Cat Signs plays at Urban Americana during Happy Sundays in 2017. Photo courtesy of Happy Sundays.
Te Adoro at From the Moon. Photo courtesy of Happy Sundays.

A homegrown music festival organized by a Long Beach couple will bring more than 20 local bands out to play at multiple venues throughout the Zaferia district on Sunday.

This will be the third time that husband-wife duo Julia Kugel and Scott Montoya have brought Happy Sundays to life, giving event goers a reason to explore the historic East Anaheim Street corridor. Eight different venues, including Los Altos Plaza Park, Alex’s Bar, diPiazza’s and Red Leprechaun are hosting sets during the free one-day music festival.

Featured artists include Jake Snider of Minus the Bear, The Shrine, Caught a Ghost, White Woods and more.

Montoya said he and Julia are hoping to catch a little bit of every performance, but that they’re especially excited about seeing Long Beach artists Rudy De Anda and Spare Parts for Broken Hearts play, as well as Death Valley Girls, No Tides, Early Grey, Paranoyds, Audacity and Devil Season.

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“Happy Sundays means what it says, it’s just a happy day with a bunch of free music and good vibes,” Montoya said. “Anyone familiar with my wife and/or my work will appreciate the sentiment and personalization put into this event. It all comes from a loving place.”

Both Julia and Scott have varied musical histories as members of bands. Singing and songwriting for Atlanta-based The Coathangers, Julia now uses her writing and vocal talents in White Woods, in which she and her husband will perform at Red Leprechaun.

Scott said he hopes Happy Sundays will feel like a “breath of fresh air” to attendees, and that they go home feeling relaxed and happy after discovering new artists and meeting new people.

Julia and Scott Montoya, organizers of Happy Sundays. Photo courtesy of Happy Sundays.

The first Happy Sundays took place in February of last year at Alex’s Bar, vintage clothing shop From the Moon and with a pop-up shop by local artist collective Grab Bag Studio. While past festival dates have been scattered, the duo hopes to establish the growing event as an annual occurrence.

“What makes this fest different from the others is it’s not Goldenvoice or Live Nation organizing Happy Sundays, it’s Julia and Scott Montoya,” he said.

Happy Sundays takes place on Sunday from 11 a.m. to midnight. For info on the full lineup, venues, free trolley and more, visit the website here.

Asia Morris is a Long Beach native covering arts and culture for the Long Beach Post. You can reach her @hugelandmass on Twitter and Instagram and at [email protected].