BottleRock 2025 Recap - Justin Timberlake, Benson Boone, and More Perform
BottleRock 2025 has officially concluded, and like in previous years, this lineup featured an impressive array of big names, including Justin Timberlake, Green Day, Benson Boone, and Noah Kahan, among others. Known as the first taste of summer, the festival continually delivers a high-caliber experience, complete with top-notch beverages & food options and a variety of food options throughout Napa Valley.
Top Activations:
Lululemon Roller Rink:
This year, the festival organizers elevated the event to new heights. Attendees enjoyed more activations on-site, an increase in non-alcohol options, and a diverse selection of festival bites to cater to every palate, as well as sweets and coffee for those needing an extra caffeine boost to get through the night. Lululemon, the pioneer of technical yoga apparel, launched its new Align No Line pant in a unique and summer-friendly way—by incorporating a roller rink! Guests could relive their childhood by lacing up classic roller skates and grooving to the music. Limited edition BottleRock x Lululemon merchandise was available on-site.
Land Rover x Defender:
Additionally, this year, Land Rover Defender showcased an expansive, immersive display of its iconic 4x4 vehicles. Guests had the opportunity to create a car diffuser by following prompts for key scents such as "jungle" or "terrain," or they could venture out and create their own blend—making for a charming keepsake for attendees.
Tito's Vodka moved from its usual corner hub and garden oasis near the culinary stage to a new location this year. Positioned across from AV Nation, the beloved vodka brand created a movie-theater experience. Guests could pull back the curtains and enjoy an espresso martini, adding a chic twist to the BottleRock experience.
Hendrick's 3-Story Bar:
Courtesy Photo
Hendrick’s Gin raised the bar—literally—with its impressive 3-story bar! The space featured actors entertaining guests while they waited for their drinks. Adorned with beautiful red roses, floral arrangements, and lush greenery, the bar offered a charming nod to the gin's flavor profile. Look up, and you might catch a whimsical woman blowing bubbles or a dapper gentleman tossing roses to the most admired guests—ensuring that there was never a dull moment at the iconic Hendrick's 3-story bar! This year the brand brought the below sips to Napa Valley:
HENDRICK’S BUTTERFLY EFFECT: Hendrick’s Gin, Chareau Aloe Liqueur, Jardesca Apertivo, Fresh Lemon Juice, Fresh Honeydew Juice, Simple Syrup
OASIUM FIZZ: Hendrick’s OASIUM Gin, Pink Grapefruit Juice, Fresh Lime Juice, Simple Syrup, Soda Water, Cucumber Wheel
DESERT SUN: Hendrick’s Gin, Fresh Lime Juice, Prickly Pear Puree, Simple Syrup, Cucumber Wheel
HENDRICK’S CUCUMBER LEMONADE: Hendrick’s Gin, Lemon Juice, Cucumber Juice, Simple Syrup, Soda Water, Cucumber & Lemon Wheels
Top Bites:
When it comes to Napa Valley, there is no shortage of incredible scrumptious bites - and BottleRock is no different. You have some of the city favorites all in one centralized location. The hardest part is figuring out how to maximize your bites throughout the festival. This year, there were a ton of options for every palate. From Moroccan and Mediterranean to Mexican and American - BottleRock had it all! Our favorite bites included:
Tarla Mediterranean Bar + Grill:
Beef Gyro from Tarla: It doesn’t get any better than this! Tarla is consistent and irresistable. The gyro is comprised of delicate thinly sliced doner, spicy aioli/ cabbage slaw, onions, and topped with Tzatziki and paprika! Each bite is better than you can imagine.
Sumo Dog:
The Godzilla was the BEST hot dog I’ve ever eaten. It’s a footlong beef hot dog, miso beef chilli, togarshi cheese sauce, wasabi relish, pickled peppers, spicy mayo, teriyaki sauce, furikake, miso mustard coleslaw, and jalapenos — and it’s just as amazing as it sounds. Each bite was out of this world.
Lao Table:
Lao Lao set from Lao Table included fried chicn, pork, and beef with papaya salad, sticky rice, and a sweet chilli dip. This was a great way to try a bit of everything. Would happily order this again. One thing I didn’t get to try was their anchovy sundae — sweet brioche roll, coconut ice cream, brown sugar, caramel topped with crispy anchovy.
Musical Highlights:
Green Day:
True performers through and through, Green Day delivered an unforgettable show for their multigenerational fan base as headliners on the opening day. The band energized the crowd with a mix of newer hits and timeless classics, primarily drawing from their two most iconic albums: 1994's "Dookie" and 2004's "American Idiot." Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong is known for using the stage to highlight societal injustices.
