Nelly worked through his lengthy discography, playing hits including “Hot in Herre,” which quickly inspired a dance party in the audience and carried energy throughout the venue.
Tyler Florence and Tommy Lee: Culinary Set
In the food court, a different kind of set graced the BottleRock venue. The Williams Sonoma Culinary set, decorated with fake drum kits and guitars made of kitchen items, hosted mini cooking demonstrations throughout the day, complete with music guest stars. The 7:30 demonstration boasted the assistance of heavy metal band Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee. Accompanying famous celebrity chef Tyler Florence, Lee and Florence prepared cocktails and a giant tomahawk steak in the kitchen of the Williams Sonoma stage. Crowds loved the commentary by Lee, his cool demeanor and Florence’s quick work delighted the crowd for the hour-long cooking demo.
Stevie Nicks
The final performance of BottleRock’s first night was back at JaM Cellars, with main headliner Stevie Nicks. Nicks, originally from the 1980s band Fleetwood Mac, has released solo albums throughout her career and has continued performing, well into her 70s.
Opening with a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll”, Nicks emerged to a horde of screaming masses, her black tiered dress and curly hair framing her darkly mysterious figure. Nicks’ signature decorated microphone, powerful band, and beloved hits brought the stage to life.
Nicks sang through years of music, including Fleetwood Mac’s “Gypsy,” “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” “Dreams,” and “Edge of Seventeen.” She cracked jokes about wanting the sun to set quicker and the wind to pick up, both of which happened promptly afterward, exuding more magic from the stage.
Nicks' band and backup singers boasted exquisitely combined talents, making the set come alive like no other. For one of her last songs, she invited her longtime vocal coach, Steve Real, to sing her 1981 single “Leather and Lace” as a duet. Originally sung with Don Henley from the Eagles, Real’s dueting vocals brought tears to audience members’ eyes, sparking memories for the older generations. The night ended with an encore performance of “Landslide,” as listeners moved and swayed to Nick’s never-faltering vocals before finally departing the venue.
The exciting headliners and strong performances of day one created the perfect introduction to the weekend of music ahead. Following the sets on Friday, audience members went home ready to return for the artists lining up in the next few days of burning sun and booming stages.