International Surf Music Month – June 2026

History of International Surf Music Month

It was the late ‘50s. A post-war era of optimism, energy, and prosperity for the United States. Nowhere else was the chill vibe more prevalent than in California. With stunning beaches and sunny weather, life was beautiful and full of possibilities. At the same time, a new music genre was gaining popularity on the scene. It was a form of instrumental rock that popularized electric guitars, basses, and amplifiers. Electric instruments were producing new sounds that acoustic instruments couldn’t.

The distinctive sound would form the foundations of surf music that falls into two categories – instrumental and vocal surf. Both are distinctly ‘Californian’ but many consider instrumental surf the purest form of the two. Guitarist Dick Dale and his group, the Del-Tones, influenced the development of instrumental surf from instrumental rock. Dale incorporated a style of quick alternate guitar picking — a technique that placed him among guitar greats. He also introduced the iconic ‘spring reverb,’ a unique reverb that would define the sound of the 1960s. Other icons of surf music then were Paul Johnson and The Surfaris.

But what about the Beach Boys, you ask? Or Jan and Dean? For millions of people, these legendary bands epitomized Californian surf culture. The two bands played the vocal form of surf music. While incredibly popular, music purists will maintain that vocal has nothing on instrumental – the heart and soul of surf music.

On International Surf Music Month, surf music enthusiasts unite in a shared love for the genre. Concerts and events pop up everywhere — not just in the U.S. but also in places such as Canada, Mexico, and Italy.