ABOUT/HISTORY

Since 2008, the Surf Guitar 101 Convention has grown and expanded into what is now considered one of the most important live music events of its kind in the world. It features the very best in traditional, modern and cutting-edge international, national and local bands performing and celebrating the widely-adored yet still niche genre of instrumental surf music.

In addition to the live performances, the convention provides a unique opportunity to shop for one of the greatest selections of surf music-related products under one roof–CDs, LPs, 7 inches, 10 inches, DVDs, t-shirts, books, posters, other paper ephemera, Tiki mugs, guitar pedals and accessories and more.

The event also offers attendees the rare chance to meet, mingle and get to know other fans from all over the world.

Over the years, the convention has been the inspiration for unprecedented tours by foreign bands, historic reunions, live recordings, monumental final performances, once-in-a-lifetime all-star collaborations and more!

The convention was established by Jeff “BigTikiDude” Hanson in 2008 after an online discussion on http://www.surfguitar101.com.

1st Annual
Aug. 2, 2008

SUZY’S BAR & GRILL
HERMOSA BEACH, CA

• OUTERWAVE
• THE AQUASONICS
• SECRET SAMURAI
• SLACKTONE
• THE BOARDWALKERS
• THE ELIMINATORS WITH EDDIE BERTRAND
• THE DETONATORS
• THE MADEIRA
• POLLO DEL MAR
• INSECT SURFERS

2
AUG. 1, 2009

THE STARTING GATE
LOS ALAMITOS, CA

• THE GHASTLY ONES
• THE SAND DEVILS
• SECRET SAMURAI
• THE REVENTLOS
• THE VERBTONES
• THE TOMORROWMEN
• THE SURGE!
• THE DETONATORS

3
AUG. 7, 2010

THE STARTING GATE
LOS ALAMITOS, CA

• THE SPACE COSSACKS
• FRANKIE & THE POOLBOYS
• THE WADADLI RIDERS
• INSECT SURFERS
• THE SPACE RANGERS
• ATOMIC MOSQUITOS
• THE SURFSIDE IV
• THE INTERNATIONAL MEN OF MYSTERY

4
AUG. 13, 2011

THE STARTING GATE
LOS ALAMITOS, CA

• SATAN’S PILGRIMS
• THE RAZORBLADES
• THE BRADIPOS IV
• THE COCKTAIL PREACHERS
• DAIKAIJU
• MESHUGGA BEACH PARTY
• THE DEADBEATS
• THE BLUE DEMONS
• THE TEQUILA WORMS

5
AUG. 11, 2012

THE STARTING GATE
LOS ALAMITOS, CA

• JON & THE NIGHTRIDERS
• THE MADEIRA
• EL RAY
• LOS VENTURAS
• THE EXOTICS
• THE INTOXICATORS!
• THE DYNOTONES
• 9TH WAVE

6
AUG. 10, 2013

THE STARTING GATE
LOS ALAMITOS, CA

• THE EL CAMINOS
• MARTIN CILIA
• SURFER JOE
• 3 BALLS OF FIRE
• AQUALADS
• THE GLASGOW TIKI SHAKERS
• THE PYRONAUTS
• THE MYSTERY MEN?
• OUTERWAVE
• ASTRONAUTS TRIBUTE
• PENETRATORS TRIBUTE
• PJ & FRIENDS

7
AUG. 9, 2014

THE STARTING GATE
LOS ALAMITOS, CA

• SLACKTONE
• THE BOSS MARTIANS
• THE SURF COASTERS
• THE KILAUEAS
• THE SUPERTONES
• FRANKIE & THE POOLBOYS
• THE SURF KINGS
• THREESOME

8
AUG. 8, 2015

GARDEN GROVE ELKS LODGE

• DAVIE ALLAN & THE ARROWS
• THE ELIMINATORS
• ELS A-PHONICS
• THE LONGBOARDS
• THE VOLCANICS
• THE TOMORROWMEN
• BOSS FINK
• MOONBASE
• PAUL JOHNSON & FRIENDS
• JIM MESSINA & HIS JESTERS TRIBUTE

9
AUG. 13, 2016

ALPINE VILLAGE
TORRANCE, CA

• THE PHANTOM FOUR
• THE SPACE COSSACKS
• MESSER CHUPS
• THE BRADIPOS IV
• THE MACH IV
• GEORGE TOMSCO
• TIKIYAKI 5-0
• KELP
• THE SECRET SAMURAI
• CRAZY ACES
• ORIGINAL SURFARIS TRIBUTE
• HOT ROD TRIO

10
AUG. 4-6

ALPINE VILLAGE
TORRANCE, CA &
SURF DOG’S
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA

• INSECT SURFERS
• THE VOLCANICS
• TEQUILA WORMS
• PAR AVION
• OUTERWAVE
• THE SURF ROCKERS
• THE EL CAMINOS
• THE KILAUEAS
• ASTRONAUTS TRIBUTE
• THE HUNTINGTON CADS
• THE EXOTICS
• THE MADEIRA
• ATOMIC MOSQUITOS
• THE DYNOTONES
• THE LIVELY ONES
• THE MYSTERY MEN?
• VENTURESMANIA!
• SURFARIS TRIBUTE

11
AUG. 4, 2018

ALPINE VILLAGE
TORRANCE, CA

• THE BLUE HAWAIIANS
• THE TREMOLO BEER GUT
• SURFER JOE
• THE KAISERS OF KALIFORNIA
• FRANKIE & THE POOL BOYS
• SENTINALS TRIBUTE
• PJ & THE GALAXIES
• URBAN SURF KINGS
• LES AGAMEMNONZ
• BLACK FLAMINGOS
• KING PELICAN
• FASCINATING CREATURES OF THE DEEP

12
AUG. 3, 2019

ALPINE VILLAGE,
TORRANCE, CA

• THE BOSS MARTIANS
• INSECT SURFERS
• THE SURFRAJETTES
• EVAN FOSTER
• THE PYRONAUTS
• LOS TIKI PHANTOMS
• JASON LEE & THE R.I.P. TIDES
• LOS FRENETICOS
• THE DELSTROYERS
• THE NEW WAVES
• THEE SWANK BASTARDS
• TRABANTS
• DICK DALE TRIBUTE

13
JULY 31, 2022

AMERICAN LEGION POST 43
HOLLYWOOD, CA

• SURFER JOE
• THE NEBULAS
• THE VOLCANICS
• THE MACH IV
• THE SCIMITARS
• TRIBUTE TO RICHARD PODOLOR

14
July 28-30, 2023

the golden sails hotel
long beach, ca

• SATAN’S PILGRIMS
• THE TIKIYAKI ORCHESTRA
• THE BOMBORAS
• MESSER CHUPS
• POLLO DEL MAR
• THE VOLCANOS
• THE HELLBENDERS
• THE CHARADES
• THE SURF KINGS
• THE ELIMINATORS
• THE IRRADIATES
• THE CONCUSSIONS
• DEKE DICKERSON
• SIR BALD DIDDLEY AKA
  HIPBONE SLIM
• THE REVENTLOS
• DRACULINA
• ROCKETFISH
• WAVES OF STEELE
• TIKI CREEPS
• JASON LEE AND THE R.I.P. TIDES
• LITTLE KAHUNA
• EL SANDEMAN AND
  THE SUNDOWNS
• SEATBELT