Oakland’s premiere music festival, hosted by His Majesty of Molluck, John Waters, is close at hand. The lineup this year includes: Kreayshawn (see sidebar), Shannon and the Clams, Osees, Exploding Hearts, Bratmobile and the legendary DEVO. But let’s not forget about the other aspects of our favorite festival that grease the gears of Meltdowners—like food, vendors, music for sale and all those who contribute to making it such a special event.
Proprietor and grand visionary Marc Ribak happily gave us the inside scoop on the festival. While on the brink of producing his 13th Meltdown at Mosswood Park in Oakland, he’s most definitely “feeling good!” about this year’s festival.
“All of the artists have been great to work with,” Ribak says. He admits one of his favorite rituals is seeing John Waters introduce the groups. “And who knows what they have in store? That’s the magic of Mosswood.”
Ribak shares numerous memorable Meltdown moments of yore. “Seeing Ronnie Spector giving a performance at the park’s amphitheatre,” he says. “Iggy Pop stage diving, John Waters and Traci Lords introducing the Mummies on top of a hearse. And witnessing his dear, sweet mom in her first mosh pit.”
As we all know, a family that pogos and slam-dances together, stays together.
“Mosswood is the place where we could dream things up and make them come true,” Ribak says. “It’s such a beautiful place. It looks like an amazing, fantastical painting. This is not the kind of event that would thrive at a parking lot or military base. Mosswood Park has been welcoming to our festival and our audience. The bands and our staff have made this event what it is now.”
Ribak set a very high bar when he booked Niis to open this year’s festival, and it will be a tough act to follow. This is not a band to miss, for as lead singer and East Bay local Mimi SanDoe says, their influences are “across the board: the Plasmatics, Blondie, Dead Kennedys—honestly, too many to name.” This is their second Meltdown appearance since Halloween 2022.
“Every time we play here it’s always an absolute rager of a show,” says SanDoe, who actually used to work at the festival as a teen. “To be included in such an iconic festival is an honor.”
Meanwhile, Oakland-based Twompsax returns for their 10th performance, and even reunited just for Mosswood 2025—lead singer Cher Strauberry immediately said “yes” when asked to join this year.
“I’m excited to see John [Waters] again, and get some Aburaya Japanese-style fried chicken,” Strauberry says. “I love the East Bay—Twompsax is Oakland, all the way. All of our songs were written at 36th and Telegraph. The first Bratmobile 7-inch I bought was at the Berkeley Amoeba.”
Strauberry is also ready to use the stage as a platform to express herself and bring attention to the current state of affairs. “It’s a great time and a great show to be angry and trans,” she says. “I can really express myself at Mosswood. It’s great to be surrounded by people that think like you.”
While Mosswood offers a vast array of delicious delicacies, one standout is Homeslice Pizza, returning with its skull-mouthed wood-burning oven to its 11th Meltdown. For those who don’t know, Andrew Welborn of Homeslice is like the Willy Wonka of the music festival pizza scene.
“Mosswood Meltdown is a pirate ship all its own—the last flag flying in the heart of punk,” says Welborn, before fondly recalling the time Waters requested an anchovy pizza and ate it “in his most poetic manner” on stage. “We can’t wait to be a part of it!”
Welborn promises daily mystery pies, along with some Mosswood classics like the “Bonnie Rotten”—pistachio pesto and mushrooms—and the famed pickle ranch pie, a fan favorite. Pro tip: Do not miss out on a jumbo-sized Black Majik Lemonade.
Also on board the pirate ship’s grub galley are Oakland’s Aburaya, South San Francisco’s Me So Hungry Too, San Francisco’s Wooly Pig and Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream, along with Xochi the Dog and a full beer garden with libations from Alameda’s Faction Brewing, Cambio Tequila and Maker’s Mark.
The cozy vendor village hosts tents selling clothing and curiosities and, naturally, a substantial variety of tangible music for sale. Everyone’s vinyl fix will be covered with music vendors including Amoeba Berkeley, the Bay Area’s esteemed Alternative Tentacles—including selections for sale from Jello Biafra’s own personal collection—and cross-country vinyl vendor extraordinaire, Driptone’s Records.
“Mosswood rules!” says Driptone’s head, Aaron Hernandez. “Folks actually want to be there for the music and not just for the selfies. It’s a fun and respectful music-centric crowd. Everyone’s in a good mood; it’s a fucking party! It’s one of Driptone’s favorite festivals.”
One of the best parts of Mosswood Meltdown is the wide selection of pre- and after-festival events, including six official shows at Thee Stork Club and Eli’s Mile High Club in Oakland, and at the Knock Out in San Francisco. Expect performances from the Exploding Hearts, the Osees, and Shannon and the Clams, which will give festival-goers a second chance to see them.
Mosswood Meltdown, 11am to 10pm Sat-Sun, July 19-20, at Mosswood Park, 3612 Webster St., Oakland. mosswoodmeltdown.com
