There’s something special about a first-year festival. The possibilities are wide open, the expectations are low, and when it all comes together, like it did at Back Cove Music Festival, it feels like being in on a secret you selfishly hope never gets too big.

Held August 2 and 3 at Portland’s Payson Park, the inaugural edition of Back Cove Music Festival had a lot working in its favor. Two stages with no overlapping sets? Check. Local food vendors serving Icelandic hot dogs and plant-based “broccoli wings”? Check. Mid-70s sunshine with a saltwater breeze? Checkmate.

But it wasn’t just the view of the Portland skyline or the ocean glinting behind the Baxter Stage that made the weekend memorable. It was the curation. The balance of nationally touring headliners, buzzing mid-level acts, and Portland’s vibrant local scene made for a weekend that never once felt bloated or generic. It felt like it belonged here.

Maine’s next generation opens the weekend

Each day kicked off with performances from the Maine Academy of Modern Music, a School of Rock-style program that saw local high schoolers take the same stage that would later host Jack White and Lord Huron. It was a huge deal for these young artists, and the festival crowd showed up early to cheer them on, giving the entire weekend a communal, uplifting start.

That feeling carried into Weakened Friends’ set on Saturday, where the local alt-rock trio kicked off the main stage with a heavy dose of distorted catharsis. Their anthemic, emotionally wired sound set the tone early, and you can read more about their return in our interview here.

From introspective to explosive

Day 1 continued on the Baxter Stage with sets from Sarah Kinsley, whose lush, alt-pop textures floated across the field like a dream, and Griffin William Sherry, known for his haunting, rootsy storytelling. St. Paul and the Broken Bones brought the kind of horn-fueled soul explosion that called for sequins and dancing shoes.

But nothing quite matched the cinematic weight of Lord Huron’s headlining set. The band transformed the stage into a full-blown Western soundscape, complete with a retro phone booth, jukeboxes, and a towering LED screen cycling through dusty Americana landscapes. “Meet Me in the Woods” left the crowd in a trance, me included. It was the kind of performance that made time slow down and the world felt right for a brief moment.

Over on the Longfellow Stage, Cimafunk delivered Afro-Cuban funk with infectious swagger, and Thee Sacred Souls blurred the line between performer and audience, with their lead singer stepping into the crowd mid-set. The Roots – yes, those Roots – brought their signature hip-hop/funk/jazz blends to the secondary stage on Saturday with a set that reminded everyone why Black Thought, Questlove, Tuba Gooding Jr., and the gang are still untouchable. 

Beyond the stages, Back Cove made it clear that this was a festival deeply tied to Portland. From the family-owned vendors to the friendly, no-frills vibe, it was less about building a mega-fest and more about building community. I spotted plenty of artists from earlier in the day hanging out in the crowd, dancing, chatting, and eating vegan corn dogs. It was the kind of energy you can’t fake.

Sunday Ease and Electric Endings

Day 2 followed the same rhythm. The Maine Academy students opened again, and while the morning crowd was thinner, it filled in fast as Eliza McLamb and Madi Diaz delivered introspective, acoustic-driven sets that served as a gentle interlude before the day’s bigger energy kicked in.

That came courtesy of Boston’s own Ripe, who turned the lawn into a full-blown hootenanny by mid-afternoon. Lead singer Robbie Wulfsohn, still recovering from a concussion, kept the head banging to a minimum, but brought the vibes anyway with his signature onstage charisma and slick dance moves. (Stay tuned for our upcoming interview.)

The Turnpike Troubadours followed with a dose of Southern grit and heartland warmth, leading into the night’s closer: Jack White. Ever the showman, White tore through a guitar-heavy set that bounced between old-school White Stripes cuts and newer solo material. No theatrics needed, just pure, unfiltered sound to send the weekend out in style.

Meanwhile, the Longfellow Stage hosted more gems throughout the day. Chance Peña (of “The Voice” fame) delivered smooth, modern soul; Margo Price brought outlaw-country swagger; and Lucy Dacus closed the weekend with a set that, in true Dacus fashion, included multiple impromptu wedding ceremonies. Because why not?

Back Cove Music Festival may have been a debut, but it didn’t feel like one. With strong programming, smooth logistics, and an eye toward both national names and local gems, it’s the kind of festival you want to see grow. Just slowly, thoughtfully, and without losing the spark that made year one so magical.

If you missed it this year, keep your August open next time. Portland’s got a new summer tradition on its hands.