A Dave & Tim Riviera Maya Story

When Bill and I first started dating, everything still felt new and a little uncertain. We had only been on about six dates when he told me he had booked us a trip.

Not a weekend getaway.

A trip to Mexico.

At first I remember thinking… this feels like a lot. We had just met, and the trip wasn’t even for another six months. Committing to travel together that early felt like a big step.

But then he told me what the trip actually was.

It was for Dave & Tim Riviera Maya, a beach concert experience featuring Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds performing multiple nights in paradise.

Suddenly, the idea felt a lot less intimidating… and a lot more exciting.

An all-inclusive resort in Cancun, three nights of live music on the beach, and this handsome guy I had just started dating. Honestly, how could I say no?

Bill the Superfan

Bill is a member of Warehouse, the official fan club for Dave Matthews Band fans. Being a Warehouse member means he gets early access to special ticket packages and events, and he jumped on the opportunity as soon as it opened.

He selected the 5-night package at Moon Palace Cancún, which turned out to be the perfect choice. The resort complex spreads guests across several sections including Moon Palace, Sun Palace, The Grand, and the Golf Club. Our location ended up being the perfect distance from the venue—close enough to walk easily to the shows, but still peaceful enough to relax during the day.

Every package included:

4, 5, or 6 all-inclusive nights at Moon Palace Cancún
Admission into the venue each show night
Main stage performances on the beach
Access to pool parties and pop-up music events
Airport transportation via event shuttles
Official Dave & Tim Riviera Maya welcome gifts

The Welcome Gift I Still Use

When we arrived, we were greeted with a welcome package that included quick-dry beach towels and a Nalgene water bottle, both branded with the Dave & Tim Riviera Maya 2023 event details.

I absolutely loved them.

Not just because they were useful, but because they felt like little souvenirs of the experience.

To this day, I still use both the water bottle and the beach towel. They’ve held up incredibly well, and they’re always great conversation starters when someone notices the logo and asks about them. That usually turns into me telling the story about the trip Bill booked after only six dates.

Days at the Pool, Discovering New Music

During the day, the entire resort transformed into a music festival.

Bill and I spent most afternoons floating around the pool, drinking frozen piña coladas or margaritas, soaking up the sunshine, and listening to the most amazing bands.

The best part?

Most of them were artists we had never even heard of before.

The event featured incredible up-and-coming musicians playing pop-up shows around the resort, including:

Mt. Joy
The War and Treaty
Celisse

We took an instant liking to Mt. Joy.

After they finished playing a set by the pool one afternoon, I happened to see their keyboardist, Jackie Miclau. She had been incredible during the performance, and when I met her she was so kind and down to earth. It made me appreciate the band even more.

The Moment We Became Mt. Joy Fans

Later that night, Mt. Joy opened for Dave & Tim on the beach stage.

Their opening song told a story about a broke-down bus they painted green, partying under the shadows of I-95. Bill and I looked at each other and laughed because it sounded exactly like Philadelphia Eagles fans tailgating at the Linc.

A few minutes later we noticed something even better.

The lead singer and guitarist, Matt Quinn, was wearing an Eagles shirt.

Suddenly it all made sense.

Their music had this unmistakable Grateful Dead influence with a huge jam-band vibe, and I was instantly hooked. From that moment on, I was a huge fan.

The Magic of the Dave Crowd

That whole night felt surreal.

I was standing on a beautiful beach in Mexico, listening to incredible music, surrounded by awesome people, and completely in love with my boyfriend.

And the crowd?

If you’ve ever been to a Dave show, you know exactly what I mean.

Everyone is friendly. Everyone talks to each other. You end up making friends with the people dancing next to you. The vibe is just… different.

IYKYK.

A Day Trip to Isla Mujeres

During the trip we also took an excursion to Isla Mujeres, a small island just off the coast of Cancun.

Apparently the island has a long legend connected to fertility and pregnancy.

Hard pass for me. 😄

But the island itself was absolutely stunning.

We took a catamaran out across the turquoise water, spent time snorkeling, and soaked in some of the most beautiful Caribbean scenery I’ve ever seen.

That afternoon we ended up falling asleep right on the beach, using our backpack as a pillow and listening to the waves.

It was one of those perfectly simple travel moments that you remember forever.

Was It Worth the Price?

Overall, the vacation was a 10 out of 10.

For an all-inclusive trip, it was definitely more expensive than I would normally spend. But the experience was completely unique. It wasn’t just a vacation. It was a music festival, a beach getaway, and a community of fans all wrapped into one.

The vibe was incredible.

And it ended up being one of the first truly unforgettable adventures Bill and I shared together.

If you’re a music fan, it’s something I would highly recommend doing at least once in your life.