Similar to their set at Coachella, Armstrong altered the lyrics to “American Idiot,” earning thunderous applause from the audience. “I’m not part of the MAGA agenda,” he sang, marking one of the band’s few political moments during the performance—a gesture that was well-received by the crowd.
Throughout the set, Armstrong paid homage to the band’s Northern California roots, expressing gratitude with remarks like, “Thank you so much, you guys, this is our home.” To cap off the encore, he brought out Flavor Flav, a former member of the hip-hop group Public Enemy, to show some love for the Bay Area.
4 Non Blondes:
It's not every day that you get to see rock legends perform. When Linda Perry takes the stage, it's an event not to be missed. This particular performance marked the iconic group’s first in 30 years. “It feels really good to be on this stage, it feels really good to be at BottleRock,” Perry shared with the crowd. “I don't go out much, it's true!” With her powerful vocals and a message encouraging the audience to use their voices and stand up for the revolution, Perry proved she still has it.
Benson Boone: Was simply incredible! See our full review here!
Ice Cube:
West Coast’s the best coast, and this was evident during Ice Cube’s nostalgic set. With smoke filling the air and crowds bobbing along, the energy was palpable throughout the hour-long performance. Early on, Ice Cube brought out former rapper WC of Westside Connection, which sent the audience's energy soaring.
“This side of the crowd is real crazy,” the “Gangsta Nation” rapper said to the left half of the audience. He ignited a chant between the two sides, with each declaring, “Party over here, fuck you over there!” As the sun set, the excitement escalated. “I wanna take everyone back to the ‘90s,” Ice Cube stated, adding, “Some people might not wanna go way back to the 1900s. So for those that don’t wanna, too motherfucking bad—we’re going back anyways.”
The crowd was taken back to the ‘90s with “Steady Mobbin’” and even further to the ‘80s with N.W.A’s “Straight Outta Compton.” The set felt like a classic house party in the best way.
Justin Timberlake:
Timberlake made a special stop during his “Forget Tomorrow World Tour” to headline BottleRock 2025! Known as the “King of Pop,” he showcased his biggest hits while tugging at heartstrings. The stage was bustling with backup dancers, and Timberlake demonstrated his signature dance moves, reminiscent of his N'Sync days. Songs like “Sexy Back,” “Suit and Tie,” and more kept the crowd enthralled. He even made a sweet gesture towards his wife, Jessica Biel, who was in attendance, by wearing a shirt featuring her likeness. “We out here fan girling,” Timberlake captioned the pic shared to Instagram.
In her own Instagram Story, Biel shared a response to Timberlake’s shirt, writing, “He really outdid the doer,” per People. Timberlake added that he and his team made the Biel T-shirt just for the performance on Saturday. Couple goals!
Allen Stone:
“I hope when you leave the festival the burden is a bit lighter,” beloved singer Allen Stone told the audience during his Sunday set. What’s not to love about him? He has the vocal prowess and knows how to engage the crowd. A frequent performer in Napa Valley, Stone seemed to radiate even more under the California sun. He opened with “Voodoo,” putting the audience in a trance and setting the tone for the rest of the performance. At one point, he showcased his playful side by encouraging an engaging dance battle between GA and VIP. During the set, he performed love ballads such as “Is This Love” and “Give You Blue,” ultimately ending with the crowd favorite, “Brown Eyed Lover.” Stone isn’t just a vocalist; he’s a true performer, and I look forward to seeing him again and again.
Noah Kahan:
Folk-pop singer Noah Kahan has been dominating playlists since he captured the hearts of social media users in 2023. The “Maine” singer closed out BottleRock with an energetic set, filled with commentary and even a little slip on stage. Kahan, wearing his signature two braids and bright outfit, opened the show with “All My Love” on the mandolin. “I can’t believe you guys are all here for me—I feel like some mistake has been made,” he remarked after the first song. “I’m incredibly honored to be headlining a festival like this.” He humorously pointed out his outfit, saying, “I’m wearing this floral, bougie-ass outfit. It probably costs a little less than one glass of wine here!”
Despite a large crowd, Kahan created an intimate atmosphere during the performance. After a slip on stage, he joked, “Please post that clip on social media and add to my misery,” demonstrating his relatable charm. The encore included the poignant “The View Between Villages,” the falsetto-filled “Forever” and “Stick Season,” his biggest hit. It’s apparent that Kahan truly adores his fans as the commentary highlighted his excitement and thrill of just how much music connects us all. Kahan thanked the crowd as his band circled around him while playing banjo and violin, ending the weekend with some twang.
Words were sung, tears were shed, and memories were made – BottleRock 2025 was one for the books! Until then - we’ll just reminisce on day 2 which was a crowd favorite day!
*All photos courtesy of Latitude 38 Entertainment.
