With three weeks until Sunset Fest Cabo was set to open, two headliners and a majority of the other acts are dropping out. In total, ten of the twelve announced acts have bailed on what was being dubbed “The Woodstock of Yacht Rock.” The fate of the festival is now up in the air, and ticketholders are panicking.
What Is Sunset Fest Cabo?
Set on the shores of Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Sunset Fest Cabo was billed as a luxury event featuring the legends of yacht rock. The three-night festival boasted top resort accommodations, Michelin-starred chefs, curated tequila lounges, exciting side excursions, poolside after parties, and world-class performances. VIP yacht packages were also available. 2025 was supposed to be the debut of what would become an annual event. There was even supposed to be a private screening of an HBO yacht rock documentary called “Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary” with the film’s director, Garrett Price.
Who Was Scheduled To Perform?
Sunset Fest Cabo’s musical lineup was set to feature twelve late 70s and early 80s acts, with “more to be announced.” Here is the originally scheduled lineup slated to perform on October 24-26:
Friday, October 24
Headliner: Rick Springfield
Ambrosia with Peter Beckett (of Player), Elliot Lurie, John Ford Coley (of England Dan and John Ford Coley), Water Egan, and Pablo Cruise
Saturday, October 25
Headliner: Alan Parsons
Christopher Cross
Al Stewart & The Empty Pockets
Sunday October 26
Headliner: Kenny Loggins
Dire Straits Legacy
More acts to be announced
What Happened?
Over the last week, several of the musical acts have cancelled. Alan Parsons announced on his Instagram page that, “Due to circumstances outside of Alan Parsons Live Project’s control,” they would not be performing. Ambrosia posted a photo of the festival flyer on their Instagram page with their band and the four accompanying acts crossed out. The accompanying text similarly stated that, “Due to circumstances beyond our control, our performance…is not going to happen.” The band added, “We are deeply saddened at the sudden turn of events that has forced us into this decision…”
Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, Al Stewart, Peter Beckett, and Pablo Cruise shared similar statements with no clear reason for bowing out. As of right now, that leaves just Rick Springfield and Dire Straits Legacy left on the bill. Neither act has released a statement or answered requests for a statement to this point. The festival’s website has not removed any of the acts from the scheduled lineup. However, the links to buy tickets now just take you back to the website’s home page. There have been no updates posted to the website or the festival’s social media accounts announcing the cancellation of any musical acts or the festival itself.
Fyre Fest Comparisons
With these announcements by the musical acts and ticket holders now scrambling for details on refunds, Sunset Fest Cabo is rapidly looking like the doomed Fyre Fest. Fyre Fest was a three-day luxe music festival organized by businessman Billy McFarland and rapper Ja Rule that was supposed to take place in the Bahamas in 2017. The festival experienced issues with security, food, water, accommodations, medical services, and artist relations and was indefinitely postponed on Day One, before eventually being cancelled.
McFarland ended up embroiled in multiple lawsuits and served six years in prison for fraud. He recently tried to organize a second Fyre Fest on Isla Mujeres, which also ended badly. With just three weeks until Sunset Fest Cabo is slated to start, organizers had better figure something out fast. Otherwise, there is a chance that they share the same fate that McFarland did (and may well experience for a second time).
