It’s not every day a brand-new festival arrives on the East Coast with a lineup this stacked and a location this idyllic. But the Back Cove Music & Arts Festival is set to debut August 2–3 in Portland, Maine, at the scenic Payson Park, and the bill is already turning heads.
Anchored by names like Jack White, Lord Huron, André 3000, Lucy Dacus, Turnpike Troubadours, and Margo Price, the two-day fest aims to blend the big-league musical energy of festivals like Newport or Solid Sound with the local charm of Portland’s food, beer, and arts culture. In other words: it’s not just the lineup that’ll have people heading north this summer.
Tickets are on sale now via BackCoveFestival.com,
A festival built on local flavor
Back Cove is positioning itself as a full-sensory New England experience. Portland, often dubbed “Beervana” for having the most breweries per capita in the U.S., is also no slouch in the food department. Bon Appétit once named it the “Restaurant City of the Year.” Expect both of those accolades to show up in full force, with a curated selection of local restaurants, food trucks, and craft brewers on-site.
“A special place deserves a special festival.”
Festival co-founders Jordan Wolowitz (Shore Sound) and Tyler Grill (GoodWorks) are no strangers to producing major events, with résumés that include Governors Ball, Sound on Sound, and The Capitol Groove. But this one, they say, hits close to home.
“Portland is made up of an incredible community of creatives,” the pair said in a joint statement, “and it doesn’t hurt that it’s in one of the most beautiful areas in the country.”
City Councilor Anna Bullett echoed the sentiment, noting Portland’s proud tradition of supporting the arts: “I thank the community for their continued commitment to celebrating the arts and thank city staff for their hard work with festival organizers to maintain park access, safety, and sustainability.”
What to expect
Stay tuned for artist spotlights, food vendor reveals, and maybe even a few surprises as the fest draws closer. Until then, mark your calendars for August 2–3 and get your tickets while they’re still available!
Visit https://www.backcovefestival.com/ for all the latest!
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